Bruce short

Inew PS shortsare live today and – as one reader astutely guessed – to continueour famous Bruce chinoslaunched in the spring.

This is done for two reasons. One, we love the material and casual feel of chinos so much; and secondly, it makes sizing much easier for everyone, as they can buy the same size for shorts as they do for chinos.

Indeed, they can buy the same color if they wish, since the beige and khaki that the PS shorts come in are the same shades. Those two are so perfect, exactly what we were looking for.

We have also added a navy black menswear which I know will be popular. Navy is more useful as short than pants,in my experiencebut if pushed I can see us doing a navy chino version later in the year, if there’s more demand. Let me know.

Therefore, shorts are available in the same size and are similar to chinos, suitable and simple. I would not recommend that you choose your size based on what you haveold PS shorts,as they were different sizes (small, low, wide).

The shape of the new shorts was also inspired by an old American military pair I also hadposted on PS in the past. That helped determine things like the leg opening and inseam. It’s easier if you have an old dress that you already love, and you can carry small pieces of it.

So the shorts have14.5 cm(5.7 inches) the size 48 inseam I’m wearing (above) is a nice mid-point – not a traditional Bahamian short that ends at the knee, but not an embarrassing-if-you-stay-3-inches either.

For Lucas, pictured below, in a size 54, that inseam rises slightly to 16cm.

And the leg opening is comfortable and wide without much. For me that is 32cm, for Lucas 35cm.

One note here – when you first get the shorts, I find they can be a bit wide because they are pressed down. If you give them a little iron to get the tight folds out of the seam, or simply roll them up like you would a pair of pants, you’ll get a better fit.

Like chinos, shorts sizes are based on the chest size of the jacket, which is how the industry makes pants, although if you think about it, it makes no sense. Everything is inherited from suit systems, in fact.

Any discerning customer like a PS reader will look at the size chart, and measuring the waist is the best place to start. My waist measures just under 34 inches, which is why I take a size 48 in shorts and chinos, which have a 34 inch waist.

We’ve expanded the size range a lot, so hopefully there’s something for everyone. Note that the volumes in the smaller sizes will not be larger.

As always, we’ve taken pictures here to show you how the shorts look, but also what to wear them with.

We talked in the topic of chinos about how this particular shade of beige is flexible, and while it goes well with many other transparent things – white, blue, light blue, bright colors – it also looks good with black, which shows how muted and cold the color is.

That’s ithandmade black cotton sweaterfrom PS I’m wearing, our boat shoes and Jacques Marie Mage sunglasses.

In the khaki/olive color (below) I’m wearing my old Ralph Lauren poover – actually something I see now, tooshown in old PS shortslike that. Such a creature of habit.

Finally Lucas, in his more relaxed style, wears a dark navy and Rubato work shirt and black City-Mocs from Saman Amel.

Come to think of it, that’s like the top dress I’m wearing – cream, textured, unlined. Maybe we have started dressing like him.

On the boat, note that the color will fade a little over time, but not much, since the material has already been washed before.

Product summary:

• The cotton chino is short on the tight right wing
• A relaxed cut with a straight leg
• Pre-washed so no wrinkles
• Slant bags, coin pocket, open back pockets
• Detach the waist belt for easy replacement
• Three colors, beige, navy and khaki
• Made in Italy by East Harbor Surplus
• Available only in permanent style

Rating:

• Simon wears a size 48 in beige and khaki, Lucas wears a size 54 in navy.
• The size refers to the matching suit jacket, but the best is to cover the waist size in the chart below. Simon’s waist, for example, is less than 34 inches
• If you are in between sizes, we recommend that you take a larger size and adjust the waist to fit, or use a belt
• Note that the shorts are tied instead of not finished at the leg (unlikechinos) at the length listed below

cm

inches