Shorts or trousers for men?

1 June 2025. Editor · Koen · Menswear Editor

Shorts mostly suit leisure time: holiday, beach, garden or an informal afternoon in town. At the office, at a dinner, a wedding or a business appointment, you choose a light trouser. A light summer trouser can also be comfortable on warm days and looks smarter. If you do wear shorts, pay particular attention to length, fabric and what you wear on top. Below you can read what works per situation.

Striped cotton polo for men, a polished summer look from Issu & Lloyd

The short question: when is it fine?

Situation	Shorts	Light trouser
Beach, campsite, garden	Yes	Possible
Town in the daytime at the weekend	Yes, if polished	Yes
Terrace or lunch	Depends on the place	Yes
Office	Usually not	Yes
Dinner in a restaurant	Preferably not	Yes
Wedding, reception, business appointment	No	Yes

If in doubt, choose a light trouser.

Why a summer trouser is not necessarily warmer

How warm a trouser feels depends mostly on fabric and fit. A thick denim or a tight wool trouser is indeed heavy in summer. A light, supple trouser with some room around the leg can actually feel airy.

Pay attention to these points:

Weight of the fabric. Choose a light, supple fabric. The lighter, the better it breathes.
Colour. Cream, white, khaki and light grey reflect sunlight and look fresh.
Fit. A slightly roomier fit around the thigh, with a narrower leg towards the ankle, gives air without looking sloppy.
Length. A trouser that ends just on or slightly above the shoe looks summery and prevents a pile of fabric at your ankles.

Three light trousers for summer

The light high-waist trouser. The Winston in cream is a lightweight trouser with a high waist and a slim-straight fit: slim at the hips, straight from the leg down. Machine washable, which is pleasant in summer. With a tucked-in polo it looks polished, loose with a T-shirt relaxed.

The trouser with elastic waistband. The Vincent in khaki has a mid-rise, an elastic waistband and a slim fit. The elastic waistband makes the trouser comfortable for office, town and restaurant.

The white trouser with pleat. The Harrison in white is a tapered trouser with a single pleat, jetted pockets and belt loops. White is the most elegant trouser colour there is in summer, and the pleat gives just a little extra room and movement.

Take a look at all trousers for men or the chinos.

Wearing shorts anyway? How to keep it polished

Length: just above the knee. Shorts that go over the knee look sloppy, very short shorts look sporty.
Fit: straight and not too wide. The leg does not hug the leg tightly, but does not flap either.
Fabric and colour: a plain chino or linen blend in navy, sand, olive or white. No cargo pockets or big prints if you are going into town.
Top: make the difference with a polished top. A knitted polo or a polo with a collar lifts shorts straight to a higher level.
Shoes: loafers without visible socks, leather sneakers or smart sandals. No trainers with high socks.

The top makes the difference

What you wear on top decides to a large extent how polished the outfit looks. A polo with a collar is the natural partner of both. The Atticus in blue is a striped cotton polo with buttons, stripe details on the collar and sleeve and a slim fit. Note: we recommend taking one size larger than usual. If you want something more supple, choose the Montgomery in blue, a modal polo with soft stretch and a supple drape, which also sits comfortably in warm weather. And for a smarter look, a fine-knit open polo such as the Theodore in light grey melange made of lyocell is a lovely choice.

What does the dress code say at the office?

At most offices, shorts for men are still not customary, even on warm days. Some employers relax the dress code during a heatwave, but do not simply assume that. A light trouser with a polo is usually the safest choice at the office. If in doubt, look at what colleagues wear or check.

Shoes with a summer trouser

With a light trouser, light shoes often work best. Suede loafers, white leather sneakers and espadrilles suit cream, white and khaki. Wear invisible socks with them, so the ankle stays free. That gives a summery look. Heavy, dark shoes quickly make a light trouser look heavy at the bottom. If you want the trouser to fall a little shorter, have it shortened until it ends just on the shoe without a fold. Also take a look at our loafers.

Colours that always work

For a summer trouser, choose cream, white, khaki, light grey or navy. Those colours combine with almost any polo. A dark trouser in summer is certainly possible, but then choose a light top to keep the outfit airy.