In Praise of Boxers—Sport Men’s-Inspired Shorts From the Beach to the Street
“Boxer shorts of all varieties have replaced yesteryear’s bandage skirt, of the early Kardashians, and the denim diaper of Coachella,” says Turner, the Los Angeles–based stylist to musicians like Grimes and Kim Gordon. As trending bathing suits are somehow higher cut in the front and near invisible in the back, the beach boxer presents a fashion-forward solution. Turner is also pairing boxers with all of the sneakers she purchased during the pandemic. “I like the way they look with a bowling shirt.”
The same pair of shorts works for all—a truly genderless wardrobe add. “This weekend in Palm Springs, I saw @siduations wearing a pair of beach boxers from the ’90s,” Turner says. “He’s the ultimate club kid and probably saw his fair share at raves like Limelight.” Still, beyond the beach, the mini short is alive and well. Prada’s spring 2022 menswear collection went live last weekend with models stomping from neo-runway to rocky shore in teeny-tiny bottoms, while Fendi showed pastel iterations with cropped workwear. “You can rock them in the streets and the sheets!” enthuses stylist Donté McGuine, who splits styling work between coasts for clients like Luna Blaise and Ugg. (He just wrapped a shoot for the brand featuring Dennis Rodman, Evan Mock, and Omahyra Garcia.) “I love the new Telfar x Ugg collab,” McGuine says of the editor-favorite designer’s capsule for the California-based label. The unisex boxers sold out immediately.
Personalization is the key to making the underwear-inspired garment feel more like outerwear. “Something about seeing a girl leave her New York City apartment wearing her boyfriend’s boxer shorts and a simple tank with accessories hits the mark for me,” says McGuine. Turner agrees that accessorizing in the direction you’re heading with glasses, jewelry, and footwear is key. “I think it’s always important to bring your own personality into the look,” she says. “I would mix a relaxed cotton Oxford button-up with rolled-up sleeves, a casual half-tuck, so it feels a bit polished with a sleek flat leather sandal. Add a layered gold chain with charm pendants and some minimal stacked rings like ones from Kathryn Bentley or Bare & Golden.”
