Welcome back to the Gentleman's Gazette. In today's video, we'll be discussing how
to select the correct shorts for your body type.
Now whether you are tall or short,
lean or muscular, there is a comfortable pair of shorts out there for you. It
might sound rather foreign to some of you to have to select the correct type
of shorts for your body type. Now some of you might be thinking, "Can we just simply
grab any color in any style of short that's being sold at any store and
simply call it a day?" I beg of you, please do not do this.
I might be sounding a little dramatic here but I promise you there is a better
way than simply grabbing anything and throwing it on. The thing is, everyone on
Earth has their own unique body type and when you discover yours, you'll find that
shopping is a much more pleasurable experience and it's much easier to style
yourself. For further information on how to discover your ideal body type, check
out our video on How To Dress for Your Body Type. Today, to help you better understand how to discover your
ideal style of shorts, we're going to be covering five key components. Those are
fit, length, color, material, and style. So the first area we're going to cover is
fit. It is very important that you pay attention to the fit of the shorts that
you decide to wear. The reason is the way clothing sits on a person helps
determine the kind of perception others may have of them even before that person
even opens their mouth to speak a word. Now, let's take a look at three different
fit options to help you better understand what to stay away from when
shopping for shorts.
1. Having shorts that are far too loose. This
issue tends to be able to be noticed more when the shorts are also quite long. Now
the main issue here is that there is an overall lack of shape and if you happen
to be someone who has very thin legs to begin with, the disparity between the leg
opening of the shorts and your thin legs will be enhanced that much more. Very
often, people like to associate wearing something loose as a means of masking
their very thin frame. In reality, this actually has an opposite effect, and they
often look quite smaller than before. You can learn more about this concept and
our style guide for the slim man video. Baggy cargo shorts are probably one
of the worst offenders in this loose category. Not only are their leg openings
far too wide, they also have extra added bulk from the large pockets and whatever
you decide to jam in there. The next area we want to cover is having shorts
that are far too tight. Now I'll go ahead and admit it myself, I have been a repeated
offender of this as well. This mistake is very easy to make especially in today's
world where it's very easy to see that slim fit is often the standard being
presented everywhere. And also, keep in mind that depending on how you are
shaped, it might be very easy or very difficult to actually see when something
is too tight. The key here is to make sure that you take a look in the mirror
and check for excessive pull lines, especially near the pocket region and by
your thighs. And also, when you look in the mirror, if it looks like your main
center button or clasp black enclosure is crying out for mercy, you might want
to either adjust your size up or at least, adjust the fit to help you find
something that's a little bit more comfortable. And the next thing that
we're going to take a look at is actually something that we want to shoot
for, it's that just right category. Now, having your shorts fit just right is the
ultimate goal but what does that look like? See, now that we know exactly what
to not do, it's important to pay attention to how your body moves and
operates in certain fabrics and designs. Now taking myself, for example, I tend to
carry some weight near my waist and upper thigh region so I tend to stay
away from things that are listed as too skinny, especially if there is ZERO
stretch at it. That is usually quite uncomfortable. However, my legs from my
knees to my ankles actually look a little bit slimmer, so wearing anything
that's too long or too loose looks equally as ridiculous. In the warm
summer months, I usually choose to wear a cotton-based shorts that have added stretch
for extra comfort and a moderately slim fit. This allows one to stay comfortable
and not look too sloppy, regardless of whatever the casual setting I might
be in. When you're first learning about how to figure out what fit is going to
work best for you, it's best to try on as many different fit options as you can
possibly get your hands on but the ultimate goal is to find something that
is both comfortable and fairly timeless for you. Also, when you're at the store if
you find a pair of shorts that you seem to like but that are really listed as
relaxed or loose or slim or skinny, try asking a salesperson for some assistance.
Also go ahead and take a look at the rest of the stores' presentations about
how they advertise their clothing, you might start to notice a bit of a trend.
If things look quite loose and relaxed, or does everything look extremely skinny
and almost spray-painted on the mannequins.
Shorts also listed with a traditional waist size
like a 32 or 34 will also be helpful. It's very important to address the wider
portions of your physique first and then you can start paying attention to things
like length, material, and color. A few great places to shop for some great
timeless short options would be Brooks Brothers, Banana Republic, J.Crew, and
Ralph Lauren. Now that we've discovered your ideal fit, let's move on to finding
the ideal length for your body type. Now, different lengths and shorts will be
appropriate for different occasions. Different lengths will say different
things, but the first thing we're going to look at is the 11-inch length. This is
a much more conservative length and is usually best to be worn by someone who's
well over 6 feet tall. Next, we have the 9-inch length. Now, this is usually my
personal go-to. This length is quite the sweet spot for many men who happen
to be between 5'9" and about 6'1". Now, that's like this conservative enough
but still quite timeless. You won't look like you're wearing a three-quarter
workout pants but you also won't be exposing too much skin. Next, we're gonna
look at the 7-inch short length. Now this is a length that many, but not all, preppy
guys will opt to wear. A casual look and a greater amount of exposed skin will
not work for everybody but still a viable option for a lot of guys. Next,
we're gonna take a look at the 5-inch short length. This length is ideal
for men who are well under 5'10". Let's get to remember that the shorter
the shorts, the longer you start to make your legs look. Now, if you already have
quite long legs and you decide to wear a 5 inch short or anything shorter, you
start to look a little bit unbalanced. Now the last length that we're going to
take a look at right now is the 3-inch length. Now I don't know how many are
actually sold and it's been a while since I've seen them, but they are out
there. Now this length is usually seen on bathing suits or athletic shorts but
they're also available on a casual short option as well.
Remember, the key is to make sure that the length and fit match your body type.
Keep in mind that when discovering what length looks best on you and your body
type, using your height alone is usually not the best determining factor to only
use when choosing one versus another. For example, let's say, we have two
friends who happen to both be the exact same height. Now at 5 foot 9, it's very
easy to assume that they both wear the exact same length in their shorts.
However, in this situation, that is not true. Why? Because one friend has a longer
torso with shorter legs while the other friend has a shorter torso with longer
legs. Now if another person happened to be
shopping for both of these friends and was not paying attention to these
differences, they would both find themselves looking extremely different
in both of these shorts even though they're both wearing the exact same size.
This kind of rule of thumb is also very important to remember when shopping
for suits, shirts, and even pants. Please keep in mind that not all lengths will
look ideal on all body types, having a length that falls just above the knee is
the most timeless and conservative. It's also very important to remember that
fashion is cyclical. Shorter shorts have actually been considered in for the last
10 years or so, most likely to counteract the longer and baggier styles from the
late 90s into the 2000s. However, shooting for a short cut is just above the knee
is always going to be a safe bet. Now the next area we're going to cover is
material. There is a wide array of different material options for you to
choose from when selecting something for your shorts.
When shopping around, you might start to learn that different designers and
manufacturers will use more of one particular material or material blend
than another brand. The more you start experimenting with different brands and
styles, the more you're gonna start to learn what material or material blend
will look best for you and your personal style. Now, some of the more commonly used
materials or material blends are cotton. Easily one of the most commonly used
fabrics in clothing, using cotton to create shorts as quickly and fairly
inexpensive depending on the quality of the cotton being used.
Linen. Linen comes
from a long history dating back well over 30,000 years. Linen was made from
fibers of the flax plant, it is strong and absorbent. Today, linen is enjoyed as
a breezy and relaxed style and everything from suits, shirts, and of
course, shorts. Linen's ability to dry faster than cotton makes it the popular
choice. Keep in mind linen has a natural wrinkle. Next, we have
spandex. I know some of you might be envisioning the equivalent here of biker
shorts and you wouldn't be wrong but there are other uses for the spandex
material as well. The spandex is often combined in various quantities with
other fabrics to create a specific amount of give or stretch. In other words,
you're not going to find 100% spandex shorts outside of perhaps, athletic wear.
Next, we have polyester. Polyester is a synthetic fiber, sometimes it is combined
with the natural fabrics or fibers to create a cloth with different
properties. In general, we recommend staying away from polyester. Other than
in very small amounts as adults, heat and odors don't wick moisture and wrinkles
unattractively. It may also wear out more quickly than natural fibers. Next, we have
denim. Denim being used as a base for a pair of shorts or jorts isn't new,
however, it does look extremely casual, and jorts have a bit of a pent stylish
reputation. To say the least, cut-off denim shorts were incredibly
popular in the 1970s into the 1990s but unless you're wearing them to Coachella,
it's best to leave them in your closet. Now, for more information about denim and
its history, check out our video on How To Style a Denim. Next, we have a few different material
blends. One that's quite popular is the cotton and polyester blend.
Now this blend is strong and much more wrinkle and tear-resistant than cotton
alone. This blend, as opposed to cotton alone is also going to help you
in terms of shrinkage resistance. A few other very popular fabric combinations
happen to include cotton and linen, cotton and spandex, and polyester and
spandex. Next, let's cover a few different pattern styles. The first number we'll
take a look at is the ever-popular seersucker. Seersucker is actually a
patterned weave fabric. It was originally used in the United States.
For a broad array of different garments, seersucker is also known as a railroad
stripe. It was all cotton and usually warm with stripes but can also be found
as a checkered pattern as well. Now, a fun fact -- the word seersucker came into
English from the Persian words shear and shakar meaning milk and sugar. You can
learn more about seersucker and our guide to stripes and menswear in The Stripes Guide. Next,
we have madras. Madras is a lightweight cotton fabric with a patterned texture.
The word madras actually is the former name of the city of Chennai in
India. Madras is easily recognizable from popular styles. First, we have madras
plaid and patchwork madras. For further information about madras, take
a look at the How to Wear Madras video. Other pattern options would include a pinstripe, a
plaid, or even a print. If you're dressed running out, it's best to stick to solid
colors that are quite neutral and then down the road maybe you can start
introducing the occasional pattern. Solid colors tend to be much easier to filter
into your wardrobe. A few other weaves that you might find when shopping around
for shorts happen to include Jacquard, Jersey Knit, Twill or an embroidered pair
of shorts as well. Now, the next topic we're going to cover today is on color.
The first color we're going to take a look at is navy blue. Depending on what
the manufacturer's dye is like, the navy blue in question might look almost black
or almost like a bright royal blue. The ideal navy color that we're looking for
is neither too dark nor too bright, and it's interchangeable with a variety of
different shoe and shirt options. The next color we're gonna take a look
at is stone. Sometimes it looks more grey,
sometimes it looks more brown, but it's a neutral color nonetheless and if you
can't find or simply don't care for this color, we recommend checking out a taupe
or a cream shade as well. The next color we're gonna take a look
at is khaki. Thus functional and as versatile as this color is, I see that
sometimes, many people find it quite polarizing. Some find the ease of
manipulating khaki into so many different outfits fantastic. Other people
find that color to be quite a trigger reminding them of their school dress
code days. Now, whichever side of the aisle you land on, just know that you
can't go wrong with having at least one pair of khaki shorts in your wardrobe.
They are simple and effortlessly timeless. And do you already have all of
these colors? If so, consider adding some of these to mix up your wardrobe. Now
first, we have passed out blue for a very breezy feel. Next, we have olive green for
something that's a little bit more unique than having a khaki pair of shorts,
or perhaps even adding a pink for something that's a bit more bold. Now for
more information on how to find the correct color for your skin tone, check
out our video on How To Find The Right Colors For Your Skin Tone.
Now of course, there are many other colors we could've listed here,
however, these colors are fairly timeless
and offer you at the ability of being able to create multiple outfit without
feeling the attempted by the entire store's offerings. As you might have
imagined, just as there are many color options or also a lot of style options
made available to you when selecting your ideal shorts,
let's take a look at a few popular style options. First, we have flat front shorts.
These tend to sit a little bit lower on your waist
unless you're intentionally buying a pair that has a higher rise. Next, we have
pleated shorts. Pleated shorts tend to sit a little bit higher on your waist.
Now these shorts are a much more traditional approach compared to the
flat front short. They might look a bit stodgy but they do have their place. If
the fit on these pleated shorts is flattering, we would consider them.
Next, we have the cargo short. As we mentioned before, cargo shorts are increasingly out
of style and for good reason, cargo shorts are often baggy, bunch, and
weighed down by items and their endless pockets. Best to remember to steer clear
of the style unless you are camping and truly need the extra storage. And
last we have the Bermuda shorts. The Bermuda shorts are also known as walk
or dress shorts. These shorts are seen as a semi-casual option that can be worn by
either men or even women. Now, Bermuda shorts happened to air on the longer end
of the short length spectrum. Now for a broad overview on these and many other
styles and their history, check out our comprehensive short guide. Now, I
know it might feel very overwhelming sure to find those ideal shorts. There's
so many options being made available -- different colors, different lengths,
different material options to consider. Some people would rather throw their
hands up and say I'm not even gonna bother trying. Now, when you feel frustrated,
it's important to remember those five things that we learned about today -- Fit,
length, color, style, and material, and your next shopping experience will be much
more pleasurable. Today I'm wearing a long-sleeved Irish linen shirt that I
picked up from J.Crew. It's made with red, blue, and kind of a crew mesh white
background. I'm pairing this shirt with a pair of navy nine-inch shorts. I like
this outfit because I can manipulate it with different shoes whether it be a
pair of driving moccasins or canvas sneakers, they're very interchangeable. I
could also wear the same shirt with a pair of khaki pants and some great Fort
Belvedere socks and for some other great accessories for you to add to your
summer wardrobe, check out the Fort Belvedere shop here.