The temps are rising, and you know what that means: shorts season is upon us. Our ace menswear correspondent is sharing his edit with this ultimate guide to the best luxury designer shorts this season for men, including looks for lounging, tailored picks, and some totally over the top options, too.
The Ultimate Guide to luxury designer shorts for men
Shorts are supposed to be easy! But for such a simple garment, shorts are hard. A summer staple, they’re meant for the times when everything is a little more relaxed. A little more laid back. Unfortunately the less fabric there is to work with, the more complicated things become. Considerations like fit, length, drape, pattern, material, and where you’re going to wear your shorts are all more important when you abbreviate the legs. It can be a bit much when all you want is that sweet, sweet breeze in the middle of summer.
Guide to luxury designer shorts for men this season, including looks for lounging, tailored picks, and over the top options, too.
The good news is options abound. The bad news is… options abound. Shorts of every stripe (literally) have hit the market. They’re integral to designers’ and brands’ spring/summer collections and likely a part of your own warm-weather arsenal. Or at least they should be. Some questions you might want to start with when whittling down the not-so-short list of shorts: Where am I going in these? What length am I comfortable wearing (hemlines have simultaneously risen and lowered in the past few years)? Is this a fashion short? Or am I just kickin’ around in the heat?
Guess the decision tree isn’t shorter.
We’ve rounded up a whole bunch of the best shorts we could find for every conceivable occasion, even semi-formal ones. Consider yourself liberated from the shackles of pants, however briefly, and freed from the struggle of selecting just the right pair of shorts.
the 40 Best Luxury Designer Shorts for Men this season
Lounge Shorts
Hanging around the house or heading on a bodega run, these pairs put comfort at the top of the priority list in variations of terrycloth and jersey. They are not, however, schlubby.
1. Volta Straight Leg Waffle Knit Cotton Drawstring Shorts by A Kind of Guise
Waffles: great for Sunday breakfast and for Sunday shorts.
BUY NOW – $155.00.
2. Straight Leg Logo Print Cotton Jersey Drawstring Shorts by Celine Homme
Hedi Slimane tapped his grunge skater sensibilities yet again for these cutoff-hem sweatshorts.
BUY NOW – $750.00.
3. Shorts by Fear of God Essentials
With these shorts, plum is in season, ya know?
BUY NOW – $95.00.
4. Technical Jersey Shorts by Gucci
Gucci-fy your gym entrance and egress with these shorts.
BUY NOW – $1,100.00.
5. Wavy Terry Shorts by OAS
Catch a wave in these shorts.
BUY NOW – $120.00.
6. French Terry Sweatshorts by Reigning Champ
As its name suggests, Reigning Champ makes some of the best sweats out there like these mid-weight shorts destined for chilling.
BUY NOW – $105.00.
7. Nauge Wide-Leg Tie-Dyed Shell Shorts by Le 17 Septembre
This trippy tie-dye is surprisingly versatile.
BUY NOW – $270.00.
8. Chill Drawstring Shorts by Alo Yoga
Of course the folks from Alo Yoga will get you kitted with some post-savasana shorts.
BUY NOW – $78.00.
9. Basel Lounge Shorts by Derek Rose
One of the joys of summer: pajamas as shorts.
BUY NOW – $150.00.
Casual Shorts
Your all-around, hangin’-out, dress them up or dress them down, easy shorts. Solid choices for almost any summer happening. Like chinos, but shorter.
10. Easy Short in Ikat Print by Save Khaki
Juuuust enough of a subtle ikat print happening to separate these shorts from the rest of your shorts supply.
BUY NOW – $120.00.
11. Seersucker Weekend Short by Todd Snyder
Todd Snyder has made his Weekend Short something of an off-duty cult favorite. We’re digging the olive seersucker color this season.
BUY NOW – $118.00.
12. Baggies 5” Shorts by Patagonia
Consider this a PSA to stock up on your summer Baggies now. They get snapped up quickly.
BUY NOW – $65.00.
13. Melbourne Shorts by A.P.C.
A.P.C. does workwear vibes really, really well, like rendering these shorts in a deep olive color, hitting right at the knee.
BUY NOW – $230.00.
14. Frayed Denim Shorts by Loewe x Paula’s Ibiza
Quite possibly the most luxe cutoffs ever from the ever subversive Jonathan Anderson at Loewe.
BUY NOW – $550.00.
15. Flat Front Chino Shorts by Alex Mill
Not too baggy, not too fitted, not too anything. The ideal chino shorts. Grab ‘em in khaki and navy.
luxury designer shorts for men
BUY NOW – $98.00.
16. Striped Cotton Shorts by SMR Days
Remember what we said about in-season stone fruits? Check these featherweight plum shorts.
BUY NOW – $395.00.
17. Bo Shorts by Alex Crane
Alex Crane came in hot with their all-linen approach and we appreciate the many patterns they offer in their signature shorts.
BUY NOW – $78.00.
18. Wide-Leg Striped Jersey Drawstring Shorts by Dries Van Noten
These Shorts you could wear for an evening out and then straight to bed.
BUY NOW – $565.00.
19. Corduroy Everywear Shorts by Madewell
Corduroy isn’t just for the brisk fall months. Fine-wale lightweight iterations are great for summer (and get better as they fade).
BUY NOW – $75.00.
20. Trekking Cargo Shorts by Our Legacy
Yes, in fact cargo shorts are back. But these streamlined ones aren’t like your middle school ones.
BUY NOW – $390.00.
21. Keigo Palaka Short by Saturdays New York City
Who’s up for a picnic in these shorts?
BUY NOW – $145.00
22. Striped Linen and Cotton Blend Shorts by Wales Bonner
There’s a handcrafted air to this breezy white pair by English design darling Wales Bonner.
BUY NOW – $485.00.
23. The Straight Denim Shorts by 7 For All Mankind
White denim cutoff shorts aren’t just for eating lobster rolls on the cape. With some Jordans or AF1s, they’re good for “summering” in the city, too.
BUY NOW – $148.00.
24. Crocheted Drawstring Linen Shorts by Commas
When those sweltering temps hit, airy linen is the only way to go. Commas gets that.
BUY NOW – $385.00.
25. Elasticized Waist Shorts by AMI Paris
A wider, slightly more refined take on a khaki walking short courtesy of a French brand.
BUY NOW – $350.00.
Tailored Shorts for Men
While shorts do signal an inherent casualness, there are some tailored pairs in crisp cottons and even summer-weight wools that can elevate more formal fits, too. Fixed waists, tabbed adjustments, deep cuffs and sharp pleats bring them into elegant territory. Ahem, Pedro Pascal at the Met Gala.
26. Pleated Linen Bermuda Shorts by Incotex
You’ll have to go with the linen wrinkle flow with these tailored shorts for men, but they’ll still be a polished pair.
BUY NOW – $395.00.
27. Juniper Tailored Shorts by Helmut Lang
These shorts are slick, short and minimal.
BUY NOW – $325.00.
28. Straight-Leg Cotton Twill Drawstring Shorts by Stòffa
Stòffa brings its characteristic relaxed tailoring and thoughtful details to these roomy shorts.
BUY NOW – $420.00.
29. Sadi Shorts by Nanushka
These shorts are commodious and precise. Feels like you’re getting away with something.
BUY NOW – $625.00.
30. Pleated Wide-Leg Wool Shorts by COS
One-half of the perfect summer suit with these shorts.
BUY NOW – $120.00.
31. Turn Up Cotton Seersucker Shorts by Thom Browne
Thom knows how to show the leg at all levels in these shorts.
BUY NOW – $990.00.
32. Tailored Stretch Chino Short by Ralph Lauren Purple Label
Per usual, Ralph brought the best of vintage chinos to these proper shorts.
BUY NOW – $425.00.
Wildcard Shorts
Shorts, more so than pants, are an opportunity to swerve. Let them be the centerpiece. Prints, textures and weird proportions are all fair game.
33. Quilted Printed Cotton Drawstring Shorts by Karu Research
Made from vintage Kantha quilts, Karu Research’s shorts evidence its small-batch approach.
luxury designer shorts for men
BUY NOW – $260.00.
34. Cotton Blend Pique Drawstring Shorts by Alanui
Alanui brings its uber-luxe knitwear sensibilities to these bandana print shorts.
BUY NOW – $1,080.00.
35. Cotton Jacquard Shorts by Universal Works
Florals: not just for camp shirts but are great in these shorts.
BUY NOW – $210.00.
36. Megablister Leather Shorts by Rick Owens
These may look like standard-issue basketball shorts from afar, but they’re actually extremely supple leather. Leave it to the dark prince Rick Owens.
BUY NOW – $938.00.
37. Striped Knit Shorts by Marni x No Vacancy Inn
If a Caribbean vacation was a pair of shorts…
BUY NOW – $895.00.
38. Twill Wide Leg Shorts by Bottega Veneta
The real flex here is the outsize proportion in these shorts. Go big!
BUY NOW – $900.00.
39. Leather Short in Dark Green by Frame
When we say “fashion short”, this is what we mean. Maybe take these for a spin before the summer solstice and mid-90s temps.
BUY NOW – $798.00.
40. Silk Gingham Shorts by Prada
Miuccia often dabbles in gingham, but these silk shorts are something new.
BUY NOW – $1,790.00.
41. Kolkata Multi-Stripe Leisure Shorts by Bode
Emily Bode can design her way around a statement short like these vintage-inspired ones.
BUY NOW – $465.00.
42. Pleated Shorts by Homme Plissé Issey Miyake
Gotta say it: Pleats please! In this case, these shorts function remarkably well when it comes to summer ventilation.
luxury designer shorts for men
BUY NOW – $279.00.
best designer shorts for men for the new season
That’s our ultimate guide to luxury designer shorts for men this season, including looks for lounging, tailored picks, and over the top options, too. Look smart, gents. And have fun out there.
