I’m seeing more and more people, men and women, wearing shorts outside, even in very cold weather. Sometimes they wear light jackets with their shorts, sometimes, just a hoodie or pullover. Is this a macho thing? Is it wanting to appear sexy? To me, they just look freezing. — Anthony, London
The contemporary phenomenon of shorts in winter, visible not just outside various urban gyms and on college campuses but also in the suburbs, on the street and at parties, is the product of a variety of factors.
Some are physical, some psychological and some fashionable. And though it may seem nuts — it’s freezing out! what are those people doing? — this kind of warm weather cosplay has been going on for years. As has the debate around whether it’s ridiculous or appealing.
As to why anyone would want to expose his or her legs in nigh freezing temperatures, the most straightforward explanation is the simplest: They are hot. Some people, especially when exercising (or even, say, snow shoveling), run warmer than others.
On one Reddit thread, where this is an extremely popular question, a user wrote: “My legs used to just not get cold and the rest of me would overheat super quickly. It was a way to regulate my body temp and not sweat in the winter.” This tends to be more true for men than women, who have a lower metabolic rate.
Then there is the comfort factor, since shorts tend to be more forgiving, and often elasticated, than trousers. See Senator John Fetterman, for example, who wore his signature shorts before the last presidential inauguration, when Washington was so cold the event had to be moved indoors.
At the same time, as you point out, wearing shorts in winter most likely also has something to do with a desire to demonstrate toughness, currently a quality much in vogue among the manosphere set. Essentially, the implication of shorts in winter is that only wimps get cold. Think of it as the cold weather equivalent of a cage match, only instead of beating a person, the idea is to beat the elements. And to show everyone you can, because it’s hard to miss a bare knee and calf in the snow. You don’t have to say a word to prove your manliness.
To some observers, that may be a little too on the nose when it comes to message dressing. But they probably are not the intended audience.
Besides, beyond the machismo, there may also be some wishful thinking at play. Wearing shorts in winter — especially what is supposed to be the tail end of winter (or used to be anyway) — suggests, as my colleague Jacob Gallagher said, that all this covering up has gone on long enough, and it’s time for the seasons to change. You’re just getting a little ahead of the calendar. Think of this as the “Field of Dreams” rationale: If you dress for it, it will come — “it” being spring, and shorts being a visual harbinger of warmer weather.
Finally, and this is particularly true for women who can wear shorts over tights whether in the workplace or to an event, silhouette and practicality are considerations. Shorts center the leg the same way a miniskirt does, without any of the accidental exposure issues involved. And wearing a long-sleeved top over shorts is a proportionally flattering look for almost everybody.
Perhaps that is why, during the recent fall 2026 fashion shows in Milan, there were cashmere knit booty shorts on the runway at Max Mara paired with a matching sweater, and long cotton undershorts at Prada.
In other words, whatever the weather forecasters say, designers clearly don’t see this changing any time soon.
Your Style Questions, Answered
Every week on Open Thread, Vanessa will answer a reader’s fashion-related question, which you can send to her anytime via email or X. Questions are edited and condensed.
Vanessa Friedman has been the fashion director and chief fashion critic for The Times since 2014.
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