Fashion consultant Nickelson Wooster is making waves in the world of men’s fashion with his unique take on shorts. Known for his eclectic taste in shorts, Wooster, 63, has been seen sporting a variety of styles, from long and loose to short and tight, in materials ranging from leather to wool to twill.
In a recent interview, Wooster shared his philosophy on shorts, comparing them to skirts and emphasizing the importance of finding the right length and shape for each individual. “Shorts are like skirts, and I think any woman will tell you there is no one length or shape that fits every single person,” he said.
The trend of shorter inseams has been gaining popularity in recent years, with influencers like Ross Figlerski and fashion designers like Willie Norris and James Harris embracing the shorter shorts trend. The hashtag #5inchseam even went viral on TikTok in 2020, sparking a movement for men to show a little more leg.
However, not everyone is on board with the short shorts craze. Some designers, like Daiki Suzuki of Engineered Garments, prefer to stick to longer inseams, while others, like Mel Ottenberg, are happy to see a return to longer, more conservative styles.
Despite the varying opinions on short lengths, one thing is clear: the rules of men’s fashion are constantly evolving. As Zach Pollokoff noted, it’s becoming harder to use clothing as a shortcut to understand someone’s taste or personality.
In the end, Wooster offers a simple piece of advice for those still unsure about their summer shorts: “I’m wearing a length that is right at the knee. Not below or above — right at the knee. I feel like that’s foolproof. It’ll never be bad. That’s the Teflon length.”
As men continue to experiment with different inseam lengths and styles, one thing is certain: when it comes to fashion, there are no hard and fast rules.
