Nic is very specific. "I don't want ones that make me look like an overgrown skateboarder," he emails, "and I definitely don't want ones with elastic drawstrings at the turn-up." He's talking shorts. Nic works in the civil service, and wants to bare leg in the office. A man after my own heart.
The words "service" and "civil" mean a limit on finances. I've already emailed him to seek out the Topman tailored ones I mentioned last week, but they were from the Design range, which is available in limited stores. It is also online, but I've just checked on topman.com and at time of writing there weren't any office-friendly shorts on offer. The usual high-street advice applies: keep checking. He says his preferred length is mid-calf, but I'm not sure this works in a tailored short.
Miu Miu and Jil Sander showed the best office-friendly shorts this season, made from grey suiting and stopping at the knee. (Sander's were part of a shorts suit.) These will be above Nic's budget, but the summer sales are soon to start, so bargains could be had. He mentions the alternative option of a short pant - have you tried turning up trousers you already own? While rolling-up looks right on denim, a neat, ironed fold is best in tailored, even if the turn-up is purposely large. Experiment and see what lengths suit particular pairs. It's down this route, echoing the Thom Browne cut, that you're more likely to find something mid-calf that fits your bill. Most on sale at that length are the awful cargo pant hybrid we should all avoid.
Final shorts thought: cut-offs. A few months ago I argued with colleagues that knee-length was the only option for men. My subconscious obviously begs to differ, since a few weeks ago I dreamt my ideal length for cut-offs was mid-thigh. Now, which pair of jeans is for the chop?
· Charlie Porter is associate editor of GQ (m-f-a-s@hotmail.com).
