It seems, from our very thorough and important investigation, that you can thank Chris Pine.
The actor, arguably the most beloved of the Hollywood Chris’, has been on a personal crusade to get tiny man shorts happening since 2022, when his style seemed to make a drastic pivot.
Gone were the suave suits and loafers he was once known for.
In their place was a sort of ageing hipster meets coastal dad aesthetic, marked by colourful cardigans, barefoot outings and swishy middle-parted hairdo’s. He also debuted his penchant for short shorts in a look that went immediately viral — wearing a yellow hoodie and very brief white bottoms while leaving an LA dance studio.
At the time, the A-lister told E! News he stood by his sartorial choices.
“I don’t think there’s anything to defend,” he shared (somewhat defensively). “It’s called short shorts, isn’t it? It’s supposed to be short.”
“Corduroy shorts, short shorts… I mean, it’s a vibe. The best vibe. It’s like a Tom Selleck vibe. It’s like a ’70s surfer vibe. I prefer that.”
It’s just a vibe, okay?
But short-gate took an even more wild and frankly bizarre turn when Pine hit the road to promote his film The Poolman back in May.
Channelling his character, a… poolman, Pine showed up to the LA premiere in high-waisted cut-off corduroy shorts, hiking boots, a fancy blazer, retro sunglasses and a pink camelia corsage. We get the feeling he told his stylist to take a vacation that week.
But it was his commitment to the shorts, again, that got the internet excited.