Like a lobster being plunged from the relatively cool lodgings of a tank into a pan of boiling water, it seems that as soon as the scarves and gloves come off our bodies this season, we are being advised to have the shorts at the ready.

Shorts are going to figure prominently next season in the majority of SS11 collections, as many of fashion’s biggest names are turning to the influences of ‘Prep School’ fashion and ‘Uni-Chic’ styles to form the basis of their lines. The release of Harrod’s SS11 look book has, within it, many extravert ranges that include Acne’s offering of Kevin Keegan-esque brown shorts coupled with a pair of Electric Blue ankle boots, and Thom Browne’s design of knee-high black socks leading up to a pair of grey shorts that match a rather elegant suited top-half.

To combine any pair of shorts with something other than a t-shirt, in our eyes, takes a man of a certain ballsy-ness to pull off, but for a gent to take these risky looks under their wing and into their wardrobe will require the traits of a man who defies the tide of regularity, and conforms only to their own wanting to express.

If current trends are anything to follow, this Spring seems to be calling for a certain creativity from the consumer, as designers test the waters for approval from their followers to progress into unknown territory. Over this last year, we have seen, yet been apart of, the growth of a more timid, even geeky, sartorial sense within the high street and high-end designers. It will be extremely interesting to see if the current wanting from designers to impress and push the boundaries will fall on intrigued or deaf ears.

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