Althouse: About those shorts.

April 15, 2025

About those shorts.

Link.

51 comments:

rhhardin said...: I go cargo with 5 inch inseam.; 4/15/25, 8:03 PM
Kate said...: Wow, I haven't seen Gobry's name since I left twitter. I'm surprised he hasn't earned a tag here.

Well, he's French. Either he's an expert on fashion or he's a snobbish fop. I know which way Althouse leans. Personally, I find the suede topsiders more offensive than the shorts.; 4/15/25, 8:13 PM
FormerLawClerk said...: There's not even one testoster in this photo.; 4/15/25, 8:20 PM
Maynard said...: I wear shorts here in Southern Arizona about 6 months each year. Like rharden, I go cargo with 5-6 inch inseams.

Althouse,

You might like the look of men in shorter shorts.; 4/15/25, 8:20 PM
Mason G said...: Supposing a man dare comment: "Women should NEVER wear *whatever*", how do you suppose that proclamation would be received by women?; 4/15/25, 8:29 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: I think Althouse had three permissive rules. Men may only wear shorts if:
1. They are participating in or on the way to or from a sports activity.
2. They are 8 years old or younger.
3. They are colonial officers in a warm weather outpost of the British Empire.; 4/15/25, 8:29 PM
Lucien said...: I like the lined 7” lululemons, which fit three tennis balls comfortably in each pocket.; 4/15/25, 8:32 PM
Temujin said...: People who say men shouldn’t wear shorts have never lived in South Florida. To us it’s a preposterous statement.; 4/15/25, 8:46 PM
Amadeus 48 said...: My wife just added a fourth one to the Althouse list. You may wear shorts if you are the young Tom Selleck on Magnum, P. I.; 4/15/25, 8:49 PM
Quaestor said...: The model is shockingly half-dressed. Study those shorts. It has belt-keeper loops for a reason. So where's the belt? And where's the belt buckle? That kind of leg-abbreviated towsers should be worn with one of those disc-shaped bull rider buckles with lots of brass and chromium.; 4/15/25, 8:55 PM
mccullough said...: Wear a belt. Lose those shoes; 4/15/25, 8:56 PM
rehajm said...: Tucking shirt into shorts- yuk. Golf course dress codes require such offenses. Worse is the long pants requirement, ensuring humid summers have quantities of adult wetness that cannot be unseen…; 4/15/25, 9:17 PM
Ann Althouse said...: What are my exceptions? I think first if you are engaged in a sport where shorts are the traditional outfit. Second, if it’s really hot and you areoutdoors or inside with no air conditioning. And third and most importantly, if you’ve got such excellent legs that it happens to look great.; 4/15/25, 9:38 PM
Mason G said...: "People who say men shouldn’t wear shorts have never lived in South Florida."

I was in Phoenix for seven years. You can add that to the list.; 4/15/25, 9:39 PM
Marc in Eugene said...: Here in the semi-tropical southern Willamette Valley, the only regular occasion I don't wear shorts is when I go to Mass. In recent years, I've imagined adding flair to my style by alternating the color of the support hose I'm told to wear. Have stuck with black, however.; 4/15/25, 10:12 PM
Narr said...: "if you've got such excellent legs that it happens to look great."

That's me, to the life.

My wife will be the first to tell you that my legs are more comely than hers.; 4/15/25, 10:17 PM
Dave said...: I know it's been said before, but women certainly should avoid pants. Dresses and skirts are much better. Exceptions for pants include work/safety concerns and that's it. Also, women should not dress too sexily so as to avoid looking like sex workers, unless they ARE sex workers, then that's fine as long as no laws are broken.; 4/15/25, 10:46 PM
mccullough said...: If guys shaved their legs like women, shorts might be more acceptable; 4/15/25, 10:58 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Next up: my list of exceptions for when it’s acceptable for women to wear yoga pants.; 4/15/25, 10:58 PM
Big Mike said...: I was in Phoenix for seven years. You can add that to the list.

And El Paso, TX.; 4/16/25, 2:21 AM
Mr. Forward said...: I refuse to travel south of the shorts line.; 4/16/25, 3:49 AM
Lawnerd said...: OP- ocean pacific tight cord short shorts worn by surfers in the early 80s. I wear shorts, but my legs look great from cycling 50 miles a day (my bike commute round trip when I was working, now just for fun).; 4/16/25, 4:30 AM
Lawnerd said...: For those who don’t know OP shorts, a company makes a knock off, in all the 80s pastel colors.

https://www.hammies.com/products/mens-short-purple?variant=46452161315056&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=668191319269&tw_campaign=20426754169&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADvOYiClAgHDUgwgLz8vKwDYfa8rI&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqv2_BhC0ARIsAFb5Ac_S10igPKpagqKLn1Mxt3fltKeqJCXxVI_JENUCGMKN54Q5ZncxWrAaAs6TEALw_wcB; 4/16/25, 4:33 AM
typingtalker said...: Isn't this why we invented air conditioning?; 4/16/25, 4:58 AM
Tina Trent said...: The one form of womansplaining I can get behind.; 4/16/25, 5:36 AM
Nancy said...: Better than puddle pants!; 4/16/25, 5:57 AM
boatbuilder said...: One of the great things about being a man is that you can ignore most of this bullshit.; 4/16/25, 6:07 AM
Heartless Aztec said...: I still wear my 1977 coudoroy (surf style) board shorts that barely cover the mullet. Sometimes I even put on white calf socks and my 50 year old Adidas too. My daughter is always appalled and refuses to go out in public with me.; 4/16/25, 6:15 AM
Mr. D said...: Wear what you want, except maybe those shoes. What are those, Hush Puppies?; 4/16/25, 6:19 AM
Tank said...: "boatbuilder said...

One of the great things about being a man is that you can ignore most of this bullshit."

This. Also, I live in SE NC and it's hot here most of the year. Also, my legs are pretty good, or so I've been told. I bought two pairs of jean shorts at Walmart nine years ago and they'll probably last me until I assume room temperature. My GF picks up my golf shorts at her thrift shop. Hey, why are we even talking about shorts when people are walking around in PJs, sweatpants and yoga things? Yikes.; 4/16/25, 6:47 AM
Just an old country lawyer said...: Although Ms. Trent is entitled to her opinions, (which on political matters I generally agree) I believe that she lives right across the lake from me in north Georgia, well below the shorts line. "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."; 4/16/25, 6:55 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: Thankfully, Althouse has that 3rd exception. My legs look marvelous. I usually keep them under wraps for the ladies sake. One look, and they're smitten. Too bad girls, I'm taken.; 4/16/25, 7:09 AM
Oso Negro said...: Sod off northern latitude fashion Nazis and Naziettes!; 4/16/25, 7:10 AM
RCOCEAN II said...: I've seen pictures of Geneal Montgomery in military shorts while in command of the 8th army - they look good. Churchill wore shorts too, while in Eygpt, and they do NOT look good on him.; 4/16/25, 7:12 AM
Oso Negro said...: @Lucien - Coofandy drawstring cotton shorts fit two balls comfortably in the center pocket - which is quite enough for my purposes. Oh, they’re a bargain at $24.99.; 4/16/25, 7:18 AM
Fritz said...: It was 65 in Maryland yesterday, and I broke the shorts out again.; 4/16/25, 7:18 AM
Jersey Fled said...: I was known among my golf friends as the guy who never wore shorts.

I’m very proud of that.; 4/16/25, 7:31 AM
Rocco said...: Is there a Shorts Belt in America?

There are several belts in America: the Black Belt, the Cotton Belt, the Bible Belt to name three.

Or is it a line like the Mason-Dixon Line?; 4/16/25, 7:36 AM
boatbuilder said...: I have golf friends in CT who ALWAYS wear shorts. Even when it's 40 degrees and windy. (Not me--I'm a skinny bastard. I wear long johns under khakis if it's below 60 degrees. Nobody wants to see my blue knees, least of all me).; 4/16/25, 7:40 AM
mikee said...: Here in Austin shorts can be worn comfortably just about every day of the year, and following Althouse's "really hot outside" rule for shorts, at least 5, maybe 6 months every year. So yeah, I wear shorts.

One problem with those pictured shorts is they are solid navy blue. If you're showing knees, go with just khaki, or as suggested above, a backside&thigh-covering Hawaiian shirt decor. For example, my shorts-equivalent swim trunks have Spongebob characters and, for reasons known only to the Chinese copyright-violating designers, space aliens and UFOs. Cheerful, and a conversation starter at the neighborhood pool, they also wear well for quick convenience store trips in July. If you're gonna have exposed knees, give the viewers something better to look at.; 4/16/25, 7:44 AM
donald said...: AFTCO original fishing shorts and quality flip flops are the only way to go here in LA (Lower Alabama). Along with my awesome hair and fake teeth it really works.; 4/16/25, 7:56 AM
Peachy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/16/25, 8:00 AM
Peachy said...: A while back, I ran into an old friend who hikes a lot. She is very fit and trim. She complained about the lack of appropriate length shorts for women. All too short.
She has given up on women's shorts, and NOW buys men's shorts. Also, she said easier to find men's shorts with comfortable length and cargo pockets.
I agreed with her and thanked her. Good idea.

I see teens and young women wearing short shorts and I cringe. It's not a good look, even if you have nice legs.; 4/16/25, 8:08 AM
CJinPA said...: Grok: "...historically, men's fashion has emphasized covered legs for modesty or status, and deviations can be judged as unconventional."

Don't hate men for challenging convention. It's called progress!; 4/16/25, 8:22 AM
Rusty said...: rehajm said...
"Tucking shirt into shorts- yuk. Golf course dress codes require such offenses. Worse is the long pants requirement, ensuring humid summers have quantities of adult wetness that cannot be unseen…"
Good point. Especially if it is a "Hawaiian" shirt. Never tuck in a Hawaiian shirt. People who tuck in Hawaiian shirts put ketchup on their hot dogs.; 4/16/25, 9:34 AM
MadisonMan said...: The legs on that model do not warrant flaunting. I'm not a shorts wearer anymore. The ravages of age and some hideous varicosities that no one should have to look at.; 4/16/25, 9:38 AM
Rusty said...: Peachy said..".I see teens and young women wearing short shorts and I cringe. It's not a good look, even if you have nice legs."
You all know "Rusty's theory of lycra, tattoos and piercings."
Very few women look good in any of those things and you're probably not among the few that do. Give it a pass.; 4/16/25, 9:38 AM
Anthony said...: I quit cargo shorts a while ago. I'm too scrawny for those. Living in AZ, I live in Dockers Perfect Short 9 months out of the year, which look similar to the ones pictured. Mainly because they have an ideal (one might say 'perfect') little cell phone pocket on the side.

Also hardly ever (probably never) tuck my shirt in, although not every shirt will look good untucked.

My own Rule is that men should never wear any form of sandals in public, unless they're around the pool or beach and then some form of flip-flops are acceptable.; 4/16/25, 10:47 AM
Hassayamper said...: I've seen pictures of Geneal Montgomery in military shorts while in command of the 8th army - they look good.

I've got a picture of my dad in Damascus, standing by the Spitfire he flew in the RAF during WW2. He was in the RAF desert uniform that looked a lot like Monty's Army uniform, except that he had an officer's peaked cap rather than Monty's beret. The rather loose shorts accentuated his bird legs, but it was otherwise quite a handsome portrait of a dashing young Flight Lieutenant. Living in Arizona, I wish I looked so good in shorts.; 4/16/25, 11:40 AM
Joe Bar said...: We had an Australian exchange officer who wore shorts in the summer in AZ. Looked really sharp, but he was a big, handsome dude. I have some short shorts that I used to wear, back when I was in much better shape. Think Magnum, PI.; 4/16/25, 1:11 PM
bagoh20 said...: What's the point of getting married if you still have to look good?
If you are single and rich, you can also wear whatever you want.; 4/16/25, 2:01 PM