Fourth, HongJoong, The8 and More Present Short Stories For Summer

Style, Trends

Fourth, HongJoong, The8 and More Present Short Stories For Summer

A matter of proportions.

By Jon-Patric De Mello

July 17, 2024

Letting the skin breathe. (Photo: DK of Seventeen)

As summer traditions come, the shedding of the long-legged pant in favour of the short is up there with the customary pitcher of lemonade and the search for amicable water bodies to submerge ourselves in. With the heat of the blistering sun belting down on our backs, it comes as no surprise that the existence of extra fabric on our clothing can prove to be the deciding factor between an enjoyable summer’s day or a fevered sweaty nightmare. Yet, beyond the humble heat-relieving purpose of its predecessors in the 1930s, the short has also evolved to become an indispensable article of clothing capable of conveying a natural laid-back style through its various cuts, materials, lengths and colours.

Whether it comes in the form of the extended calf-length jorts, the sports-centred tennis and running shorts or the utilitarian cargo shorts — each of them conveys a slightly altered story that is ultimately rooted in a desire to let the skin breathe. With that, there are notions that cannot be avoided, especially when it comes to the short-shorts loved by the Paul Mescals of the modern world, and the John F. Kennedy Jr.’s of the ’80s — the sex appeal. Calls for men to wear shorter shorts that show off the calves and thighs, particularly the 5-inch inseam shorts have taken the internet by storm. However, not all are proponents of its more suggestive purposes and instead bolster that it is simply a matter of good proportions.

In the face of the upcoming Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, it would be safe to assume that the short is not going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, it has appeared to solidify its status as an article of luxury expression at recent Spring/Summer Fashion Weeks, like at Zegna and Fendi. Just as excitingly, the short has also found itself upon the legs of many a celebrity as the summer season reaches its one-month mark — scroll to see what we mean.