Did you know, shorts weren’t an acceptable piece of clothing till the Second World War? It is still a heated debate whether men should be wearing this bottomwear or have it in their wardrobe at all.

There’s reluctance, hesitation, confusion, and most of all ignorance about the same. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that these clothing types are a pretty new addition to the fashion world for guys. Let’s solve all the difficult conundrums.

Say Hello To The World Of Mens Printed Shorts!

#How do they look like?

These garments are short enough to expose your knees and long enough to hide your thighs. Anything beyond fails to qualify for the definition. Below the knees, the bottomwear becomes a pair of high-cut or three quarter pants.

The shortest should have at least a ½ – 1-inch rise above the knees. The longest should just have the knees covered, but hesitantly. And if it shows your thighs, you can call it underwear. You don’t want to roam around in underwear, do you? Keep your eyes and mind open while buying the product.

#How to wear?

This is a tricky question. Most points are arguable because people like to stick to their own opinions. But, here’s what we think:

Refrain from wearing the baggy versions. They make your legs seem stunted and your torso bulky. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should look for the tight versions. How about a trimmed cut? The point is, you should be able to wear it without putting on a belt or a having to struggle with drawing the zipper. Avoid the bottomwear if it contains a lot of dangling threads. Match them with short-sleeved chequered shirts and tees. Don’t tuck them in. You should not be wearing shorts with formal shirts. That’s atrocious! A white or light coloured top goes well with solid coloured printed pants. If you’ve opted for the mens printed shorts, try wearing dark tops. Socks are not recommended. Not at all if you are pairing them with sandals. Boaters and loafers look fine. And if at all you want to wear socks, put on the ankle-length ones with them. Should you wear jackets and blazers? We’d say, why not? Sure, go for this fashion-forward mode. Okay, this is still debatable. Want to accessorise? Wear a casual watch, a leather bracelet, and a pair of shades. That is all. And if you want a cooler look, carry a bottle of summer beer.

#Which fabric to choose?

Cotton is the best. It’s breathable, lightweight, and easy to wash. Avoid wearing fabrics like denim and nylon. You can also go for seersucker, madras, chino, and linen.

#Which pattern to pick?

Stripes Herringbone Glenurquhart check Simple plaid Casual prints

#Where to wear?

Never wear them to formal parties. Corporate is out of the question; you should ditch wearing them to weddings, too. You’d be laughable. They are ideal for streetwear, beachwear, casual hangouts, your regular gymming sessions, and graduation parties. If the length is till the middle of the thigh, know that it’s for athletic purposes. Wear it for this purpose only. If the bottomwear is full of pockets, know that it has been designed especially for the hikers. If you too are an adventure enthusiast, these are the garments for you. Shorts as office wear is still a questionable choice. Try it at your own risk. We cannot guarantee if it’s going to turn out any ‘professional.’

#When to wear?

Whenever it’s the season. In fact, any season – summer, winter, spring, or autumn. Whenever there’s an opportunity, like temperature doldrums (we’ve discussed this in the above point), occasion (check out ‘where to wear?’), location (street, beach, gym, etc.). Whenever you are lounging and not in a mood to do business be it whatsoever.

Done with all the points? Revise if you want to. Shorts ethics can be very perplexing because there are so many people saying so many different things. Let us know what you think.

And what was it again about those prints and patterns?