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| Photos by Salt Water New England |
Where do you get your shorts? Do you have a favorite source or do you treat them more as a commodity? For colors and styles, what are the "must haves" and deal breakers?
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Muffy Aldrich
Muffy Aldrich, Editor of Salt Water New England: The Thing Before Preppy, since 2010. And a 12th Generation New Englander.
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Email Muffy at editor@saltwaternewengland.com
What inseam do members of the community prefer for their shorts?
ReplyDeleteYou have been reading my mail. Inseam length trumps all.
DeleteThé inseam would depend upon the height of the person wearing the shorts. A proper fitting pair of shorts, on a man, will fall to just above the knee. The gent on the “Carina” nails it.
DeleteI wear mine cut slim and a bit long, with the bottom hem between the middle and bottom of my kneecap. I'm five seven, and shorter ones just don't look right on me, and ones that aren't slim look like gym shorts.
DeletePatagonia Stand Up Shorts come only in 7” inseams which are just right for me.
DeleteI think it depends on the activity one is doing. One doesn't want a 10" heavy cotton canvas while hiking a mountain. Freedom of leg movement is key so you'd want a nice wide leg with a somewhat short inseam; the OLD Patagonia Stand Up shorts(anyone remember those) had perfect inseams. Golfing, if you wear shorts at all, you'd want a more presentable inseam that would hit the knee. For sailing, a good sailing short with an inseam you feel comfortable in is best, I've found the longer the length, the more cumbersome they are----just my two cents.
Delete9 inch inseam.
DeleteI very rarely wear shorts -- but once in a while, if the weather is exceptionally hot or I'm going out in the kayak, I'll don a pair. Until very recently, Orvis made a great pair of shorts called the Angler Chino Shorts. Their new version does away with everything I liked about the model they sold for the past several years. Those will always be my favorites but now I'm on the lookout for something similar. Great photos, as ever.
ReplyDeleteI have bought six pairs of Orvis's Signature chino shorts over the years. The tailoring is superb and the length is perfect. They were rebranded as Angler last year. They have been replaced recently by the new Angler shorts that, as you say, have a different design and a fish logo above the rear pocket. It would be very useful to know if the quality of waistband and pocket material have been changed too.
DeleteSince I am a woman of a certain age, 64, seven inch inseam seems to work.
ReplyDeleteI tend to look for a seven or eight inch inseam. If you are OK with heavier-duty cotton, Patagonia's stand up shorts are nice; it's a pity they no longer sell them with a nine inch inseam. Patagonia lightweight all-wear hemp shorts (actually 3/4 cotton, 1/4 hemp) are a nice lighter-weight option. Do the eight inch inseam on those, six is kind of short. I like having at least one pair of madras shorts and one pair of reds.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas shorts are a necessity. I have Khyber cloth in khaki, cream, and olive from the Andover Shop, old reds from Murray's, and patch Madras too old to identify or recall their provenance. I am considering blue and white seersucker from O'Connell's.
ReplyDeleteI do not know that these are true deal breakers, but I frown on shorts too tight or too short to look good on the wearer. Cargo shorts may have their place, but I believe it is on an isolated mountain in the Rockies, Sierras, or Cascades. I generally buy MiUSA clothing, but for shorts, especially Madras or critter, this is hard to find, and when such MiUSA shorts are found they are priced high and have limited selection. O'Connell's is the best MiUSA source for Madras.
ReplyDeleteOne of the ugliest--and most common--garments among today's American men is those very baggy cotton cargo shorts with pocket flaps that curl all over the place, usually worn with flip-flops and an especially foolish-looking ballcap.
DeleteIt is never acceptable for men to wear shorts.
ReplyDeleteAre you by chance a time traveler?
DeleteEither a time traveller or a farmer. Gardeners may wear shorts, but farmers don’t.
DeleteIs it also never acceptable for men to wear trousers too?
DeleteAu contraire. It is always acceptable for men to wear trousers.
DeleteSarcasm: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain.
DeleteOh wait, but I just gave away all my trousers and shorts - now what I supposed to wear? Please help.
Long trousers used to be a rite of passage. The only grown ups that wore shorts were scout masters, ramblers and dodgy eccentrics.
DeleteApart from sport or on the beach, there is no real need for shorts in the UK.
Shorts lack gravitas. Like tattoos, T shirts and trainers they tend to make people look like slobs.
Ideal length for men's shorts is 9-10''. They should be narrowly tailored, but not "skinny", and definitely no pleats or creases.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that shorts should be narrowly tailored, and not "skinny", but I prefer a 7 inch length and flat front as well.....
DeleteFor work around the house; Carhartt shorts. On and around liquid, shorts from Musto or Dubarry...
ReplyDeleteI never wear shorts. When I was drafted into the Army in 9/1962 I was issued a pair of tan shorts, short sleeve shirt and long socks. I never wore this uniform and never was asked to wear it. Fortunately the alternative was long sleeve shirt and long pants.which was my choice. At my ETS I turned in the shorts etc unused.
ReplyDeleteI entered the army in 1965 when shorts and knee socks were no longer being issued. But they were still allowed. Before going overseas, I was stationed at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and wore khaki every day after my training was finished. I managed to find a pair to wear but the knee socks were very difficult to locate. I appreciated them, since everything was warm to the touch. Then I went to Germany where that was never a problem.
DeleteI find that J.Crew has an excellent product in their shorts, and decent value when you can get them for 25-35% off depending on what sale. I spring for the 7" inseam. Also I have several pairs of Patagonia stand-up shorts which happen to stand the test of time.
ReplyDeleteI agree. For basic shorts, J.Crew are about as good as you can get nowadays. My husband and I both wear them.
DeletePatagonia Quandary shorts
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have experience of Timberland's lightweight chino shorts, either the Squam Lake plain or the cargos? The quality looks fine but their relaxed fit seems to come up a bit large so I would need size down.
ReplyDeleteLL Bean and Land's End. Various shades of khaki with a couple of loonier Madrass pairs and two others in olive green.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
'Madras' that is.
Deletea great
ReplyDeleteFor those purists among us like Garner Plauditz, Murray's Toggery sells a decent, conservative looking short pant in Nantucket Red form, color and style. I believe those short pants are fashionably appropriate if you are an adult. Madras and cut off Levis are for the younger set.
ReplyDeleteRecollect taking my teenage son to Blue Bird Circle, resale shop run by doyennes for Texas Children's Hospital. Saw a vintage pair of Banana Republic shorts...what a find. He bought him for $5.00.
ReplyDeletePlease: Can anyone identify the brand name of the shorts the gray haired man is wearing in photograph 4 going down - he is wearing blue and white striped oxford cloth button down with frayed collar - the photograph before the woman in pink polo?
ReplyDeleteThank you !
Columbia
DeleteI was wondering, too. Perfect length and the hemming is excellent. I was guessing Bill's khakis after I tried zooming in on the label.
DeletePart of Columbia’s PFG (Performance Fishing Gear) line
DeletePatagonia Stand Up Shorts.
ReplyDeleteStill clinging to my vintage, Abercrombie & Fitch, Safari cloth shorts! They just keep going!
ReplyDeleteold navy khaki shorts - $15. Thank me later.
ReplyDeleteIn the heat and humidity of summer, I love a nice pair of Madras shorts. I love the lightweight fabric which is so functional. I found a woman on Etsy who will make the shorts for me with added touches I like; they are light as a feather and on hot days they are a lifesaver.
ReplyDeleteSidenote: In Muffy's pictures, the gentleman wearing the striped blue shirt and khaki shorts: he has THE perfect length and hemming; it looks like a nice, two inch hem----so classic and perfect.
Cargo shorts are particularly egregious.
ReplyDelete8inch inseam, Madras, Seersucker, twill - O'Connell's, J Press.
ReplyDeleteYes for O'Connell's. Khaki and olive twills are essential, and white duck, seersucker, red, and Madras are optional. For lighter weight, choose cotton gabardine over twill. I like Press but prefer OC. OCs are baggier.
DeleteI don't get too precious about shorts. They live a hard life and die a slow death from sand, dog hair, paint, motor oil, and mustard. At some point, my wife puts them out of their misery.
ReplyDeleteEvery couple years I buy a new pair and throw the worst old ones in the trash.
The yachts, the cars and the sartorial style - I want to live where you live. Are you taking newbies or are you all stocked up?
ReplyDeleteI've been saying that for years - "I want to live where you live!" Talk about an idyllic town setting...
DeleteAs an old sailor at 71 years a 9 inch or so seems right for old legs. My go to these days is Henri Lloyds explorer or freemantle shorts. Hard wearing and quick drying. Great for racing or drinking a Dark’n Stormy at the bar post sail. Use my old stained Tommy Bahama khakis for the sanding/painting/teak oiling and other maintenance projects. And, yeah, my Quoddy’s are held together with sail tape.
ReplyDeleteShorts? J. Press, Duck Head, L. L. Bean and Land's End. Same for summer sport shirts of one kind or another.
ReplyDeleteKind Regards,
H-U
Just perfect!
ReplyDeleteWhere do I get my shorts? Why I inherit them, of course. Some of my shorts are six or seven generations old.
ReplyDeleteDouble L Chino Shorts, Classic Fit, 8"
ReplyDeleteI like the Polo relaxed chino short, 9” inseam.
ReplyDeleteBrooks Brothers, classic fit, 7", khaiki or grey, they go with everything.
ReplyDeleteI think the Magnum P.I. length should be brought back.
ReplyDeleteWill
updated my comment from a few years ago, Patagonia has brought back stand up shorts with a 7" inseam - 'heritage' stand up shorts. Just in time to retire my old, frayed stand up shorts to yard work and re-staining the deck.
ReplyDeletethough I strongly prefer natural fibers unless I'm hiking, Kuhl Renegade hiking shorts cross over from trail to town very nicely. 95% nylon/5% spandex so they're very comfortable, sturdy fabric suitable for hiking and rock scrambling, and they look good, less technical than some other trail shorts I wear. Only downside to me for non-trail wear is the extra pockets, but they're less noticeable than some dedicated hiking shorts like Patagonia's Quandary.