tThere are always three signs that the British summer has begun. The first is that the offices start to blow so much air conditioning that everyone catches a cold. The second is that people are starting to find an excuse to drink roses at noon. And the third is that men are starting to wear shorts.
Well, summer hasn't started yet and we have no idea if and when it will ever arrive. But we know that, for a while, all of the above has been the tried and true seasonal format with little variation. At least until recently. Because over the last few years, those aforementioned shorts have been causing more and more alarm as they ride higher and higher up men's legs. That's right, I'm talking about shorts. And this summer, or when the warm weather finally hits the UK, expect shorts to make a big comeback – and they'll be shorter than ever.
Paul Mescal is to blame for this. Hailed as “the king of shorts”, the Normal people The heartthrob has been championing the idea of baring thighs in the warmer months since 2020, when the then-24-year-old was photographed running in a pair of white Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) shorts from O'Neills that touched several centimeters above. his knees. The look quickly moved from PE-chic to the world of high fashion; Months later, Mescal was photographed with those same shorts in GQ, although in this case, they were paired with an Hermès fleece worth £10,000. Other celebrities followed suit, and everyone from Harry Styles to Milo Ventimiglia did their best to convince us all that it's time for a “summer of thighs” in their respective shorts offerings.
Since then, however, the aesthetic has evolved and the shorts have continued to shrink beyond meaning and sensibility. Consider Mescal's recent appearance at Gucci's Milan Fashion Week spring/summer 2025 show; The actor arrived wearing a light blue collared shirt, noticeably leaving the top and bottom two buttons undone, and a pair of white striped micro shorts. But the look did not end there: All of us strangers The star topped it all off with a pair of Gucci Horsebit loafers and white sports socks.
“I'm a fan of the short inseam,” Mescal said. GQ in the event. “From my point of view, it has to do with proportion; a shorter shorts with maybe a longer top. “I’m a big proponent of men wearing shorter shorts.” But how do you manage to do it without looking like Alan Partridge? With a flash of her stomach peeking out of her shorts and just the right amount of chest and leg on display, Mescal managed to pull it all off. But this is worrying, because it will lead other men to think they can do the same. And reader, I assure you that most of them cannot.
Look, I understand that summer is a difficult time for men, when it comes to clothing. There are only so many colorful short-sleeved shirts and jean shorts one can wear without looking like a scruffy math teacher or, worse yet, an overgrown kid who has raided the bargain bin at a seaside vintage store. In fact, when it comes to fashion faux pas during the summer months, men are spoiled for choice. If it's not a printed bucket hat that makes them look like a Hunter S Thompson wannabe, it's a Hawaiian shirt that they'll insist multiple times is ironic or retro. And if it's not a pair of socks and sandals that they pass off as “normcore,” it's a waterproof jacket they call “gorpcore.”
None of this is good. But it all pales in comparison to shorts, especially when paired with loafers and white socks, a style that many will now inevitably try to emulate. Yes, Mescal makes it work, but that's because he's not your everyday guy. Not only is he a top celebrity, but he is also an independent favorite who does not use Instagram as he left the social media platform for a long time after Normal people made him a walking target for literally anyone with access to a smartphone and the flame emoji. Even one secret account appears to have been scrapped since it went public: the oddly named @bigbreadpedlar is now a private account.
The thing is, unlike shorts, all of this gives you some leeway when it comes to your wardrobe. Room for maneuver that doesn't apply to, say, a 35-year-old accountant trying to find something to wear to his brother-in-law's barbecue on Sunday. Imagine the mockery. Self-made memes are shared in WhatsApp groups: first nationally and then possibly globally.
But don't worry, it's not like women aren't also haunted by an extravagant piece of clothing that just doesn't work for us mere mortals. We've got our own hems to deal with – check out the growing no-pants trend that sees celebrities walking around in their knickers. Then there is the nude dress, a trend that has been incessantly appearing on our screens for several seasons. Yes, a sheer dress looks gorgeous and avant-garde, for example, at the Met Gala or on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival. And given the lack of fabric, it's a sensible choice for a warm day. But that doesn't mean you should start showing your nipples at the family picnic.
So, for men considering taking style cues from Mescal this season: don't. Stick to regular-sized shorts or, better yet, jeans. There is absolutely nothing wrong with jeans; it's much harder to make a bad outfit with them. Furthermore, the sight of your upper thighs should only be inflicted on your loved ones. Thank me later.
