• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Modest Man

  • .
  • Start Here
  • Blog
  • About
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Free Guide
Home / Blog / Clothing and Style

Real Men Wear Short Shorts (Here’s Proof)

Published on September 17, 2021 by Brock McGoff · Clothing and Style May contain affiliate links (what's this?)

Men have been wearing short, fitted shorts for decades, and that’s not changing anytime soon.

Real men wear short shorts

A few years ago, I wrote an article called How to Wear Shorts. In this article, I told guys to avoid wearing baggy shorts that go past their knees.

I thought it was pretty good advice. Nothing too controversial, right?

Wrong.

This post became some sort of troll mecca. In short order, the comments section was flooded with “real” (fragile) self-proclaimed alpha males saying things like:

Troll comments about shorts
My favorite comment is from Jon Dough (clever name, dude) who “landed here by complete accident” and definitely didn’t Google “how should my shorts fit” 😂

I won’t even show you the worst comments – those have been deleted – but it’s safe to say that my advice struck a nerve.

Anyway…the point if this post isn’t to define what a “real man” is or isn’t. That would be impossible.

Instead, I’m putting to rest, once and for all, the notion that men shouldn’t wear short and/or fitted shorts.

They absolutely can and probably should.

Men Who Wear Short Shorts

In no particular order…

James Bond

This entire article could be summarized with one photo:

Sean Connery, 1960s from OldSchoolCool

 

Connery (arguably the best Bond) is wearing shorts so short, they’re practically a Speedo.

Still not convinced?

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by James Bond 007 (@007)

You might be thinking, “well what if I’m not ripped like Daniel Craig?”

Glad you asked…

Bob Marley

Did you know Bob Marley was into socc–I mean, football?

It’s true. And when it was warm outside, he opted for short shorts:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Johnnie Black (@johnnieblackphotography)

It just goes to show, you don’t need massive muscles to pull off shorter shorts.

Conor McGregor

This MMA legend rocks short shorts inside and outside the octagon.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)

In fact, you’d be hard pressed to find a photo of “The Notorious” wearing shorts that go anywhere near the top of his deadly knee caps.

John F. Kennedy

One of youngest, coolest and most popular U.S. presidents loved showing some thigh while he went sailing with his wife, Jackie.

Jacqueline Bouvier sailing with her fiancé, John F. Kennedy, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, 1953. Photo by Hy Peskin, [1039 × 1164] from HistoryPorn

Long sleeve shirt, short shorts, no shoes = effortless style.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

Apparently effortless style runs in the family because JKF Jr. always looked fresh.

In this pic he wore short swim trunks, a white tee with contrast ribbing, and old school Nike Killshots.

Perfection.

Larry Bird

The one and only “Larry Legend” fist bumping Magic Johnson is a show of sportsmanship, both wearing short that hit above mid thigh.

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson fist bump with Boston Celtics Larry Bird, 1986 from OldSchoolCool

These guys were at the top of their game and knew a little something about function over form.

Michael Jordan

Speaking of basketball and short shorts, Il’l just leave this here:

Rookie, Michael Jordan in 1984 from OldSchoolCool

If MJ preferred short shorts, so do I. Simple as that.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Oh, and if you thought short shorts were just a weird 80s thing, here’s another basketball legend wearing even shorter shorts in the early 60s.

Lewis Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, New York City, photograph by Richard Avedon, 1963 from OldSchoolCool

He’s even got a belt buckle on those bad boys. Nice!

Jackie Chan

There are a few guys on this list who could almost certainly kick your ass (and mine, probably simultaneously).

Jackie Chan is one of them.

Jackie Chan rocking short-shorts in the 1980’s from OldSchoolCool

The pink windbreaker and gold watch really complete this look. Bravo 👏🏼👏🏼

Tom Selleck

Magnum, P.I. himself, rocking his notoriously short chino shorts:

Tom Selleck and Morgan Fairchild on the set of Concrete Cowboys, don’t show Chandler this photo (1979) from OldSchoolCool

The tucked in polo is a nice touch! #modestmanapproved

Elton John

Sir Elton John in Los Angeles in 1986…notice the smaller sized watch too?

Elton John in L.A. in 1986 from EltonJohn

This just goes to show, you don’t have to be a professional athlete to wear shorter shorts. It’s all about your attitude!

Arnold, Franco & Sylvester

Look at these jacked strongmen showing off their hard work with some high cut shorts.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Franco Colombo and a journalist, 1980’s from OldSchoolCool

I’d love to see an internet troll come out from behind his keyboard and insult Rambo to his face 👊🏻

This Navy Seal

Go tell this Navy Seal his shorts are too feminine.

Navy Seal shooting from an aircraft carrier. 1970’s from OldSchoolCool

But yeah, “real” men don’t wear tight shorts 🙄

This 70s Rollerskating Guy

I don’t who you are, guy, but I’d like to shake your hand.

Rollerskating in the late 70s from OldSchoolCool

His shorts are shorter than hers, and neither one of them seems to mind.

This Reddit User’s Dad

What a guy!

My dad taking me for a spin circa 1988 from OldSchoolCool

 

I bet his kids are awesome too.

These Tennis Legends

Two of the sports GOATs looking mean in the early 80s, back when men weren’t scared to show some thigh.

Björn Borg and John McEnroe, 1981 from OldSchoolCool

Try to insult McEnroe’s shorts and you’d get a swift racket to the face!

Another Tennis Legend

If you made a Venn diagram with sports and shorts, Andre Aggasi would be right in the middle, rocking a pair of high cut stonewashed jorts.

Andre Aggasi sporting stonewashed jorts in 1988 from OldSchoolCool

What a legend! By the way, his autobiography is worth reading.

David Mcintosh

This British model/bodybuilder/TV personality loves showing off his m a s s i v e thighs.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Mcintosh (@king_david85)

Can you blame him?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo, one of the greatest footballers of all time, is no stranger to short shorts, on and off the field.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Cristiano Ronaldo (@cristiano)

He’s not exactly jacked (although definitely lean), which goes to show that short shorts look good on thin guys too.

Demetrious Johnson

He’s one of the best pound for pound mixed martial arts fighters in the world.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Demetrious Johnson (@mighty)

He’s not afraid of trolls, and he’s certainly not afraid to show some thigh.

David Goggins

Let’s just round out this list with one of the most traditionally masculine men in the public’s eye today, tough guy David Goggins:

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by David Goggins (@davidgoggins)

You can’t hurt him, and you definitely can’t hurt his feelings by making fun of his clothes.

Who wears short shorts? 🙋🏻‍♂️

Next time you hear someone say something stupid like “short shorts are for women” just send them a link to this post.

From pro athletes and movie stars to elite soldiers and regular guys, short shorts have been a go-to wardrobe staple for decades.

Do you wear them? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Clothing and Style masculinity, shorts

Related Posts

How to wear shorts
How to Wear Shorts (and How Men’s Shorts Should Fit)
Swim shorts
Men’s Swim Trunks Guide (How They Should Fit and Where to Buy)
James-Bond-Swim-Trunks ft
How To Make Your Shorts Fit Better
How to Fold and Store T Shirts
7 Ways to Fold T-Shirts for Storage & Travel

About Brock McGoff

The Modest Man founder, Brock is an aspiring minimalist who enjoys working out, spending time with his family, discovering new brands and creating great content.

Background: Brock McGoff has a bachelor's degree in psychology and a professional background in digital marketing. He believes that men's fashion is just one facet of self-improvement, and he started The Modest Man to help regular guys feel more confident by improving their appearance.

An east coast native, Brock currently lives in Arizona with his wife and daughter. When he's not working, he spends time with family, training BJJ, reading/listening to books and podcasts, and unsuccessfully trying to decide which movie to stream.

Expertise: Brock has built a men's lifestyle YouTube channel with over 400k subscribers. He's also worked as the creative marketing manager in a men's apparel startup. Brock has been quoted in, mentioned by or featured in publications like Esquire, Huff Post, Men's Health, WWD and Forbes.

More Articles by This Author

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download). No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Ask Me Anything Cancel reply

    Got questions? Want to share your opinion? Comment below!

  1. Gary122548 says

    January 19, 2023 at 9:24 pm

    Short shorts are the only thing that look good on me. I have wound up buying women’s shorts for several years because men’s shorts are always way too long and so baggy in the rear end. Men’s shorts are designed to make you look bad … period.

    Reply
  2. Delwyn Ray says

    June 30, 2022 at 5:43 am

    Amazing article, very true and thought provoking and honest. I just ordered another short short 😀

    Reply
  3. Voice of Reason says

    June 19, 2022 at 3:25 am

    Why do I feel like the majority of those guys who got so offended at you calling out their probably solely-cargo short collection at home are *also* the ones who only wear long, baggy shorts because they’re too fat/self-conscious about their bodies to wear normal shorts? Cargo shorts are for Zoey 101 and the OC. It’s 2022 guys, clothes are supposed to be form fitting, not obese-proof.

    Reply
  4. Tom Nook says

    June 15, 2022 at 11:11 am

    Interesting article. Although I oppose the idea of short-shorts on men, some do pull it off. But based on the photos provided, short-shorts seemed to be a phase in style during the 1980s and still used for mainly sports or other physically demanding activities. To each their own.

    Reply
  5. TA says

    September 17, 2021 at 11:33 am

    Fantastic article! Short shorts are also part of the rugged traditional dress of some high alpine cultures in Europe (for example, the native dress of Tirol sometimes includes them). So for the haters, I don’t recommend telling a guy who climbs alps everyday, and keeps up his traditional lifestyle in the face of modern society, that his leather short shorts are anything other than rugged and masculine. 😉

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Join the Club

Never miss a post, plus grab this free guide (instant download).

No spam. Ever.

Subscribe Now

Top 5 Favorites for Fall & Winter 2022

  1. Thursday Boots Captain – still the best Goodyear-welted boot under $200 (full review here) 🥾
  2. Matte for Men SPF Lotion – because you should be using moisturizer with SPF
  3. Darn Tough Wool Socks – possibly the best boot socks you can buy 🧦
  4. Hamilton Khaki Mechanical – perfect everyday mechanical watch under $500 (Amazon/Jomashop)
  5. Flint & Tinder Waxed Jacket – great fit, perfect weight for fall 👍🏼

Trending Articles

Men over 40 style

How to Dress Well In Your 40s and 50s (and Beyond)

Fashion brands for short men

Where to Buy Clothes for Short Men (2022 Guide)

Seiko 5 SNK805

31 Great Watches For Small Wrists (Updated for 2023)

Best Business Casual Shoes for Men

Top 8 Best Business Casual Shoes for Men (2023 Guide)

Business casual outfits

The Complete Guide to Business Casual Style for Men

Topics

  • Clothing & Style
  • Outfit Ideas
  • Fitness
  • Product Reviews
  • Dating & Confidence
  • Grooming
  • Men of Modest Height
  • Income Reports

Footer

The Modest Man logo

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Home • Blog • Resources • Contact • Advertise

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Disclosure • Terms & Conditions

 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Copyright © 2023 The Modest Man (Registered Trademark)