The Best Corduroy Shorts Will Make You Look Like a Young JFK Jr.

By Jake Woolf

Of all of the fabrics in your typical shorts rotation—nylon, linen, plain old cotton—corduroy feels like a bit of an outlier. After all, the plush cold-weather fabric is more closely associated with the type of tailored separates worn by the Ivy League set or a particularly twee Wes Anderson character. (Or, uh, Anderson himself.) But corduroy shorts have been a staple of beach bum attire since the '70s, when Ocean Pacific started hawking pairs specifically designed for California surfers. Like plenty of their 2023 counterparts, OP's corduroy shorts were heralded for their mid-thigh inseam and relaxed fit, cut for maximum movement, fun in the sun, and the ability to look cool while catching a sweet upper thigh tan. Which means you don't have to be a wave-chaser or gnar-shredder to get into a pair. The OGs might've featured a looser, easy-going fit by the hip-hugging standards of the '70s, but today's corduroy shorts come in in every silhouette you can imagine, and in a Malibu rainbow's worth of colors. They'll still look totally rad protecting your gams while you scarf down tacos at the pier, but their waled construction also lends them a downright elegant feeling that'll sync up just as well with a slouchy knit polo and battered huaraches. Below are 13 of our favorites, each one ready and raring to imbue your summer vibe with the the sun-kissed California swagger of a young JFK Jr.—or an Ugg-wearing, après-surf Jonah Hill.

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They might not be as flashy as his Gurkhas, but in typical Todd Snyder form, these corduroy shorts do everything right: a color that'll go with everything, the proper thigh-exposing 5" inseam, and a cozy elastic waistband.

Seafoam green shorts are enough to put anyone in a oceanside mood.

The wider wale cord on these shorts give them even more character, as does their faded purple color that looks like you've been sporting them to and from the beach for years.

Not only do these cord shorts give off Cali vibes, they're made locally in Los Angeles for extra good vibes and authenticity.

If you're a big fan of fatigue pants but know they'll need to be sidelined when summer gets sweltering, these guys boast the style's same front patch pockets—and will look just as good with an overshirt.

Deciding to wear these drawstring-adorned shorts is easy—choosing how many of Save Khaki's 9 color options to cop might be less so.

When Jerry Lorenzo isn't congregating all of LA for an epic fashion show, he's churning out shorts like these—which are wider, shorter, and, frankly, chiller than almost any other corduroy joints on the market.

By The Editors of GQ

By The Editors of GQ

By Gerald Ortiz

Make a bold summer style statement with a pair of corduroy shorts that are cut like '90s era jorts and are bright enough to stop traffic.

A relaxed fit riff on the style that features the added benefit of a subtle (yet extremely coveted) logo hit.

Noah calls these "running shorts," and while we concur that they'd look sick with some 2000s-era trainers, feel free to also wear them with a nifty knit polo and some chunked-up boat shoes.

By The Editors of GQ

By The Editors of GQ

By Gerald Ortiz

Shorts in a brick-like corduroy will make a solid foundation for any warm weather fit.

The cashmere GOATs at Elder Statesman teamed up with Parisian artist Baptise Virot on a pair of wacked-out corduroy shorts that want all of the funny business.

Good enough for Chris Pine, good enough for you.

By The Editors of GQ

By Jeremy Freed

By Tyler Chin

By Yang-Yi Goh

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