The tradie trend that’s taken off: It’s leg day every day in shorts

Sydney tradesman and two-time cover model of the Australian Tradie Calendar, which raises money for mental health charity Beyond Blue, John Lamech understands the appeal of shorts.

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“They’re easy to get around in when you’re working, and they do show off the legs,” Lamech says. “It can be a bit of an ego thing. You get guys on the building site who push through winter and wear shorts all year round. Personally, I tap out around June.”

“For guys with great legs, the time has come to embrace shorts even in the cooler months,” says stylist Donny Galella. While he expects conservative Australian stars to cover their knees at the Logies on July 30, he remains hopeful for a knee outbreak later in the year.

“It’s probably more for an edgier red carpet, like the ARIA awards.”

Having seen Louis Vuitton creative director Pharrell and British designer Christopher Kane both wear shorts on the red carpet, Hershan sees no need for a Logies cover-up.

“Paul Hogan did wear a pair to meet Queen Elizabeth,” he says. “Perhaps that’s the only example of taking shorts too far.”

5 ways to wear shorts in winter

Look for winter fabrics. Breezy linen offers little protection against the elements. Creative director Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta introduced quilted shorts which were popular on the streets of Paris in winter, while Dior currently has cotton-blend canvas cargo options available.

Layer up. The trend of athletic compression tights beneath running shorts has sprinted onto slow-walking street style regulars. US fashion consultant Nick Wooster was spotted outside the Hermès show in wintry Paris wearing knitted camouflage leggings beneath knee-scraping shorts. Influencer Abdulla Al Abdulla attended the Louis Vuitton in January wearing floral tights beneath floral shorts from the French luxury brand.

Cover-up with coats. Follow the lead of Pascal at the Met Gala and US fencer Miles Chamley-Watson outside the Sacai show during by wearing a long coat to shield bare legs in windy conditions.

Double bag. Two guests at the Paris menswear shows in winter wore bright orange trousers beneath shorts to add a pop of colour and insulation against the elements.

Big boots. Extroverts can dress like a Kardashian or pioneering influencer Bryanboy outside of Chanel’s winter menswear show, by investing in thigh-high boots. The higher, the better, with less mottled skin exposed to the elements.

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