With summer in full swing and the fall months quickly approaching, once you are out of the office it’s shorts time, but not all shorts were created equal. Let me break them down for you!

Cargo Shorts. These are always a no, unless you wait tables. If you don’t wait tables then toss them (by toss I mean burn). Cargo shorts are not flattering; they don’t do anything for making your lady or gent proud either. They are baggy with extra fabric for pockets and they typically hang below your knee, making you look shorter and wider than you really are. This makes it hard to hide any problem areas. Avoid them.

That brings me to the next point, short length. Always, always, always opt for above the knee. I’m not necessarily talking “chubbies” length (which could presumably be boxers) - I’m not a fan of chubbies, obviously. I’m talking a nice above the knee Bermuda short. Most inseams for men’s shorts fall at 5, 7, 9, and 11 inches. I think the best inseams for most men would be seven inches. I prefer 5 personally. These two inseams will surely fall above your knee. You will also want to watch out for the shape of shorts. Opt for slimmer styles that follow the shape of your body. It will provide a slim outline that will suit the majority of men. I opt for straight legged or slim shorts. I am a bigger guy, so the straight leg allows me to have the room my legs will need.

Now that I have covered the two necessary things, we can talk about the personalization aspect of them. This is the best part! Do you mostly have all khaki shorts? If so, that’s okay, but let’s figure out a way to add in some fun! I enjoy solid colors- I think they are the best for my body type. Along with my body type, they allow for me to wear printed shirts, and as cliché as it is, I love a nice floral button up for summer with a pop of color short. I have yellow, green, and a berry colored shorts and they are my go to when I can add a bit of a personal touch for an outfit. But don’t only stick to what I prefer, a nice printed short is never going to be bad. If you wear a printed short, be sure to opt for a solid shirt so they don’t clash and the star can truly be the star. 

Lately I have been all about the watches and other jewelry. In high school, I used to only do silver for jewelry. I used to wear all these rings, woven bracelets, and anything else I could fit on my wrist and fingers. Although I stopped once I went to college, I have rekindled my love of jewelry, especially watches in gold and silver. I also saw a famous Youtuber and Instagrammer who added on bracelets and a forefinger ring to his accessories. It put me on the hunt for the right jewelry to add on.

The key to jewelry is wearing enough that you are slightly extravagant, but not so much that you look like you are in the mafia. It’s a fine line, but one that has a balance. Find a look from a tv show, Pinterest, or Instagram and try to make your version of it happen.

There are many places for jewelry that will not break the budget. For watches, there are cheap options like Walmart, Target, or even Michael’s may have some options you will like. I found other jewelry, like bracelets, at Michael’s! For my forefinger ring, I opted for amazon. Just go to a local department store to get sized – I went to Kohl’s. Once you know your size, you can shop online. It will be key to get measured, and then also know how your hand my fluctuate throughout the day based on water intake and diet.

For some jewelry inspiration, look at TV shows. One of my biggest inspirations is Riverdale. Take a peek at the show and look at the Southside Serpents – they are the local bad boys, and their style is on the more edgy/grudge side. Some of the characters in season two are jewelry idols for myself. I coupled their looks with what I found on Instagram, and I found my balance between mafia and extravagant. Don’t be afraid to try something that is not your normal. I had a friend visit and they noticed how I had changed about my personal style and they were like it’s so different but it’s so fitting. Fashion doesn’t’ have to put you in a box, it can be a way for you to express how you feel. Let it grow with you and morph. 

Thanks Lexi @theseashelldiaries for the photos. Thank you Nick and Jeff for being my sidekick models!