Styling a cohesive outfit is largely a balancing act. Every element needs to work in synchronicity and there should be a general sense of unity from head to toe. This is why wearing bulky items on your top half is never a good look with shorts. Doing so throws things off balance, creating a top-heavy look that won’t do your legs any favours. Instead, stick to light fabrics and form-flattering cuts.
Choose Socks Carefully
Sock length is a tricky thing to get to grips and a lot is down to personal preference and the type of footwear being worn. While there are no hard and fast rules, we find no-show socks to be a good option across the board from a style standpoint. Trainer socks are best left alone for anything but the gym and anything above the ankle should be tasteful and venture no higher than just below the calf muscles.These taller socks are best reserved exclusively for sneakers and never for smart shoes.
Get The Shoes Right
To get an idea of the importance of footwear, just imagine wearing a pair of shorts with Chelsea boots. Suffice to say it wouldn’t be a good look. Generally speaking, low-cut shoes tend to look better, with the exception of some high-top sneakers. If it has the word “boot” in its name, give it a wide berth.
Consider Your Build
We’re all different. What looks good on one person might look terrible on another. General styling advice is useful up to a point but it’s also important to consider your own unique body shape when taking it on board. Short men should avoid excessively lengthy shorts in favour of slightly shorter styles which make the legs look longer. Vice versa for tall guys. If you have very muscular legs, opt for loose fitting styles over anything too fitted, or if your legs are on the skinny side, do the opposite.
Less Is More
We’re firm believers in a less-is-more approach in all areas of menswear and it holds true for shorts too. Simple, understated styles age better, offer a greater degree of versatility and encourage good dressing without having to rely on zany prints or excessive detailing. And if it has anything more than four pockets, steer clear.
