Bespoke Suits Tailor's Tips on Being Cool in Summer (5)

VIII. Shorts and Swim Trunks

By Body Style:

Buy your true waist size. Most men look best in swim trunks that are mid thigh to just above the knee, and not tight.

The Shorts Effect -- Shorts provide a horizontal line at the knee that can make you look shorter. Great for tall guys, but short men should be aware of this effect.

Tall guys would do well in longer boxer style shorts or swim trunks.

Shorter men look best in shorts or swim trunks with shorter legs.

Thin men should steer clear of shorts or swim trunks with very short or very wide legs.

If you are heavy around the middle, you can de-emphasize your stomach by choosing shorts or swim trunks with a flat front and short band of elastic or better, no elastic. If you’re really heavy, you might try wearing a short sleeve shirt open with your swimsuit to balance the look.

To reduce the Shorts Effect shorter gentlemen can wear shorts that are solid or have vertical patterns (corduroy’s rib counts as a vertical pattern). Only tall men can go for the plaids!

The width of leg style on shorts you chose will depend on your leg size. Guys with thin legs should wear a tapered design while heavy legs will look better in wider styles. The shorts leg should not be tight.

By Activity:

Swim trunks are appropriate at the beach or by the pool, only.

The shorter the short the more appropriate it is for casual events or sports rather than dressier social occasions.

Bermuda shorts which come to just above the knee can actually be dressy (even worn with a sport jacket). Some tuxedos, mainly in the Southern part of the U.S. come with "formal" shorts.
Bermudas are not a good length on shorter men, who may want to consider the Jamaica short which is 2 to 3 inches higher.

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