Joe's Top Picks
Black Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
W CONCEPT (US)
Football Signature Pocket Nylon Shorts [Green] GA GN
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$80.00
W CONCEPT (US)
Check Shorts That Actually Earn Their Keep
THREADED PEAR
Arleth Detail Lace Tie Shorts
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$36.99
THREADED PEAR
Khaki Shorts You'll Reach For First
ZEAGOO
Half Sleeve Knot Front Crop Cardigan Top with Shorts Sets - Khaki S
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$35.99
ZEAGOO
Plain Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
AFEWVIBE LTD
Eric Emanuel EE Basic Paisley Shorts Red White SS
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$140.00
AFEWVIBE LTD
Printed Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Snuggle Season Pyjama Shorts Purple Floral
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$20.99
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Stripe Shorts That Punch Above Their Weight
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Club Inch Stripe Shorts Pure Ruby - Pure Ruby
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$45.00
TENNIS EXPRESS
The Tailored Shorts Worth Knowing About
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Melbourne Dri-Fit Slam Inch Tennis Shorts - White
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$58.97
TENNIS EXPRESS
Black Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
Most black shorts fail in one of two directions. They're either trying so hard to be technical that they look like you've wandered off a trail run, or they're so aggressively casual that they read as an afterthought. Neither works when you're trying to look like someone who thought about getting dressed. The shorts we've pulled together here live in the space between those two failure modes. The right inseam length matters more than most men realize. Too short and it becomes a statement you didn't mean to make. Too long and you're back in 2004. We've been looking specifically at cuts that sit just above the knee, fabrics that don't wrinkle the moment you sit down, and waistbands that don't broadcast their elasticity to the room. Black is the easy call for this category because it travels well and works harder across more situations. These are the ones that look considered without announcing themselves.
W CONCEPT (US)
Football Signature Pocket Nylon Shorts [Green] GA GN
$80.00
W CONCEPT (US)
UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Mens Tye Dye Sweat Shorts
$46.31
UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM
SHOPBOP
Rhone Unlined Pursuit Shorts Black
$74.00
SHOPBOP
MARISSA COLLECTIONS
Mini Stripe Shorts
$390.00
MARISSA COLLECTIONS
W CONCEPT (US)
Denim Half Shorts [LIGHT BLUE]
$66.00
W CONCEPT (US)
CERQULAR
MAXX Mens Sports Shorts Black M W
$16.89
CERQULAR
SPIRAL DIRECT US
DEATH FOREVER - Vintage Cargo Shorts Long Black
$59.99
SPIRAL DIRECT US
ZEAGOO
Long Sleeve Front Ties V Neck Shorts Jumpsuit - Black L-
$32.89
ZEAGOO
CERQULAR
ADIDAS Mens Casual Shorts Black L W
$23.39
CERQULAR
CERQULAR
DICKIES Mens Workwear Shorts Black M W
$25.99
CERQULAR
THREDUP (US)
Hang Ten Shorts: Black Solid Pattern Bottoms
$9.99
THREDUP (US)
THE LUXURY CLOSET
Giorgio Armani Black Cotton Belted Shorts
$141.00
THE LUXURY CLOSET
Check Shorts That Actually Earn Their Keep
Check shorts have a credibility problem and it comes down to one thing: most of them look like they belong at a resort buffet, not anywhere you actually want to be seen. The pattern draws attention, which means the cut, the length, and the weight of the fabric all matter more than they would on a plain pair. Get those things wrong and the check just amplifies the problem. Get them right and you have something that works harder than people expect from shorts. We have been looking specifically at options where the check feels considered rather than loud, where the inseam sits at a length that works with clean footwear, and where the fabric has enough structure to hold a shape through a full day. Madras, tattersall, windowpane. Each one asks something slightly different from the rest of the outfit. The ones we have pulled together here answer that question before you even have to ask it.
THREADED PEAR
Arleth Detail Lace Tie Shorts
$36.99
THREADED PEAR
RENT THE RUNWAY
Marine Layer Boxer Shorts Blue-white-print
$88.00
RENT THE RUNWAY
INTIMISSIMI
Intimissimi Check Print Cloth Shorts Man Green
$50.00
INTIMISSIMI
PRINTERVAL
Cat Hawaiian Summer Shirts, Lovers Cat, Shorts For Men, Shirt For Men, Gift For Him, Tropical Clothing
$17.95
PRINTERVAL
SHIEKH
Men Range Corduroy Shorts Black Bottoms M Black
$39.99
SHIEKH
DTLR-VILLA
Jordan Essential Fleece Shorts
$1.00
DTLR-VILLA
MEMOI
Pair Men's Knee-Length Cotton-Rich Knit Boxer Shorts - L White
$34.00
MEMOI
THE LUXURY CLOSET
Ganni Beige Checked Cotton Pleated Relaxed Fit Shorts
$175.00
THE LUXURY CLOSET
PRINTERVAL
Shark Swim Shorts For Men: Summer Wear
$16.95
PRINTERVAL
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Coastal Sea Shorts Malibu Check
$15.75
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Forever Life Booty Shorts Pop Check
$15.75
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
EILEEN FISHER
Puckered Organic Linen Shorts
$148.00
EILEEN FISHER
Khaki Shorts You'll Reach For First
Most men own a pair of khaki shorts that look fine on a hanger and slightly wrong in real life. The fabric puckers somewhere unexpected. The length is off by an inch in a way that's hard to explain but easy to see. The pockets add bulk where there shouldn't be any. We've been looking specifically for the ones that avoid all of that, which means paying close attention to inseam length, fabric weight, and whether the waistband sits properly without a belt doing all the heavy lifting. The khaki short is a harder thing to get right than it looks, and most brands don't bother trying. The ones we've pulled together here work because the cut is considered and the fabric has enough structure to hold its shape through a full day of actually wearing them. Smart enough to pair with a linen shirt, relaxed enough for a plain tee. These are the ones you reach for without thinking.
ZEAGOO
Half Sleeve Knot Front Crop Cardigan Top with Shorts Sets - Khaki S
$35.99
ZEAGOO
HARVEY NICHOLS US
Boss Logo-embroidered Cotton Shorts - Khaki
$54.10
HARVEY NICHOLS US
THREDUP (US)
YMI Khaki Shorts: Gray Solid Pattern Bottoms - Size
$13.99
THREDUP (US)
ZEAGOO
Two Piece Set Casual Loose Shirt Jacket and Elastic Shorts - Khaki S
$37.99
ZEAGOO
THREDUP (US)
Iz Byer Khaki Shorts: Gray ChevronHerringbone Pattern Bottoms - Size
$15.99
THREDUP (US)
SHIEKH
Men Nike Sportswear Authentics Mesh Shorts Shorts KhakiWhite
$64.99
SHIEKH
SHIEKH
Men Brooklyn Fleece Shorts Desert KhakiLt Smoke Grey Shorts M Desert KhakiLt Smoke Grey
$59.99
SHIEKH
SHOPBOP
Polo Ralph Lauren Corduroy Shorts Khaki Stone
$110.00
SHOPBOP
THREDUP (US)
Refuge Khaki Shorts: Ivory Solid Pattern Bottoms - Size
$8.99
THREDUP (US)
UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM
Solid Athletic Basketball Sports Shorts
$32.78
UNIQUE KULTURE AFFILIATE PROGRAM
THREDUP (US)
Sleeper Khaki Shorts: Green Solid Pattern Bottoms - Size
$45.99
THREDUP (US)
DAILY SALE, INC.
Men's Slim Fit Flat Front Belted Shorts - Assorted Colors and Sizes - Royal Blue
$15.00
DAILY SALE, INC.
Plain Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
Most shorts are guilty of something. A logo where there shouldn't be one. A length that can't decide what it wants to be. A pocket that adds bulk without adding anything useful. The category has a real noise problem, which is why finding a plain, well cut pair that simply gets out of its own way can take longer than it should. We've been looking specifically at shorts that earn their place through fit and fabric rather than branding or distraction. Inseam that hits somewhere between mid thigh and the knee. A waistband that sits properly. Cloth that doesn't go papery after three washes. These are not boring choices. They're the ones that actually work with the rest of what you own, that photograph well on holiday without looking like you tried to dress for a photograph, and that hold up across a full summer rather than one long weekend. Restraint, when it's executed well, is its own kind of statement.
AFEWVIBE LTD
Eric Emanuel EE Basic Paisley Shorts Red White SS
$140.00
AFEWVIBE LTD
AFEWVIBE LTD
Corteiz x Slaughter Gang Savage Mesh Shorts Black
$95.00
AFEWVIBE LTD
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Club Graphic Inch Tennis Shorts Carbon
$37.95
TENNIS EXPRESS
SHOPBOP
Polo Ralph Lauren Short Sleeve Shirt & Shorts Set White
$250.00
SHOPBOP
SHOPBOP
Palmacea Pino Praia Shorts Praia Black
$160.00
SHOPBOP
SHOPBOP
Save Khaki Cotton Relaxed Shorts Union Blue
$140.00
SHOPBOP
DTLR-VILLA
Adidas -STRIPES SWIM SHORTS
$9.98
DTLR-VILLA
KARMALOOP
Deep Jungle Mesh Shorts
$19.99
KARMALOOP
SHIEKH
Men Strictly Roots Shorts Blue Shorts M Blue
$12.74
SHIEKH
MANLY
Men's Spring Fashion Striped Woven Sports Casual Shorts MTADP
$36.95
MANLY
SHOPBOP
Playa Lucila Playa Lucila Shorts Mint
$117.00
SHOPBOP
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Club Graphic Inch Tennis Shorts White
$37.95
TENNIS EXPRESS
Printed Shorts That Don't Try Too Hard
Most printed shorts are guilty of one of two things. Either they're so loud they make every decision about what to wear on top completely impossible, or they're so cautiously minimal they may as well be plain. The ones worth owning sit in neither camp. A good print reads with intention without demanding the whole outfit orbit around it. Scale matters more than most men realize. A large chaotic pattern on a shorter inseam is a statement whether you meant it to be or not. We've been looking specifically for prints that work with a plain tee, a linen shirt worn open, or a simple polo without any of those combinations feeling forced. Florals that aren't resort wear. Geometric patterns that don't look like a beach towel. Abstract prints with enough restraint to wear somewhere other than a pool. The length and the fabric weight matter just as much as the pattern itself. These are the ones that have the confidence to let you wear them.
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Snuggle Season Pyjama Shorts Purple Floral
$20.99
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
KARMALOOP
Peacock Mesh Shorts
$19.99
KARMALOOP
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Street Casual Pattern Simple Color-block Printed Large Men's Set Shorts-DeepBlue-
$36.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Contrast Tie Dyed Banner Personalized Printed Large Men's Set Shorts-blue-
$36.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
CERQULAR
Shorts Tang Noir
$78.54
CERQULAR
THREDUP (US)
Board Shorts: Yellow Print Pattern Swimwear - Size
$11.99
THREDUP (US)
THE WEBSTER
Aloha Printed Swim Shorts Multicolor
$380.00
THE WEBSTER
SHIEKH
Men PUMA x Carrots Shorts Orange Shorts Orange
$59.99
SHIEKH
HARVEY NICHOLS US
Represent Training Stretch-jersey Shorts - Grey
$57.96
HARVEY NICHOLS US
THREDUP (US)
OFFLINE by Aerie Board Shorts: Green Print Pattern Swimwear
$17.99
THREDUP (US)
THREDUP (US)
Rewash Shorts: Green Paisley Pattern Bottoms
$9.99
THREDUP (US)
SUPERDRY US
Superdry Men's Classic - Inch Logo Board Shorts Blue
$64.95
SUPERDRY US
Stripe Shorts That Punch Above Their Weight
Most stripe shorts get it wrong in the same two ways. The stripe is either too bold and you look like a deck chair, or the fit is too baggy and the whole thing reads as an afterthought. Getting both right at the same time is rarer than it should be. Stripe shorts should do what a good striped shirt does for a wardrobe: add a bit of life without demanding attention, work with a plain tee as easily as a linen overshirt, and look like they belong on a man who thought about what he put on. We've been looking specifically at cuts that sit at the right length, fabrics that don't crease into disaster after twenty minutes of sitting down, and stripe colorways that actually coordinate with the rest of a summer wardrobe rather than fighting it. These are not novelty pieces. They are the ones you reach for on a good day and look better than you expected.
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Club Inch Stripe Shorts Pure Ruby - Pure Ruby
$45.00
TENNIS EXPRESS
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Hawaiian Gradient Stripe Coconut Tree Print Men's Big and Tall Set Shorts-Orange-
$36.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
CERQULAR
ADIDAS Mens Shorts Black & Blue Sports S W Athletic Track Casual
$32.49
CERQULAR
CERQULAR
Nike Sport Shorts - Navy Polyester
$28.13
CERQULAR
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
Whispered Secrets Mini Shorts GreenTeal Stripe
$34.99
WHITE FOX BOUTIQUE US
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Men's Big & Tall Hawaiian Simple Stripe Print Shirt Shorts Set Shorts
$36.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
KARMALOOP
Wilcox Mesh Athlete Shorts
$38.00
KARMALOOP
WILD OAK BOUTIQUE
Kinzie Lounge Shorts
$42.00
WILD OAK BOUTIQUE
SHIEKH
Men Rival Rage Heritage Shorts Red Shorts L Red
$34.99
SHIEKH
HARVEY NICHOLS US
Only The Blind Desert Stripe Crochet-knit Cotton-blend Shorts - Beige
$96.60
HARVEY NICHOLS US
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Club Inch Stripe Tennis Shorts Pure Ruby - Pure Ruby
$33.95
TENNIS EXPRESS
HARVEY NICHOLS US
Casablanca Logo-monogrammed Jacquard Shell Swim Shorts - Green
$208.66
HARVEY NICHOLS US
The Tailored Shorts Worth Knowing About
Most men own shorts that belong on a beach and nowhere else. That's fine for the beach. It's a problem everywhere else summer asks something of you. A rooftop dinner, a weekend away somewhere with a bit of style to it, a lunch that's too warm for trousers but too considered for whatever faded swimwear you've been holding onto since 2016. Tailored shorts solve this without making you feel overdressed or like you're trying to look European. The key is in the cut and the fabric. Too long and they read as awkward. Too short and you're in different territory entirely. The sweet spot sits just above the knee in a fabric with enough structure to hold a crease but enough weight to move properly in heat. Linen, cotton twill, a good wool blend for cooler evenings. We've pulled together the pairs that understand the assignment and wear well with a leather loafer or a clean white sneaker equally.
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Melbourne Dri-Fit Slam Inch Tennis Shorts - White
$58.97
TENNIS EXPRESS
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Men's Big & Tall Hawaiian Patchwork Coconut Tree Print Shirt Shorts Set Shirt-Black-
$33.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
DEZHEN
Light Grey Piece Summer Herringbone Double Button Business Casual Men Suit Blazer+Shorts - Light Grey R
$119.00
DEZHEN
DAILY SALE, INC.
Men's % Cotton Belted Cargo Shorts - Assorted Colors and Sizes - Black
$12.00
DAILY SALE, INC.
DTLR-VILLA
Polo Ralph Lauren Gellar Cargo Shorts
$39.98
DTLR-VILLA
TENNIS EXPRESS
Men's Core Performance Technical Inch Tennis Shorts Aphylla
$75.00
TENNIS EXPRESS
KARL LAGERFELD (US)
Karl Lagerfeld - Bermuda Shorts, Man, Blue, Size:
$129.00
KARL LAGERFELD (US)
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
Men's Big & Tall Hawaiian Patchwork Coconut Tree Print Shirt Shorts Set Set-Black-
$58.00
BIGGMANS CLOTHING (US)
CERQULAR
DICKIES Mens Navy Blue Casual Shorts M W Polyester Blend Comfortable Workwear
$33.79
CERQULAR
W CONCEPT (US)
COTTON ONE-TUCK BERMUDA SHORTS [WHITE]
$156.00
W CONCEPT (US)
DEZHEN
Aesido Light Blue Seersucker -Piece Men’s Summer Suit Blazer + Shorts - Red R
$119.00
DEZHEN
W CONCEPT (US)
Dion Shorts
$143.00
W CONCEPT (US)