THE JOURNAL
With the arrival of spring each year comes a collective sigh of relief for warmer weather, an anticipation of outside activities and, if you listen carefully, the whisper of panic around that perennial summertime question: which shorts are the shorts to wear this year?
In 2026, as with most things in your wardrobe, there are many options. Look to LeBron James in thigh-high stripes shorts and socks. Or Harry Styles in similar socks, but the kind of running shorts worthy of someone who has competed in marathons. Robert Pattinson, meanwhile, is still an icon of the cargo short while Central Cee and Justin Bieber at Coachella both made a case for denim shorts (jorts, if we must).
We can look to the past, too. John F Kennedy Jr was a great shorts wearer, combining Bermuda shorts with a sweater and pair of hiking sandals. Or Harrison Ford’s shorts, sweater and deck shoes for Cannes in 1982, a look that has a permanent place on all stylish mood boards.
Then there’s the runway. See cycling short styles at Dries Van Noten, or wide and breezy at brands like Zegna and SAINT LAURENT. But which designs are coming out on top this year?
Talk to experts, and there are mixed opinions. Simon Chilvers, a fashion and culture writer, says short shorts are now a mainstay. “Once you’ve understood the freedom of short shorts, you just don’t want to give it up,” he says. “From seeing lots of men in London, it’s a rather brilliant item of clothing to wear on your Lime bike, so you can flirt as you move around the city.”
Meanwhile, Zak Maoui, style director at Esquire UK, has some news that will likely provoke Marmite reactions – he sees the jorts as the short style of the summer once again. “I actually think it is back, if anything,” he says. “I recently bought a pair of shorts, which are calf-length and billowing.”
If anything, Maoui is doubling down on big shorts. “CELINE’s Montauk shorts are on my wish list,” he says.
“Once you’ve understood the freedom of short shorts, you just don’t want to give it up”
Then there’s the shorts to swerve. “The idea of a tailored short is just really dated now,” says Stephen Doig, men’s style editor at The Telegraph. “It’s that Pitti peacock vibe, a bit done. I like to go a bit undone and a bit messed up, with a white shirt untucked and very simple, minimalist leather sandals.”
As with anything in the summer, there are ways to turn shorts into a more versatile item that work beyond your vacation days. Think about length. Doig says short shorts are fun, “if you have good legs”. Maoui suggests sticking to a five-inch seam – and do the maintenance. “The golden rule for men is making sure your ankles and feet are looked after,” Doig says.
“What you put on the bottom half of the shorts is a pressing issue,” Chilvers says. He recommends a smarter shoe and sock combination, should the pedicure elude you.
Like Maoui, Doig is in favour of volume and says this is an easy way to update shorts in 2026, as seen at the Dries Van Noten show. “These shorts are almost cargo-esque,” he says. “They’re not utility, but quite voluminous and making a statement [with the shape] as opposed to that just being a byproduct. Those airy proportions are actually great to wear in warmer weather.”
“I love short shorts with a jumper, but it’s not always necessarily the best mix, because you’re too hot,” Chilvers says. His alternative? “A long-sleeved polo shirt – if you shove the sleeves up, it feels kind of good.”
Shorts aren’t always casual, either. Doig also appreciates what he calls “the decorative short” – designs worthy of wearing in the evening. “The most casual item in a man’s wardrobe but elevated to be a dressy piece that you can wear with a shirt and blazer.”
Chilvers, meanwhile, is contemplating the more directional shorts seen on the runway, such as Dries Van Noten’s cycling shorts and the wide ones at SAINT LAURENT. He thinks the latter shape works in real life. “It has a deep cuff turn up, which add something to the idea of the short shorts,” he says. “It feels a bit more grown-up and a bit more sophisticated.”
And what about the forever question: can we wear shorts to work yet? Unless you work in the creative industries, or you’re a postman, it’s still probably a “no”. “In corporate office situations, shorts are not OK,” Doig says. “I think it’s still too casual. It just doesn’t say ‘office’ to me.”
Stick to weekend wear and, of course, you can experiment with your style of shorts on those long-awaited vacation days. Doig recalls that he demurred from wearing lilac silk shorts in Italy a few years ago, but it might be a different story this summer. “Maybe it’s time,” he says. “The hilltop towns of Puglia won’t know what’s hit them.”