It’s shorts season
Slowly but surely restaurants and other businesses are opening up. Around New York City, people are starting to get outside with more enthusiasm and we’ve already hit temperatures in the mid-80s.
Take stock of your shorts. Many of us overlook the condition of our shorts and it might be time to refresh your current rotation. The Peter Manning Tech Short has become one of our favorites for comfort, breathability and its ability to withstand the rigors we often put shorts through, from barbecues to lockdown fitness endeavors.
Our traditional Chino Short is still a customer favorite and in 5 and 7-inch inseams, they hit well-above the knee for the most flattering look for shorter guys. It’s not so short to evoke the battles between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and it’s not too long to remind us of the baggy oversized shorts popular with Fred Durst in the 1990s. Ours are a classic length that will always be in style.
The Fit
For not-so-tall men, it’s really important to wear shorts that are not-too-long or not-too-baggy. When you veer into that territory, it makes our legs look shorter. Your shorts should also be relatively slim, which ours are, without being tight. Make sure you select a waist size to allow your shorts to sit comfortably at the hips without requiring a belt to hold them up. In the summertime, less is more for comfort.
Don't do this:
Or this:
Shoes that go with shorts
Summer shoes are tricky. First of all you want breathability. Again, less is more when the temperatures rise. And if you are wearing shorts, your shoes are very noticeable. While men’s fashion publications are promoting sandals, slides and flip-flops for everyday wear, we at Peter Manning fall more in the traditional camp that exposed toes are better suited at the beach, lake or pool.
We love a simple canvas sneaker, casual loafers and even desert boots (which were originally designed for hot weather use for the British military). More modern updates on the traditional boat shoe (by Sperry or Sebago) also work well, along with camp moccasins, driving shoes and the Montecristi by Rivieras, which have been described as a Panama hat for your feet.
In general, you want shoes that don’t attract too much attention when wearing shorts. And if you are headed to the beach or lake, feel free to wear flip flops and other easy removable footwear choices. The newer rubber Birkenstock sandals are nice for having a lower price point and more water resistance.
