frank and oak shorts | The Style Guide

Spring & summer weather means it’s shorts season. T-shirt by American Apparel. Shorts by Banana Republic. Watch by Timex Ameritus and patterned watch strap by The Knottery. Sneakers by GREATS Brand.

So, spring is finally here (right?). And while I love me a great pair of denim or some excellent chinos, it’s always good to have a pair of shorts in the rotation. I mainly stick to neutral colors like khaki or navy to pair with other like-minded shades, but several designers & brands are adding louder hues and more wild prints to their shorts offerings this year, too. I got a question from a friend the other day recommending a relatively inexpensive, versatile pair — hence the picks you see below here. Now to be clear — none of these recommendations involve the extra pockets or the baggy cut of cargo shorts — that’s outlawed around these here parts. So, turn tail and get yourself to the mall (or stay right at your computer) and do some shopping.

#1. J. Crew Factory 7″ Broken-in Reade Short — $44.50

Washed fabric in a slimmer cut that hits above the knee — exactly what’s needed in spring or summer shorts.

J. Crew Factory’s some kind of a bully when it comes to online shopping picks on this site, but these shorts check all the boxes in terms of the ideal pair. They’re available in a full range of neutral colors (particularly the grey seen here) and they hit above the knee in a clean, modern fit. The “broken-in” finish gives them an easygoing vibe, too. J. Crew’s mainline Stanton short (seen here) is a similar style for a bit extra cash.

#2. Frank and Oak Sheldon 7.5″ Herringbone Shorts in Navy — $60

The 7.5″ Sheldon Herringbone Shorts in Navy. Seen with an Invicta dive watch, Frank and Oak Cotton Plaid Shirt, and GREATS Brand sneakers.

These shorts were first seen in this Frank & Oak Hunt Club crate review just the other day. They’re a really excellent pair, with great depth to the fabric and a cut that’s a little trimmer than the JCF option above. For having a length of 7.5″, they certainly don’t feel noticeably longer than a 7″ pair. The cotton-linen blend makes them lightweight and breathable, perfect for getting out and about. They’re also available in a darker Asphalt color, but this particular blue wouldn’t clash with, say, navy or indigo.

#3. Urban Outfitters CPO Crosby Chino Shorts — $44

An olive color that’s different than the typical navy or khaki, paired with a decent price.

This pair of shorts from Urban Outfitters feature a similar price when lined up against the J. Crew Factory option above, and they’ve got a somewhat similar faded wash to them. But, that olive color is pretty visually pleasing — it plays well with lots of neutrals like white, tan, grey or navy but is different ahn a basic khaki short. These are available in some brighter colors too, like a Sky Blue or Red option, but the slightly fringed hem at the bottom might turn some away.

#4. Old Navy Slim-Fit Twill Shorts in Ink-Blue Stripe — $22.94

They should fit pretty trim, and the stripes are a nice touch … but that inseam could be a tad long.

Old Navy’s shorts are a fairly underrated part of the brand — while they do excellent work when it comes to other basics, their shorts game has finally caught up — for the most part. Prices dip as low as $15 on slim-fit shorts in every color imaginable, from a heightened Beryl Blue and wild Blue Floral Print to a more pedestrian grey. The one caveat is that these do have a longer 9-1/2″ inseam, which might not work for the shorter among us (and even taller guys might prefer a slightly higher-cut short).

#5. Bonobos 7″ Washed Chino Shorts in Deep Khaki — $68

Almost $70, yes, but a nice combination of quality and price.

Nearly $70 for a pair of shorts? Yikes. Yes, for that amount you could buy almost two pairs of shorts from J. Crew Factory (or heck, almost 5 very on-sale pairs from Old Navy). But there’s a reason behind the pricing for these shorts — you get the same easywearing, relatively durable Washed Chino fabric that the company’s great pants are made out of, and you also get a range of length and color options (although this khaki is highly versatile).

NOTE: Other pairs that just missed the cut here include Bonobos’ newer, tailored Americano shorts (nearly too dressy to be worn casually), and these dark blue patterned chino shorts from H&M.

What do you think of the above recommendations? What will you be stocking your shorts drawer with this spring and summer?

And one final note: Looking around for more suggestions to pull together your spring and summer wardrobe? I’ve been putting together a series of weekly Buyer’s Guide pieces for the great team at lifestyle website VOUCH Mag; check out the full set here!

Wearing a full ensemble’s worth of spring essentials from Frank and Oak. Glasses by Warby Parker. Stripe webbed belt by J. Crew Factory. Not pictured: Wilson Sneakers in White from GREATS Brand.

Since the last time I reviewed the brand in October 2013, a lot — and I mean a lot — has happened for Frank & Oak.
The Montreal-based startup menswear retailer has put together an impressive string of unconventional, of-the-moment presentations at New York Fashion Week, opened up six physical shops in Canada and announced plans for six long-term, U.S. pop-up shops. They’ve done all this while continuing to put out monthly collections that really resonate with consumers and feature nearly every clothing category imaginable — from athletic gear to tailoring. They’ve also started offering a biannual print magazine and all kinds of grooming products & accessories on top of that.

My selection from this month’s Hunt Club crate.

For those who aren’t familiar with the brand, they offer new, refreshed collections each month tailored to the season. They also offer the option to join the Hunt Club, an exclusive members-only option offering free at-home try-on and free shipping & returns on up to five items from each monthly collection. It’s a pretty great deal when you also throw in special discounts, early access to certain sales, and rewards points.

A look at my picks from this month’s Hunt Club crate in action. Cotton Plaid Shirt , Linen Cardigan in Heather Jute and Navy Herringbone Shorts. Watch by Invicta. Sneakers by GREATS Brand,

I got my hands on three pieces from Frank and Oak’s April 2015 issue (The Leisure Issue, to be exact). Thankfully, the brand’s offerings haven’t slipped from fall 2013 to now. The collection plays off easygoing, lightweight spring staples and fabric blends like cotton and linen in trousers, shirts, sweaters and blazers. Crisp short-sleeve button-ups, sturdy spring outerwear, lightweight shorts & T-shirts and other easywearing staples (like this striped popover) also fit right in with the collection. I picked up the Cotton Plaid Shirt in Aquifer, the quick-selling Linen Cardigan in Jute Heather and the 7.5″ Sheldon Herringbone Shorts in Navy — all at a great price-quality ratio.

The Linen Cardigan & Cotton Plaid Shirt both fit trim and provide nice breathability. Photo credit: Liz Todd.

The great thing about Frank and Oak is that its collections offer modern updates on relatively timeless staples in addition to slightly trendier offerings (like these Chino Jogger pants) — this month’s wares are no different, and that’s remarkable, really. The cotton plaid shirt pictured here is nice and lightweight — it’s breathable and comfortable against the skin. It also manages to not feel flimsy or scratchy despite the lighter fabric. The heritage F&O-branded buttons are a nice touch, too. Having had previous experience with F&O shirts, the fit was exactly what I’d come to expect — tailored across the chest and through the sleeves (but not too trim in a size Medium), with high armholes. It’s the type of shirt that would look just as great with this get-up as it would under a khaki blazer or with navy chinos and brown loafers. One caveat to this: If you prefer a lowered second shirt button, this isn’t necessarily the best bet — that second button is pretty high (not a problem for me personally, but it very well could be for others!).

What time is it? Time for a weekend stroll testing out new F&O gear — all standout items.

When worn together, the get-up was absolutely perfect to stroll outside in Brooklyn on a spring morning with temperatures in the high 50’s. The ottoman knit ribbing across the cardigan’s front added nice texture and breathability. And the cotton-linen blend shorts were nicely tailored, hitting above the knee, featuring a button-tab closure and complete with a cut similar to that of J. Crew’s Stanton short. Never having tried a pair of shorts from Frank and Oak, this was positive indeed — just like the rest of my selections this month. When worn with my GREATS sneakers and a nice dive watch, the outfit was an ideal transitional, spring-ready get-up — one that could easily be emulated by mixing and matching other F&O items. That one ensemble can be made with offerings from one brand (and one month’s collection) really speaks to what Frank and Oak has done. Here’s to hoping they put out more of the same in the future — much more.

What are your experiences like with Frank and Oak? Did you pick up any items from this month’s collection?

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The Product Review: Frank and Oak Hunt Club Crate, April 2015