30 Pairs of Shorts to Keep You Cool All Summer Long
- 1/31
30 Pairs of Shorts to Keep You Cool All Summer Long
Whether it's because of an upcoming vacation or the changing of the seasons, it's officially time—maybe even past time—to get ready for the dog days of summer. And confounding as it may be, some men still categorically refuse to wear shorts. I say this as someone who used to count himself among their number: This position, that wearing shorts is juvenile or uncool or generally unstylish, is straight-up wrong. Wrong, I tell you! What kind of person steps out into summer, in 95 degree heat with 93 percent humidity, in a pair of long pants? The kind of person who's punishing themselves without reason, that's who.
Shorts, my friends, are good. Not just good, but great! The right pair of shorts will take virtually any summer outfit and render it
So get some of the best shorts. Ease up and cool off and enjoy the warm weather without encasing your legs in unnecessary swaths of fabric. Throw a tank top on with some workout-friendly shorts for a day at the park. Pair your trusty Patagonia Baggies with a breezy button-down at the beach. Try some cargo shorts that look genuinely cool, thanks to slimmer silhouettes and smart, technical detailing. Swap your sweatpants for sweat shorts or just throw on some classic chino shorts with a tee and call it a day. However you want to play it, though, start with this list.
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Courtesy - 2/31
Resort 8" Short
Rhone
rhone.com
$98.00
Perfect for days spent riding around on a vintage-y looking bike and then sipping margaritas poolside. Or, you know, for just hanging out on the couch watching the people on TV do that.
rhone.com - 3/31
Dock Shorts
J.Crew
jcrew.com
$59.50
The elastic waist means all-day comfort, but the 6-inch inseam and classic khaki color add a little extra polish. Best of both worlds.
jcrew.com - 4/31
5" Weekend Short
Todd Snyder
toddsnyder.com
$98.00
Remember that bit of advice from the very beginning of this story? If you haven't tried a 5-inch inseam yet, now is very much the time to do it. And Todd Snyder does a damn good pair of shorts to set you on your thigh-baring way.
toddsnyder.com - 5/31
Pace Breaker 7" Linerless Short
Lululemon
lululemon.com
$68.00
The Pace Breaker is designed for running and training, but it's so comfortable (and good looking) that you'll find yourself reaching for it on rest days, too.
lululemon.com - 6/31
Baggies 5" Shorts
Patagonia
rei.com
$65.00
They're technically for built for dunking into water, but real heads know that the Patagonia Baggies are built for any and every warm-weather pursuit.
rei.com - 7/31
Classic-Fit 9" Short
Amazon Essentials
amazon.com
$16.70
If you're looking for an option with a little more coverage, this straight-leg option, made of breathable cotton, hits the body just right.
amazon.com - 8/31
The Track Short
everlane.com - 9/31
Oliver Nylon Short
Standard Cloth
urbanoutfitters.com
$35.00
If the shorts you're reaching for this summer are slightly more cropped than the ones you've worn in the past, they're probably perfect.
urbanoutfitters.com - 10/31
Perry Printed Linen Short
Rag & Bone
rag-bone.com
$195.00
From the sleek silhouette and breathable linen fabric to the spiffy striped print, this Rag & Bone style is the short 2.0.
rag-bone.com - 11/31
9" Inseam Cargo Stretch Canvas Short
Goodthreads
amazon.com
$33.90
Cargo shorts can be tricky; the style isn't the most, erm, elegant. But Goodthreads has managed to offer an option with the right proportions that pretty much goes against common (and often correct) perceptions.
amazon.com - 12/31
Adicolor Essentials Trefoil Shorts
Adidas
adidas.com
$35.00
It's right there in the name: "Essentials." Just try to tell me you don't want to pull on these shorts and then strike out into the unknown, your sleek side pockets equipped with all the, well, essentials.
adidas.com - 13/31
505 Regular Fit Short
Levi's
amazon.com
$49.50
When it's too hot to wear your regular pair of 505s, reach for the shorter version and go about your day with some ventilation.
amazon.com - 14/31
6" Recycled Volume Easy Shorts
gap.com - 15/31
Class V Belted Shorts
The North Face
thenorthface.com
$50.00
Gorpcore: so hot right now. But even if you don't want to go full-blown "hiker who wandered off the trails into the big city," a pair of utility shorts like these will make a perfectly natural addition to your wardrobe.
thenorthface.com - 16/31
French Terry Shorts
Jordan Essentials
nike.com
$55.00
Sweatpants season has officially been extended indefinitely. Please make a note of it.
nike.com - 17/31
The ReNew Swim Short
Everlane
everlane.com
$65.00
Stretchy, super-lightweight, and able to take a trip into the water with ease. They may be billed as swim shorts, but in reality, these are your go-to, do-everything summer shorts. Plus, they're made of recycled materials.
everlane.com - 18/31
The Cutback Corduroy Short
Line of Trade
bespokepost.com
$65.00
Plan on trekking through rough terrain? Try these shorts, made of durable corduroy and featuring roomy pockets.
bespokepost.com - 19/31
Khaki Volley Shorts
Fear of God Essentials
ssense.com
$75.00
Jerry Lorenzo and co. may be famous for making status-symbol sweats, but they also do a mean pair of cotton/nylon shorts.
ssense.com - 20/31
7" Island Shorts
Vineyard Vines
vineyardvines.com
$85.00
The brand (and unique color) ain't just for residents of Martha's Vineyard.
vineyardvines.com - 21/31
The Apres Short
Taylor Stitch
taylorstitch.com
$88.00
These may be called "apres" shorts, but the lightweight-yet-durable fabric and loose-enough-to-move cut means you can wear them during whatever activity floats your boat—a hike, or maybe a quick jog—too.
taylorstitch.com - 22/31
Road Shorts
Mitchell & Ness x Bel-Air
nordstrom.com
$100.00
Sweat shorts with a bit of a preppy bent, courtesy of Mitchell & Ness and the brand The Fresh Prince built.
nordstrom.com - 23/31
Straight Fit Oxford Short
Polo Ralph Lauren
ralphlauren.com
$98.50
A short that's preppy with a bit edge from a brand that pretty much personifies those characteristics.
ralphlauren.com - 24/31
The Wanderer Modern Short
AG Adriano Goldschmied
amazon.com
$101.50
Need the ultimate travel short? Look for something made of already-crinkled seersucker, like this one by AG.
amazon.com - 25/31
Straight-Leg Logo-Appliquéd Cotton-Jersey Drawstring Shorts
Stone Island
mrporter.com
$295.00
Cotton-jersey shorts, for the easy, breezy adventurer within all of us.
mrporter.com - 26/31
Technical-Pleated Shorts
Homme Plissé Issey Miyake
matchesfashion.com
$306.00
Don't fear pleats, especially when they're made by Issey Miyake, the undisputed master of the style.
matchesfashion.com - 27/31
Nephin Storm Shorts
A-Cold-Wall*
endclothing.com
$360.00
Team A-Cold-Wall* brings its signature technical, architectural style to these windproof, waterproof shorts. The perfect thing for the dedicated (or budding!) futurist.
endclothing.com - 28/31
Floral Swim shorts
Dries Van Noten
mytheresa.com
$365.00
Leave to Dries Van Noten, the king of fanciful brocade, to offer a printed short (this one in summer-ready polyamide) with whimsicality.
mytheresa.com - 29/31
Marcel Shorts
Ahluwalia
nordstrom.com
$495.00
And for the fan of upcycling, Ahluwalia's patchwork recycled nylon shorts deliver an exceptionally artistic look to complement that smaller carbon footprint.
nordstrom.com - 30/31
Flat-Front Cotton Shorts
Brunello Cucinelli
saksfifthavenue.com
$695.00
A name that conjures instant credibility, especially when it comes to the finest materials and cuts, is Brunello Cucinelli.
saksfifthavenue.com - 31/31
Velvet Shorts
Gucci
gucci.com
$1600.00
If you prescribe to a more-is-more-mindset with your fits—like knee-length, creased velvet shorts—know that Gucci is the standard-bearer of the style.
gucci.com