Why does Chicago Love ugly plaid shorts, cargo and plaid cargos shorts?

[WayTooPreppy]

Ok just moved to Chicago and it is now "summer" and literally 80% of the shorts are comprised of really ugly plaid shorts, cargos or even worse the ugly plaid cargo shorts. really...?

Is this stylish elsewhere. It is so f***ing ugly. Looks like they are walking around in my grandmothers old frumpy cloth from her couch.

I just don't get it. I'm sure they think my madras or critter shorts are marsupialed but whatever. At least some of the stuff i think is ugly on the west coast is a unique style and I get it even if I wouldn't wear it. This phenomenon of ugly plaid shorts in chicago is just baffling... is this country wide?

Thanks,
totally confused.

 

[gnatty8]

Do the cargo shorts have those little strap thingies hanging down from the legs?

 

[uwsmuseumguy]

good god, i'm thinking the same thing. i moved from NY yesterday.

 

[butkusrules]

Originally Posted by WayTooPreppy

Ok just moved to Chicago and it is now "summer" and literally 80% of the shorts are comprised of really ugly plaid shorts, cargos or even worse the ugly plaid cargo shorts. really...?

Is this stylish elsewhere. It is so f***ing ugly. Looks like they are walking around in my grandmothers old frumpy cloth from her couch.

I just don't get it. I'm sure they think my madras or critter shorts are marsupialed but whatever. At least some of the stuff i think is ugly on the west coast is a unique style and I get it even if I wouldn't wear it. This phenomenon of ugly plaid shorts in chicago is just baffling... is this country wide?

Thanks,
totally confused.

Disagree. Plain shorts are just that- plain and boring. Live it up a little an mix in some patterns.

 

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by uwsmuseumguy

good god, i'm thinking the same thing. i moved from NY yesterday.

Yeah- because when I'm walking in Manhattan or LA I NEVER see throngs of people wearing the same.

 

[WayTooPreppy]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

Yeah- because when I'm walking in Manhattan or LA I NEVER see throngs of people wearing the same.

Yeah I lived and worked in manhattan for the past three years and never noticed it until moving to chicago recently.

I know for a fact I never saw plaid cargo shorts. I can't think of anything uglier.

I never remember noticing it in LA last summer other than typical sufer style stuff. This is old grandma style. I can't figure it out.

 

[Mild Mannered]

It's just fashion puppetry at work. GQ, Details and other magazines featured plaid shorts a few months ago, so we're going to see more of it. I also don't care for the look and am sticking with plain.

 

[uwsmuseumguy]

have to modify my earlier comment a bit, i'm fairly close to North Ave beach which may account for the accumulation of board/loud print shorts. i don't have a beef with plaid shorts done tastefully(i'm in the minority that believes grown men can wear tasteful shorts) i.e. subtle glen checks or smaller plaids. what i've seen in the last few days would seem garish on spring break

 

[Cary Grant]

Originally Posted by WayTooPreppy

Yeah I lived and worked in manhattan for the past three years and never noticed it until moving to chicago recently.

I think you missed my sarcasm.

 

[WayTooPreppy]

Originally Posted by Cary Grant

I think you missed my sarcasm.

I was disagreeing with you genius... you are def wrong.

 

[WayTooPreppy]

Originally Posted by Mild Mannered

It's just fashion puppetry at work. GQ, Details and other magazines featured plaid shorts a few months ago, so we're going to see more of it. I also don't care for the look and am sticking with plain.
Funny you say that. I was out with some guys at work and finally was like what is the deal with all the plaid shorts. Someone said they are selling them at Express and some other awful store I can't remember. Everyone looked around and was like yeah they are selling them here and here. So I guess you are right whatever they put in the stores people buy. I was just curious if it was a midwest thing or more likely I was just completely unaware that everyone everywhere now wears that crap. Next season's Madras are going to suck.

 

[WayTooPreppy]

Originally Posted by uwsmuseumguy

have to modify my earlier comment a bit, i'm fairly close to North Ave beach which may account for the accumulation of board/loud print shorts. i don't have a beef with plaid shorts done tastefully(i'm in the minority that believes grown men can wear tasteful shorts) i.e. subtle glen checks or smaller plaids. what i've seen in the last few days would seem garish on spring break
True I def own several plaid board shorts which of course I think are acceptable. It just seems like all the wear these cotton shorts where the pattern looks like an old couch someone is throwing away after the last semester of college. Maybe is just the mass number of plaid shorts and that 90% are uglier than megan fox's deformed web finger.

 

[kuwisdelu]

I live in Indiana and they're all over the place. I also think they're ugly. Of course, I don't even like normal shorts.

 

[comrade]

I'm from New York but lived in Chicago for 17 years in the 70s and 80s.
I'm not surprised with your impression. To generalize, Chicago is not
a center for elegance in mens attire. Yes, there are some fine shops,
but overall the average taste level is not very high. When I lived there,
I still did most of my shopping in New York, if only for the range of
selection.

 

[jerrybrowne]

I grew up in Chicago and can say honestly that it is generally not a very fashion-forward place. Attire tends to be geared towards practicality.