|  «Back To Articles

Men's Shorts: How Short is Too Short?

Fashion trends can be fickle but men's clothing has, at least by fashion standards, become shorter and slimmer at a rapid pace. The baggy clothes that were a staple of the early 2000s have been replaced by close-fitting attire. Short-sleeved shirt sleeves have worked their way back above the elbow and men's shorts have gotten progressively shorter.

Not so long ago, the inseam of men's shorts was around 15 inches, which landed the hem below the knee. Soon, the inseam was raised to 11 inches, and before long men's knees broke free when the inseam was elevated to 9 inches. Nowadays, you can find shorts with inseams of 7 inches or even 5.5 inches, such as the currently en vogue Chubbies, a throwback tribute to Adidas soccer shorts of the '70s and the Ocean Pacific trunks of the '80s.

Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end. We're running out of time to enjoy the warm weather before it's time to dig deep into the closet for our jackets and long pants. As we make the most out of the last month or so of summer, it's important that our attire is appropriate for the last pool parties and family gatherings of the season.

With all of these short styles available the question remains: How short is too short?

The most important things to keep in mind are your body type and your personal style. It's imperative to find the proper middle ground between shorts that are too short and shorts that are too long. You don't want to accidentally wear "manpris." Slightly longer, slimmer shorts work better for taller, leaner men, while shorter, stockier men can benefit from showing a bit of leg from a pair of shorts with a shorter inseam. Currently, thigh-baring Chubbies seem to be a favorite of young adult men who are conscious of fashion and make a point to keep up with trends. However, something closer to a 7- or 8-inch inseam is appropriate for all types of casual summer events where shorts are welcome.

If you aren't sure which style suits you the best, then take the cautious approach. Buy a couple different pairs of varying colors and lengths, that way you'll have a pair for every occasion. After all, summer isn't nearly long enough to spend it in a pair of shorts that are too short.