Yes, Men Are Wearing Short Shorts Again

A man freely showcasing his gams is nothing new. For shorts to truly qualify as “short,” they typically have a three- to five-inch inseam—the length between the crotch and the hem. A common rule of thumb is whether your fingertips extend past the hem when your arms are at your sides.

These shorts were commonly worn by tennis players and other athletes to allow maximum mobility. They reached peak popularity in the 1980s, when they were liberally paired with crop tops, knee-high socks, and Converse high-top sneakers. Beyond the sporting arenas they were designed for, skimpy shorts became the norm for men of all ages. They came in nylon, denim, and cotton, appearing everywhere from city streets to TV and film.

Nowadays, they've re-entered the sartorial group chat, with designers and brands cutting their shorts on the dangerously shorter side. One could argue that their comeback has been a decade in the making, dating back to 2016. With nostalgia for that era at an all-time high, it makes sense that the silhouette du jour would make its return. After all, this was the year when many guys paired their Adidas Superstars and palm tree-printed tees with swim shorts.

Others have also observed a supposed link between clothing lengths and the state of the economy. First proposed by George Taylor in 1926, the Hemline Index suggests that shorter hemlines—and, by extension, shorter shorts—coincide with periods of economic prosperity. The theory argues that consumers are more willing to embrace bolder, more revealing silhouettes when confidence in the economy is high. That said, the Hemline Index is widely regarded as an "urban legend" rather than a proven economic indicator, with little empirical evidence to support it.

While we can’t claim that short shorts are back because of an economic boom, we can certainly point to their overwhelming resurgence on recent runways. At European heritage houses such as Egonlab, Dior, Simone Rocha, and Louis Vuitton, they’re juxtaposed with formal tailoring and preppy styling. At Prada and Saint Laurent, hemlines climbed well above the knee, with models pairing the shorts with strong shoulders and sharp silhouettes.

In our home turf, Southeast Asian labels have also embraced short shorts—which makes sense, given how easily they suit the region’s climate. Randolf Clothing designed theirs with a minimal inseam and side slits for a retro touch, while Fanci Club opted for a more tailored, streamlined silhouette.

A common thread across these presentations is how effectively the shorts elongate the figure. The extra leg exposure creates the illusion of added height, further accentuated by long-sleeved tops and intentional color-blocking.

A slew of the entertainment scene's most fawned-over names have gotten the memo when it comes to short shorts. Thai heartthrobs Pond Naravit and Fourth Nattawat have made outings with their gams confidently out, punctuating their looks with designer totes. For BJ Pascual and SB19's Stell Ajero, meanwhile, the shorts have become go-to pieces for lounging, paired with a baby tee or an oversized sweater.

Dr. Hayden Kho traveled abroad with a pair of short shorts in tow, lending a carefree vibe to an otherwise polished ensemble. It's a similar approach with singer Jason Dy, who tucked a dress shirt into his hot pants. And speaking of hot pants, Ruru Madrid simply rolled up his jorts to achieve a cool, cropped length.