Long Pants in the Summer? Life’s Too Short

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The temperatures are soaring rapidly. This week, New York City is set to reach a scorching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer in New York is, to put it mildly, a sweaty and uncomfortable affair. Downtown is teeming with tourists, the air is heavy with the smell of weed, and the streets are littered with trash, needles, and human waste. This time of year always sparks a debate I feel strongly about: should men wear shorts in the city?

Perhaps it’s the Southern humidity I was raised in, but I come from a family that's all for shorts. My father, a staunch advocate of year-round shorts (well-worn khakis are the go-to), has passed on his love for them to me. When the temperature rises, walking around New York City becomes a torturous experience. Why not alleviate the discomfort by allowing your legs to breathe? Arriving at a meeting drenched in sweat in July is a fate I wouldn’t wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy.

Thankfully, the fashion world has come around to my way of thinking. Shorts are more popular than ever, and men are embracing various styles, from bold 3” quad-showers to more reserved 9” knee-grazers. Sure, some guys are rocking sloppy sweatshorts or the ever-divisive jort, but the range is vast and widely accepted. Take, for instance, Paul Mescal, the heartthrob of the world, who confidently sported a pair of impeccably tailored boxer shorts at the spring 2025 Gucci show in Milan. Mescal, a fellow shorts enthusiast, is known for flaunting his sun-kissed thighs in various styles, from the classic pitch-ready Umbro to the more niche (at least to Americans) O'Neills. The latter is an Irish brand that’s been producing Gaelic football kits since 1918. While I may not agree with all of Paul’s fashion choices (his Clairo hooded sweatshirt was, I felt, a bit too on the nose), there's no denying his status as a shorts-wearing icon.

Last week, I went into the J. Crew office on a particularly humid day and wore a pair of vintage Polo single pleat khaki shorts. They hit mid-thigh, a little longer than usual. I paired them with loafers, and a few of my colleagues made comments. Not negative per se—a gentle eyebrow raise, or its verbal equivalent, “Shorts?”— but I felt the sting. I thought shorts were acceptable in most situations and the J. Crew office isn’t particularly buttoned-up or strict. I definitely strutted through the halls. No one will shame me for choosing comfort.

I went to The Odeon to meet Lauren Sherman and Scott Sternberg for dinner that night. Sternberg is someone whose style I have always admired. Comfortable and cool with a preppy underpinning and a dash of West Coast nonchalance. When he walked into the restaurant, I noticed his outfit immediately. He wore a great pair of ripstop khaki cargo shorts, a vintage KCRW t-shirt, and a simple blue sweater. The shorts, I found out, were from an Italian brand called LC23 that I had never heard of before. Sternberg was nice enough to give me all the information I needed, and as soon as I got home from Tribeca that night, I went online and ordered a pair. I am wearing them as I type this.

The point is that clothing should be functional, and when the weather outside is frightful, we should all be able to wear shorts without ridicule. Let me be clear [Barack voice]— I am not advocating for backpacks, tank tops, Crocs, or flip-flops on Bowery, but when it comes to shorts, don’t listen to the naysayers; stay cool this summer and show your legs proudly. You might not have Paul Mescal’s quads, but the paparazzi aren’t following you.

Originally Appeared on GQ