There are certain garments that menswear collectively agrees to leave in the past. Think deep V-necks, spray-on jeans and parachute pants. Denim shorts have spent years sitting comfortably in that category, filed away alongside cargo capris and pointed-toe Derby shoes as something we'd all quietly agreed never to revisit.
Until now..
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Jorts – long, loose-fitting denim shorts, usually finishing somewhere around the knee – have staged one of fashion's more unexpected comebacks. Once the preserve of dads on package holidays, skaters loitering outside shopping centres and early-2000s nu-metal bands, they're now appearing everywhere from luxury fashion week runways to Scandinavian street style. COS has them. Acne Studios has them. So does pretty much every high-street retailer worth mentioning.
The surprising thing isn't that they're back. Fashion has always had a habit of digging through its own bins. It's that they can actually look... good.
Like any divisive trend, the difference between looking contemporary and looking like a Limp Bizkit tribute act comes down to understanding why it's happening in the first place. Here's our guide to the trend, including how to wear jorts and where the trend came from.
Why now?
Fashion works in cycles, but it also works in reactions. The last few summers belonged to the five-inch inseam. Running shorts escaped the track. Rugby shorts became everyday wear. Showing a bit of thigh stopped feeling remotely controversial. Naturally, fashion got bored. Longer shorts were the inevitable next step.
That shift is part of a much broader move towards volume. Jeans are baggier. Shirts are boxier. Tailoring is softer. The oversized jort simply slots into an already established silhouette rather than feeling like an isolated trend.
Then there's the ongoing obsession with the late 1990s and early 2000s. But rather than revisiting the sleek minimalism of the era, designers have moved onto its rougher edges. Skateboarding, hip-hop and underground streetwear have become the primary reference points, bringing loose denim, oversized proportions and relaxed styling back into the spotlight.
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It's also another example of fashion's love affair with reclaiming supposedly ugly clothes. Crocs, dad trainers, technical sandals, cargo trousers. Every few seasons something that once felt irredeemably unfashionable gets dragged back into the spotlight and recontextualised. Jorts were always going to have their moment eventually.
Perhaps most importantly, though, they're comfortable. They don't cling. They don't ride up. They work on almost every body type. In an era where people increasingly want clothes that feel relaxed without looking sloppy, they make a surprising amount of sense.
Not all jorts are created equal
If your mental image involves oversized DIY cut-offs hanging halfway down the shin, forget it.
The best modern versions are clean, simple and deliberately proportioned. Look for a relaxed fit through the leg with a hem that lands somewhere around the knee. Light vintage washes work particularly well, although ecru, black and mid-blue are equally versatile.
The emphasis should be on shape rather than excessive details. Heavy distressing, oversized logos, decorative stitching and cargo pockets quickly push things into costume territory.
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How to wear jorts
Wondering how to wear jorts? The easiest way is to pretend they're a pair of wide-leg trousers that happen to stop at the knee.
Keep everything else relatively understated. A plain white T-shirt, lightweight knit polo or Oxford shirt provides enough structure without competing for attention. Resist the temptation to lean too heavily into Y2K nostalgia. Unless you're heading to a fancy-dress party, there's no need for oversized basketball jerseys, wallet chains or backwards caps.
Use your footwear to set the tone. Penny loafers instantly smarten things up, while retro runners, minimal leather trainers and chunky fisherman sandals all work well to keep things relaxed. The combination of oversized denim and refined footwear creates the sort of contrast that makes an outfit feel intentional rather than accidental.
Pay attention to proportions, too. If the shorts are loose, keep the top relatively neat. You don't need everything oversized. In fact, that's usually where people go wrong. A boxy T-shirt is fine, but it should still fit properly through the shoulders. Think relaxed rather than engulfed.
Who should wear them?
Pretty much anyone. That's perhaps the biggest misconception surrounding jorts. Despite looking like a very fashion-forward piece, they're actually more forgiving than short shorts. You don't need cyclist's legs or a personal trainer's approval to pull them off. The extra length makes them feel easier to wear, while the relaxed fit is comfortable in a way slim denim never really was.
The trick is confidence. If you're constantly tugging at them or wondering whether people are staring, you'll probably look uncomfortable. Treat them like any other casual summer staple and they'll quickly stop feeling unusual.
