Heavyweight cotton T-shirt, £14.90, and extra-fine merino jumper, £34.90, Uniqlo; Seersucker shorts, £85, Wax London; Acetate sunglasses, £99, Bloobloom; Leather trainers, £195, Russell & Bromley
My short game comes in three vibes: practical cargo, regular fit chino and slim tailored. All cotton and all bases covered (I gave up on denim shorts several years ago, largely to maintain dignity). Shorts last me years because they never go out of fashion. Do they?
Apparently, they do, so when I slipped into these seersucker ones, it felt like stepping into the future. Not a material I’ve ever worn and after being reassured that it was cotton, not polyester so wouldn’t melt onto my thighs if I got too close to the barbecue, I found the material light and comfortable.
Shorts can be a minefield. For middle-aged men, Hems advises a just-above-the-knee length “that doesn’t cut your knee in half”.
“The key thing is the fit. If you have slimmer legs, shorts that flare out at the bottom will make your legs look skinny. Likewise, if you are shorter, longer shorts will accentuate this and if you are taller, shorter shorts will amplify your height.
The fine merino wool jumper worked well with the outfit.
“Materials such as bamboo, fine merino wool and linen work well for men in the summer because they’re breathable and absorb moisture,” adds Hems. “Fine merino wool also has the benefit of being anti-microbial. It regulates your body temperature and doesn’t pick up smells.”
With any short there is the problem of footwear, and specifically socks. Younger men can pull off the trainers and white sock look, but can middle-aged men?
“Let’s just ditch the socks,” laughs Hems, “or at least find the right ones, like short trainer socks. For older men, the white sock and trainer look can be a complete and utter fashion fail. A nice clean pair of white socks and white trainers can look good, but it’s a young look.”