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The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
The best short shorts for men – and how to pull them off
According to the hemline index, skirts shift upwards during prosperous times – the theory being that hemlines rise and fall in line with the economy. Well, it seems that for guys, it's the opposite. With turbulent markets, our shorts are rising higher than ever – so much so that this season has been dubbed 'thigh guy summer'. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. Sure, we've sort of been here before. Donald Glover was spotted in teeny tiny shorts back in 2022 while Paul Mescal, the king of short shorts, has been wearing them ever since Normal People was released in 2020. And lest we forget Milo Ventimiglia's viral moment in his post-workout micro-minis in 2021. However, this year has brought a gear change that can't go unnoticed: Marks & Spencer, purveyor of British wholesomeness, has jumped on board. The high-street retailer has released a range of its shortest shorts ever, with an in-seam of less than 12.7cm (5in) – clear proof that a thigh-grazing length is going mainstream. What's so interesting about short shorts, though, is that they always make headlines. They've been around for decades (think John Travolta in Perfect, Tom Selleck as Magnum PI, and basically every pair of running shorts in the 70s), but a man's bare legs still cause a stir. Whenever a celebrity wears anything above the knee – whether on the red carpet or spotted in the wild – it sends the internet into swooning overdrive: whether it's Vogue and GQ reporting on Paul Mescal wearing boxers as shorts or the hoards of people thirsting over the Gladiator actor's legs on X. Mere mortals may not receive such high praise for baring a little leg, but only because it's not fully normalised for a guy to show his mid-thigh area – yet. Even as a stylist and fashion writer, I've received a disapproving glance or two from more conservative folk, but the compliments always far outweigh the flak. And, as a menswear expert, trust me when I say it just looks so good. It's sexy. It's cool. It even makes you look taller by visually elongating your legs. So, us guys have to be brave, pull our socks up, and put our short shorts on (look at Alexander Skarsgård on Lorraine, below, to see how it's done). The best part? They're the comfiest bottoms going, too. To get it right, there are a few easy rules to follow. First of all, context is key. You may not want to wear them somewhere formal or if you're likely to be with people who are more conservative. Second, always wear underwear to avoid any Basic Instinct-coded mishaps. So, whether you need new swim shorts for an upcoming holiday, a tailored pair to wear to dinner or a sporty pair for casual dressing, I've put together a list of all the best short shorts you can buy now – most of which are less than £100 – as well as tips on how to wear them. Adidas Adicolor Classics sprinter shorts £40 at Adidas£40 at Asos Adidas is your best bet for a sporty take. Whether you've spotted them on TikTok or on fashionable guys everywhere, the triple-stripe Originals shorts are having a moment. My favourite? This red pair, which looks great with a relaxed, boxy white shirt like this one by Arket. Boxy white shirt £77 at Arket Sunspel classic boxer shorts £45 at Sunspel Underwear as outerwear is becoming more popular – see Paul Mescal's Glasto look for proof. It's an excuse to splash out on a luxury pair of boxers. Heritage British menswear expert Sunspel has a great selection, all made in a slightly heavier cotton to give them more structure. It's usually best to size up for a roomy fit. Zara linen/cotton bermuda shorts £35.99 at Zara Zara is known for designing collections that look like they've walked off a luxury designer's runway but without the price tag. Case in point: these tailored short shorts that could perhaps pass as Ralph Lauren or Brunello Cucinelli. The front pleats and tortoiseshell buttons are the small details that elevate them to the next level. Marks & Spencer chino shorts £20 at Marks & Spencer Classic chino shorts are easy to dress up or down, making them one of the most versatile options. Marks & Spencer has entered the short shorts chat with a range of shorter-in-seam chino shorts. David Gandy Wellwear short length swim shorts £47.60 at David Gandy Wellwear These swim shorts don't just tick the box from a hemline perspective, they're practical, too – from the built-in UV protection to the biodegradable textiles. For a full look, the brand has a great selection of poolside tops to choose from, too: from a classic white henley to a premium T-shirt. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Nike ACG hike shorts £55 at Nike£55 at Size? If you're always wearing Salomons or Arc'teryx, chances are you're a gorpcore fan. Thanks to Nike, you can get the short shorts to match. These are designed for hiking and made from sweat-wicking and water-repellent fabric – but they'd work just as well at the pub with a printed tee and trainers. Vintage Levi's 555 denim shorts £30 at Rokit Thrift stores are a treasure trove for short shorts – and Rokit is no exception. This pair of thigh-skimming Levi's stand out, but there are plenty of options on the retailer's virtual shelves, whether you want a classic pair of denim shorts like these or are after something sportier or more retro-inspired. Rokit has even reworked some designs with lace and appliqué patches. If you can't find any that take your fancy, check out Beyond Retro or Goldsmith Vintage instead. Ralph Lauren 15.2cm Polo Prepster corduroy shorts £145 at Ralph Lauren Brands such as Aimé Leon Dore and Drake's may be leading the charge on preppy fashion right now, but you can't go wrong with OG label Ralph Lauren. Anything showing the brand's polo player logo always looks a little Ivy League, these shorts included. They're made from a lightweight corduroy and are finished with a comfy drawstring waistband. Tracksmith Van Cortlandt shorts £70 at Tracksmith Still thinking about Paulie's running shorts in Juno? Then Tracksmith is the brand you need to know about. The US label makes the best retro-inspired shorts on the running market, whether you want to wear them for exercise or just for show. Navy never fails. Frescobol Carioca Rio Sport Raffia Angra Swim £165 at Frescobol Carioca Frescobol Carioca is a London-based brand that takes inspiration from Brazil – so it makes sense that it's the best place to go for a summery print. This woven rattan pattern is a reimagination of the paved streets of Angra dos Reis. Although they're designed as swim shorts, they're wearable for every day. This part's easier than you think. They look good with everything from a big shirt, which is on the smarter side; a boxy tee, more casual; a hoodie, super-casual; or a polo shirt, which is somewhere in the middle. They're more chic than many other types of shorts (such as cargos, jersey and oversized jorts). If you're a short king like me (5ft 8in, to be exact), they also give the illusion of extra height. To show off your shorts in all their glory, a boxy fit is your friend. Don't wear anything on top that's so oversized it covers most of your shorts – or you're in danger of looking like you've forgotten to get dressed. Wear them with an Oxford shirt and loafers to double down on smart casual; a T-shirt and retro kicks for a laid-back look; or even a knit for a cooler evening. Since most of your legs are on show, mid-calf ribbed socks tend to look best. If you need to update your sock drawer, Uniqlo has a great selection in every colour of the rainbow – and four pairs are only £12.90. In need of a wedding guest-ready suit for summer? Read our guide to the best men's suits under £400 Peter Bevan is a stylist and fashion journalist covering menswear, womenswear and beauty
Daily Mirror
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'All-time classic series' dubbed a 'television masterpiece' is now streaming free
It has been added to the platform for free as part of a new deal An 'all-time classic series' dubbed a 'television masterpiece' is now streaming for free. The first season of award-winning comedy drama series Atlanta, is now available to watch at no extra cost on ITVX. The show, created by Donald Glover, otherwise known as Childish Gambino was produced by FX and previously only accessible via Disney+. However, thanks to a unique deal between the two companies, the broadcaster and corporation behind Star Wars and Marvel, have begun to swap titles on each other's streaming platforms. From today (July 16) the first batch was made available on ITVX under the banner, Taste of Disney+. This includes season one of Atlanta. Although the remaining three seasons remain available only on Disney+. The show boasts a near perfect score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and would go on to pick up seven Emmys during its four season run. Glover stars as Earn, who works as a manager for his cousin Alfred, an upcoming rapper, and they try to make a name for themselves in the music industry. Throughout, Earn struggles with providing for his child and long term partner. The show also provided breakout roles for Brian Tyree Henry who would go on to feature in the Spider-Verse movies, Knives Out star LaKeith Stanfield and Deadpool 2's Zazie Beetz. Atlanta was an instant hit with the critics and is expected to have its fanbase grow even larger now the first season is available for free. Actually one of the best TV series ever in my opinion.. so many subtle messages to decipher from each episode and a great comedy aspect to it too. On its debut, The Guardian claimed it was 'the smartest and funniest show on TV.' Viewers were also full of praise, with one posting on Metacritic saying: "A television masterpiece. Donald Glover has created an all-time classic series. Has a ton of rewatchability. It's hilarious, inciteful and just feels fresh. Easy 10/10." Another described what they admire about it in more detail: "One of THE best shows on TV right now. Don't watch it expecting a clean cut story line. It has one but the focus is not really on that. The show presents real and surreal situations and moments to force the audience to think critically (or not) about those situations. "It can be funny, it can be dramatic, it can be creepy and scary, which is what makes Atlanta so great and different from a lot of tv shows who choose to stay in one or two lanes.." Someone else shared their thoughts online saying: "One of the best written shows to date. Real, fleshed-out characters you actually care about. Compelling story that has meaning without being too on-the-nose. Witty and funny and entertaining, I would definitely recommend giving Atlanta a go."
Forbes
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Amazon's ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith' Season 2 Lands Yellowjackets' Standout Star
Yellowjackets Amazon's Mr. and Mrs. Smith season 2 is spooling up, which is welcome news as the show only premiered in 2024, meaning it may not be an interminable wait for the next season. Now, it's finally secured its main couple. That would be Mark Eydelshteyn, recently of Best Picture Winner Anora and the standout star of Showtime's Yellowjackets, at least the one that's still alive, Sophie Thatcher (Ella Purnell is certainly the other). Thatcher is also the star of a number of praised horror movies in the last few years alone, including Heretic and Companion, with a small role in MaXXXine as well. She's a quickly rising star, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith is lucky to have her. Yes, she and Eydelshteyn are taking over for Donald Glover and Maya Erskine from season 1. That season ended on a cliffhanger where it was implied both may have been killed by rival Smiths, but that was never conclusive, and it's possible they may appear in season 2 in some capacity. Mr. and Mrs. Smith The show is going young, very young, with its central couple this time around. Eydelshteyn is just 23 and Thatcher is 24. I suppose that's not too young to get into the spy business, but that's about 15 years younger than Glove and Erskine were in their season. This is, in effect, something of an anthology, albeit obviously with a shared world. It's a much more grounded take on the concept than we saw from the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie version from 2005 (wow, was that seriously 20 years ago?). The first season of Mr. and Mrs. Smith reviewed quite well in 2024, with a 90% from critics. Its audience score was a decent amount lower, a 66%, and I find myself more in that camp. It had good performances, especially from Erskine, but in the grand landscape of TV, I didn't find that it stood out all that much. But I am very much looking forward to seeing what Thatcher does in this, and if Eydelshteyn being from Russia (and being very Russian in Anora) will be a key part of the story this time around. There's a large story in Deadline right now about how Mr. and Mrs. Smith was moving away from filming in New York and over to Los Angeles due to tax credits from that state. Presumably, the storyline will be based around that city, rather than pretending that locations in LA were actually New York, which would make little sense. Regardless, it's going to be very interesting to see how the show evolves here when it arrives some time in 2026. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Cosmopolitan
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
New cast confirmed for season 2 of Prime Video' best thriller series that's the 'perfect mix of grit and wit'
Last year Prime Video released one of the best thriller shows we've seen in a long time - Mr & Mrs Smith. Starring Donald Glover and Maya Erskine, the eight-part series saw the pair's characters start new roles as spies for a mysterious organisation and as part of their roles they must pretend to be a happily married couple. And as is often the case in these dramas the lines often got blurred between colleagues and a real relationship, resulting in a perfect mix of dangerous missions, hilarious scenes and poignant romantic revelations. And now the show is officially coming back for a second season, but this time it's got a brand new duo playing a new seemingly married couple. Yes! Following the release of the first season Mr & Mrs Smith co-creator Francesca Sloane teased a potential update on another season of the show. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly on 2nd February 2024, Sloane said she was keen for the possibility of another season, explaining there's so much more they could do with the story and concept. "I think that there's definitely a lot more story to tell here,' she explained. 'I think that we definitely feel like this is a fully satisfied story if it were to just live on its own. But it definitely has more legs to keep going, that's for sure." And then on 14th May 2024, Prime Video confirmed they would be making another season of Mr & Mrs Smith. Jennifer Salke, head of Amazon MGM Studios, said of the news: "We are excited to announce that a second season of our groundbreaking spy series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith is in the works for our global Prime Video customers. The success of the first season, with its incredibly modern, sexy reinvention of the original film, is a testament to the brilliant creators Donald Glover and Francesa Sloane. We are proud to bring you another season filled with unforgettable journeys and new adventures.' Ok bad news folks, Donald Glover and Maya Erskine are not set to reprise their roles next season, but if you've watched the season finale then that likely won't come as a shock to you. As we discovered in season one, there are many different spies employed to go undercover as different versions of Mr and Mrs Smith, so it looks like we'll have an exciting opportunity to see a new pair of spies take on these iconic aliases. And we now know the next pairing to take on the roles will be Sophie Thatcher and Mark Eydelshteyn. You'll most likely know Sophie from her role in Yellowjackets and the movies Companion and Heretic. Mark is best known for appearing in the Oscar-winning Anora. As mentioned, the eight-part series (which was released in February 2024), follows a couple who are recruited by a spy agency to work together, and partake in a fake marriage as part of their missions. It's loosely inspired by the film (but differs in that the original couple didn't realise each other were also spies), with the official synopsis reading, "Meet the Smiths: two lonely strangers, John and Jane, who have given up their lives and identities to be thrown together as partners – both in espionage and in marriage. It's a Prime Video original, so you'll need to be a Prime member to access Prime Video. Amazon Prime costs £8.99 per month or £95 a year, which works out at £7.92 a month. WATCH HERE
The Hindu
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Getty drops copyright allegations in UK lawsuit against Stability AI
Getty Images dropped copyright infringement allegations from its lawsuit against artificial intelligence company Stability AI as closing arguments began Wednesday in the landmark case at Britain's High Court. Seattle-based Getty's decision to abandon the copyright claim removes a key part of its lawsuit against Stability AI, which owns a popular AI image-making tool called Stable Diffusion. The two have been facing off in a widely watched court case that could have implications for the creative and technology industries. Tech companies have been training their AI systems on vast troves of writings and images available online. Getty was among the first to challenge those practices with copyright infringement lawsuits in the United States and the United Kingdom in early 2023. Getty's trial evidence sought to show the painstaking creative work of professional photographers who made the images found in Getty's collection, from a Caribbean beach scene to celebrity shots of actor Donald Glover at an awards show and Kurt Cobain smoking a cigarette. It juxtaposed those real photographs with Stability's AI-generated outputs. But it was a hard case to make in the U.K., in part because of a technicality. Stability, though based in London, did its AI training elsewhere on computers run by U.S. tech giant Amazon. 'It was always anticipated to be challenging to prove that connection to the U.K. because we know that most of the training happened in the U.S.,' said AI legal expert Alex Shandro, who observed the trial for the law firm A&O Shearman. Getty's abandoning of the key infringement claim in its U.K. case marks the second legal setback this week for creative industries attempting to challenge the generative AI industry's business practices. In the U.S., a federal judge in California found that San Francisco-based Anthropic didn't break the law for training its chatbot Claude on millions of copyrighted books, but the company will still face a trial for taking those books from pirate websites instead of buying them. In its U.K. lawsuit, Getty alleged that Stability's use of its images infringed its intellectual property rights, including copyright, trademark and database rights. However, Getty's move indicates that the company didn't think its copyright allegations would succeed. After witness and expert testimony, Getty made the 'pragmatic decision to pursue only the claims for trade mark infringement, passing off and secondary infringement of copyright,' according to a written copy of its closing arguments. Getty continues to accuse Stability of infringing its trademark because its AI model was trained on images that included Getty's watermarks, which were sometimes reproduced by the image generator. Getty also alleges that Stability indirectly infringed its copyright because even if Stability's AI models were trained outside of Britain, it still faces local laws if the models produced images in the country. Shandro said removing that part of its U.K. complaint might also be a strategic decision by Getty to focus on a similar copyright claim that's still pending in a U.S. court. London-based Stability said it welcomed Getty's move. 'We are pleased to see Getty's decision to drop multiple claims after the conclusion of testimony,' the company said in a statement. "We are grateful for the time and effort the U.K. court has put forth to address the important matters in this case. We look forward to the court's final judgment.' Closing arguments are expected to last until the end of the week. A written decision from the judge is expected at a later date. How the judge addresses the remaining claims could be significant because they go to the heart of how the U.K. handles the distribution of AI tools that might have been lawfully trained in the U.S., said Nina O'Sullivan, a partner at British law firm Mishcon de Reya.
