Dress shorts used to be hard to find. Even though most of your favorite pants — khakis, sweats, heels, even jeans — became readily available in summer-ready forms, the distinctive type of breezy capital-T trousers on all the runways these days were rarely in the way of warm-weather counterparts… until now.
This is a huge relief: If you’re going out to lunch on vacation, or spending the day at the beach club, or if you have friends over at the place upstairs (lucky you), you’ll really need a pair of shorts that weren’t made for the gym. That’s where the best dress shorts for men come in.
There are two paths to how to wear the style, perhaps best embodied by two of the most stylish men in recent fashion history: Thom Browne and Rick Owens. The Thom Root is neatly tailored with a concise fit, designed to be worn with a button down or classic sweatshirt. The Rick Root is bigger, less structured and cut in a longer length to wear with tees and loose button-ups. Either way, you don’t want anything too tight: nothing can ruin an attractive look faster than the sight of a visibly strained seam. As far as clothes go, don’t think too much about it. Cotton, linen, and light wool fabrics are popular for a reason.
The Best Men’s Dress Shorts According to GQ
Overall Best Dress Shorts: COS Tailored Linen Shorts
As a general all-rounder, this pair is hard to beat. Made by COS (as well-made as, dare we say, the better-designed offering from H&M Group), it ticks many of the boxes you need from a pair of smart shorts: a fit that’s tailored but not clingy, a light and roomy construction, and a color that will match well with the smartest end of your wardrobe.
The linen gives them a slightly more relaxed feel, but their color means these can still work perfectly with an unstructured jacket or light oversized shirt. And don’t let the black color jog memories of restrictive school uniforms – this time, there’s some cozy elastic in that waistband.
Best Budget Dress Shorts: Gap Linen-Cotton Shorts
If you don’t want a perfectly press-creased pair like the one above, look for something flat-fronted, mid-length, and especially something made of linen this time of year. This affordable example comes from GAP, but squint and these can be made by contemporary Scandi brands.
They sit a little low on the waist, which should influence your choice of clothing: Make sure the T-shirt, polo, or button-down is long enough to cover the belt loops, or you’ll risk an unsightly belly look. Whatever you choose, leave it open or French-tuck to avoid looking like a Boy Scout.
Best Upgrade Dress Shorts: Todd Snyder Cotton Side Tab Short
With a 7-inch inseam, this is one of the smaller options on our list, so it’s perfect for those who want to show off a little more leg. For what it’s worth, Prada revived short-shorts a few years ago, and they’ve gained steady popularity among men who are bored of baggier clothes. (If you’ve got the thighs for them, we’d recommend you go for it.)
