Longer shorts

Fashion has never been afraid of contradiction. One season, designers insist that less is more.

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The next, they add more fabric and declare it revolutionary. Men's shorts are the latest example of this curious cycle. After years of promoting thigh-skimming styles, fashion has swung decisively in the opposite direction. Today's fashionable shorts are longer, roomier and often so oversized that they blur the line between shorts and trousers.

The trend has become increasingly visible on catwalks, in street style and on celebrities. Hemlines have dropped from well above the knee to the knee itself and, in some cases, even below it. Loose silhouettes have replaced slim cuts, giving shorts a relaxed, almost flowing appearance. Some designs are so voluminous that they resemble culottes or cropped trousers more than the traditional shorts associated with summer.

This raises an amusing question. If a garment is no longer particularly short, should it still be called shorts?

The fashion industry seems to think so. Designers appear unconcerned with the literal meaning of the word. Instead, they focus on proportion, movement and styling. As long as the garment belongs to the shorts category, its exact length has become less important than the overall silhouette.