Call it the Paul Mescal effect, but there’s never been so much of a focus on men in shorts. These are the styles to know now …
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Ever since Paul Mescal arrived at the Gucci spring 2025 show at Milan Fashion Week in a pair of teensy blue striped cotton boxer shorts the internet has been working overtime theorising how the Maynooth actor can make short-shorts look so appealing. To be clear, Mescal is quite the fan of a micro-length: “I’m a fan of the short inseam,” he told GQ from the front row. “From my eye, it’s to do with proportion.” At the more affordable end of the scale, Mescal has popularised football shorts as an off-duty dressing essential; frequently snapped in his beloved O’Neill’s GAA shorts. Whether or not the rest of the male population will follow suit (too many 1980s dad dressing memories, perhaps?), hemlines are rising in the fashion sphere. How high you go, however, is down to you.
At H&M, relaxed-fit, linen-blend shorts, inspired by the runway at Hermès, boast turn-ups and are styled, à la Mescal, with thick white socks and loafers. Equally, you’ll find more outlandish versions at Zara (stripes) and TK Maxx (colour-blocking). If you’d rather go for a sporting look, look to brands like Lululemon for multi-tasking styles that boast gym-to-street appeal. One piece of advice? Avoid going too high on the waist to exaggerate the shortness of your length: you’d rather the Paul Mescal effect, than the Simon Cowell effect. Shop an edit of the best men’s shorts for summer below.
Black relaxed-fit linen-blend shorts, €29.99, at H&M.
Navy linen shorts, €100; www.oascompany.com.
Multi-coloured shorts, RRP €19.99, at TKMaxx.
Beige cotton blend bermuda shorts, €59.99, at Massimo Dutti.
Green striped viscose shorts, €39.95, at Zara.
Black draw-string shorts, The Kooples, €115, at Brown Thomas.
