I know summer is upon us and that casually parading around in shorts is the best way to show off that well-worked summer tan (if you’ve mustered up one that is), but I hate to admit I’m not much of a short-wearing kind of guy (one pair of shorts hangs in solitude in my wardrobe). Even in the sweltering heat, I would rather throw on some pants and call it a day.
I’m not saying shorts are a no go for the summer, but with a little creativity and some impetus from the SS08 collections, men just like me can turn to those crème-coloured twill pants hanging in your wardrobe and reinvent them into a cropped pant style.
Investing in a pair of cropped pants with a predetermined length is a safe and assured bet if the conservative look is more you.
Then again, my slant on style is more edgy so I was smitten with the whimsical, rolled pant-leg rendition that was a hallmark of many SS08 collections. Personally, Junya Watanabe and Yohji Yamamoto’s Y-3 lines produced some stand out, summery takes on the trend with the folded up hem flaunting bright colours or patterns dissimilar from the main body of the pants.
To me, the rolled pant leg is very “do it yourself,” requiring an on hand pair of pants that you don’t mind reeling up a bit. Moreover, one is at liberty to play around with different lengths and not feel boxed in by precut cropped pants that may not do it for you lengthwise.
All in all, the styling trend of rolling one’s pant leg can ease our masculine insecurities of showing too much skin with a traditional capri-cut pant and partially offset our summertime woes with the heat. Besides, men stretching from Södermalm, Sweden to the backstreets of Shoreditch, London are embracing the quirky look so it’s okay to show a little ankle and a little skin.
I reckon that you either go with: one leg rolled – al á the Hip-Hop look; or both mid-shin; or neither. Michael Jackson was rockin’ the double ankle-swinger back in ’88, and 20-years later, i’m still not feeling it.
That said, the blue trench, grey slacks ensémble above is kinda slick!
I’m definitely a fan of cropped pants in the summer. They add a fresh, cool confidence to men’s fashion (when done correctly of course) giving men another option in bottoms, breaking up the monotony of the pant/short look. Why should we women have all of the fun ; ) With that said… keep those ankles oiled up men. This look with ashy ankles is NOT allowed!
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I really like the sockless look, especially on the right. I think guys look hot sans socks!!!