SUMMER SHORTS SWITCH UP

Words: Daniël Geldenhuys | Images: Getty

Menswear moves slowly. “New season” usually never calls for a wardrobe overhaul, rather a series of considered tweaks to classic pieces. This summer, there’s an exception in the shorts department. Instead of a minor update such as last year’s side stripe, SS20 has something bigger in store. The chino bubble has burst, making room for a fresh silhouette rendered in an exciting variety of lengths, colours, prints and patterns – and all with a way cooler, more relaxed sensibility.

The story starts at Prada, where that skinny brown (probably once rolled and stitched) chino was blessed with at least 25% extra fabric and a totally new lease on life. This wider, just-above-the-knee iteration of the short has a refined laid-back sensibility that makes everything that came before it seem claustrophobic. And in a South African climate, just plain sweaty and uncomfortable.

The silhouette spread like wildfire, lighting up the lavender fields at Jacquemus and cruising the streets at Virgil Abloh’s Louis Vuitton. Speaking of street, fashion week guests cottoned on to the trend almost instantly, styling it with an enthusiastic eclecticism. The message couldn’t be clearer: if there’s one item you need this season, not just for the sake of a fashion update, but also to upgrade your personal comfort levels, it’s the relaxed short.

That slick casual coolness pairs as well with a roomy vest (see Prada) as it does layered with casual shirts (see Jacquemus). When styling the shorts with shoes, just about every designer added socks. For anyone who enjoys a bit of humour, there’s also the option of sandals with socks. Street style from Paris Fashion Week proves the versatility of the wide short, from super casual surfer vibes to minty modern dandy. What they all have in common is a profound sense of ease: even when styled elaborately, these shorts ensure you never look like you’re trying too hard.

It’s always good to remember that a major style movement like this one, especially in menswear, takes a while to catch on. If you wear this look today, tomorrow or next month, chances are you might still be the only one. That’s not a bad thing though. It gives you the time you need to get comfortable with the silhouette, making you an expert by the time your friends start to catch on. They’ll think of you as a tastemaker.