Slim Shorts

[Aaron]

With summer coming up I was thinking about some new outfits. I'm looking for a pair of shorts that are cut and look like slim fitting suit pants, hitting the knee or just past it. Colour-wise I'm thinking grey or a good check. Any recommendations or should I just have something made?

A.

 

[phaedrus]

Last summer went the option of cutting up a pair DIY style, from old pants found in an op-shop. I cuffed them as well, because they were from an old trouser they were slimmer than what was available from stores at the time.

 

[Max]

The seemingly obvious thing to do here is to get a pair of slim-fitting suit pants, a pair of scissors, and a sewing machine.

 

[ken]

You might look like you're wearing capris. I'm of the ilk that thinks shorts should be baggy as hell.

 

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by ken

You might look like you're wearing capris.
I want to avoid that, and that's why I want them hitting where board shorts would hit you (right at the knee or just below it). I just want something slim that I can wear with a polo and a pair of low-cut Chucks for BBQ's and the like.

I don't know why I never thought of just buying some pants and getting a pair of scissors...to the thrift store I go. Thanks guys.

A.

 

[Metal Circus]

You could infuriate trads with Thom Browne.

 

[VMan]

Originally Posted by ken

You might look like you're wearing capris. I'm of the ilk that thinks shorts should be baggy as hell.

Definitely. Personally, I also like all my shorts to have cargo pockets - they just don't seem right without them. Especially in summer I use them a lot - stuff em with a pack of smokes and a few cans of beer.

 

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by VersaceMan

Definitely. Personally, I also like all my shorts to have cargo pockets - they just don't seem right without them. Especially in summer I use them a lot - stuff em with a pack of smokes and a few cans of beer.
Yeah, that's why I want them to hit at the knees, like board shorts. I actually think I might be able to use a pair of pants that I have that are never worn for this project.

A.

 

[whoopee]

Plaids and checks are a good idea.

 

[Ahaz]

It's probably not what you're looking for, but my favorite pair of shorts is a pair of $20 Old Navy pants that I cut down. They're slimmer than most shorts out there, although they're still not very slim. I wear them very casually, as you can see, what with the paint stains and frayed hem.

 

[Edward Appleby]

I can't think of any way that truly slim fit shorts wouldn't look feminine.

 

[KingKongLives]

yeah wouldn't real slim shorts look a bit strange

 

[Aaron]

Originally Posted by KingKongLives

yeah wouldn't real slim shorts look a bit strange
I'm not talking skin tight here, that would look really weird. It's just that every pair of shorts I ever see are always baggy. I'm thinking of something that is the length of a board short but the width of a slimmish trouser, nothing extreme. I just want something that will follow the line of a slim polo and some low cut Chucks or thin flip-flops. I think I have a candidate pair of pants. They're a grey flat front POW check that were hemmed incorrectly for me. I was thinking about donating them, but now they're going to this little project. I'll post pics when I'm done. A.

 

[Edward Appleby]

In that case I'd suggest the Ahaz route and cut some chinos down. Seems to me that wool trousers would make for some odd shorts.

 

[Metal Circus]

Skintight shorts from pants have been done. There's an art high school in Orange County that really digs them, though they're more into vintage running shorts these days.