The 15 Best Cargo Shorts (Yeah, You Heard Me) to Buy Right Now (2024)

FAQs

Are cargo shorts back in style in 2024? ›

While they may have faced criticism and shifts in fashion trends, cargo shorts have adapted to meet evolving consumer demands. Their practicality, versatility, and comfort continue to make them a popular choice for casual and outdoor activities.

Street-style looks with cargo shorts: –

Wear a white t-shirt and a few clean shoes with your cargo shorts for a chill vibe. Throw on a cap to complete the laid-back look.

Cargo shorts have become a wardrobe essential not just for men, but for women as well. Not many clothes serve both a stylish and practical purpose, but the cargo shorts tick both of these boxes, making them a must-have summer essential.

However, as fashion trends evolved, cargo shorts were scrutinized for oversized silhouette and perceived lack of style. The early 2010s witnessed a shift towards slim-fit and tailored clothing, and cargo shorts, with their relaxed fit and surplus of pockets, started losing favor among fashion-forward individuals.

Make sure to avoid any styles that taper outwards like a trapezoid (cargo shorts) because those will widen your frame and make you once again look shorter.

Over the past decade, the majority of men's shorts were made to come low enough to cover the knee. Times are changing now and designers are bringing back the shorter shorts. It's more fashionable now to wear your shorts above the knees.

The good news is that we have a timeless alternative for you: chino shorts!

Put on a simple graphic t-shirt, light sweater, or button-down shirt with your cargo pants. To complete a casual, everyday look, add sneakers or casual loafers which would keep you at ease. For a sporty touch, add a wristwatch, sunglasses, and a baseball cap as accessories.

If you want to ensure you always look appropriate in your clothes as a 60-plus man, consider investing in classic, timeless pieces. Embracing classic men's fashion styles like a crisp oxford shirt, flat-front chinos, and white leather sneakers will make getting dressed easier and give you more confidence.

I always suggest wearing your shorts a bit over-sized. A middle-aged woman should NEVER wear shorts that are too tight or too short. Shorts look best when sized up at least one size. No muffin top ladies and sizing up makes the leg opening wider which helps make your thighs look smaller.

Can older men wear cargo pants? ›

A: Now hear this, mature men: Think of cargoes as basically straight-leg pants or shorts with pockets on the legs, which makes them pretty ageless and easy for most men to wear. They're stylish when they're worn with fitted shirts, leather jackets, vests and hoodies—all of which you should try.

Get ready to rock the cargo pants trend in 2023 and 2024!

Cargo shorts, also called combat shorts, are short pants with cargo pockets on either side near the knee.

Battle dress was first worn by members of the British Armed Forces in 1938, and were introduced to the United States in the mid-1940s during World War II. The large pockets characteristic of cargo pants were originally designed for British forces to hold field dressings, maps, and other items.

Another trend that will sweep in spring is cargo pants, which has managed to stay popular for several seasons now. Fashionable brands like Isabel Marant and MSGM included them in their spring-summer 2024 shows.

For the Spring/Summer 2024 season, shorts crept a few inches further up men's thighs and designers have been proposing another round of the barely-there micro-short.

Cargo pants, which were once a popular choice for functional wear, are making a comeback in women's fashion.

“They're all going back to the photos for inspiration and old movies and TV shows.” Female R&B and pop artists — like TLC, the Spice Girls and J. Lo — made the cargo cool in the aughts. Now the pants are back, with brands like Phillip Lim and Fendi featuring the style in their Resort 2023 campaigns.