Highsnobiety

It's often said you can tell a lot about a person from their shoes, but it's also true of dudes and the length of their shorts. A 5-inch inseam is for kings who know how to have a good time, while a 7-inch denotes someone who, although affable enough company, is kinda narc-y. Go beyond those zones and you're in red flag territory — usually, you'll find anything longer is favored by clowns who still listen to early '00s nu-metal and watch WWE.

But wait, could this until now infallible measuring stick soon be obsolete? In summer 2020, there's no doubt the short short reigned supreme as fellas proudly displayed months of leg day torture by showing more thigh than ever before. Taking that into account, the trend ouroboros would dictate we're about to come full circle, wearing the kind of kneecap-skimming shorts that once were the reserve of Fred Durst and co. How, dare I say it, ironic! Strangely, a certain Argentinian is already ahead of the curve.

Lionel Messi is no Hector Bellerin or Serge Gnabry when it comes to sartorial matters. In fact, Messi is so profoundly anti-fashion, it's as if he sees clothing as some kind of regrettable necessity (remember, this is a man who turned up to meet the president of Gabon "dressed like he were going to a zoo").

Messi is pure business, obsessed with football to the point his apartment probably consists of one solitary chair on which he sits, eyes closed, and thinks about scoring goals, like a hitman mentally actualizing future kills. Or so we thought. Recently, we've noticed a development where the Barcelona number 10 has been taking to the pitch wearing huge, kinda hilarious, voluminous shorts. The type that makes his previous oversized fits look tailored, by comparison.

Getty Images / Valerio Pennicino

The reasons as to why Messi sizes up is unclear, but is most probably related to performance and comfort rather than aesthetics. Still, the fashion set has been on the big shorts vibe for well over a year now — remember those now legendary shorts that Frank Ocean wore on the cover of 032c back in 2018? Numerous labels have dabbled since, with highlights coming from Issey Miyake (their wildly popular Homme Plissé bangers were surely the unofficial shorts of 2019) and the likes of Prada. Dior's Resort 2021 menswear collection was full of big shorts, styled with loafers for a look that made the often woeful combination of formal and sportswear actually tick.

Pants are getting bigger all the time — see this year's flared runway looks from Raf Simons, Celine, and Martine Rose — so it makes sense that their younger, less celebrated sibling would follow a similar suit. Big shorts aren't for the every-day, but there are certain occasions and fits, particularly in late shorts and hoodie season, where having that extra fabric feels right. The wave might not have caught fire yet, but surely it's a matter of time. Is there anything Lionel Messi can't do?

Bottega VenetaStretch Nylon Shorts
$790
Buy at ssense
Image on Highsnobiety
BurberryCheck Dan Shorts
$214
Buy at ssense
Image on Highsnobiety
Bottega VenetaPress Weave Shorts
from $1050
(Available at 2 Merchants)
Image on Highsnobiety
Casablanca x BrownsBermuda Short
$606
Buy at Farfetch
Image on Highsnobiety
UNIFORMETailored Wide-Leg Shorts
$353
Buy at Farfetch
Image on Highsnobiety
JacquemusQuadri Check Bermuda Shorts
$501
Buy at Farfetch
We Recommend
  • adidas' Samba Sneaker Just Got Messi
    • Sneakers
  • Lionel Messi's Dropping a Shockingly Simple Samba Sneaker
    • Sneakers
  • The Best Staple Tees in the World, Ranked by Weight
    • Style
  • In The Name of Logic, Explain My Love For Big Boots With Shorts
    • Style
  • Few Items Are More Versatile Than a Shirt Jacket
    • Style
What To Read Next
  • Tough as Shell: the Making of an Outerwear Icon
    • Style
    • sponsored
  • Celebrity Sneaker Moments That Are Shaping Our Footwear Rotation
    • Sneakers
    • sponsored
  • Now's All About Looking Sporty & Rich – No, But, Like, Literally
    • Style
  • Shop Our Favorite Casual Shoes Here
    • Style
  • Alessandro Michele & Valentino Are Official
    • Style
  • Maha's Jade-Equipped adidas Sneakers Are Gems (EXCLUSIVE)
    • Sneakers
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titel Media GmbH (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titel Media GmbH strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titel Media GmbH tests, remediates and maintains the Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.