Hell Yes, It's Hoodies-Over-Shorts Season

The end of spring can be a real mess here in the northern 48. The mornings are still a little chilly, the afternoons are hot, and the evenings are a grab-bag

of fluctuating temperatures. Dealing with all of it calls for [extremely Liam Neeson voice] a very particular set of wardrobe staples. You know damn well what time it is: shorts and hoodie season.

Nothing wrong with sticking to the basics, as Justin Bieber proves. 

Star Max / Getty Images

As ramps season is to foodies, the shorts-and-hoodie micro-season is brief and beautiful and worth unabashedly celebrating even if most people around you don't get the excitement. You get everything: legs free to bask in 55-75 degree weather. An upper half that keeps you toasty on brisk morning dog walks, but lets you shed your top when that 4pm coffee run comes around and the sun's beating down. The anticipation of warm weather but the stylistic opportunity that comes with layering. Sunshine, but not sweat. Shorts-and-hoodie-season is fleeting but glorious. Just don't be limited by the name.

Jonah Hill knows what season it is.

Alo Ceballos / Getty Images

A leather jacket over shorts is called The Pharrell.

Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

Make no mistake about it—we’re down with shorts and hoodies, alone or in pairs. But as a catch-all term, it's too confining. The layered, long-on-top, short-on-the-bottom combo that ensures your comfort in confusing weather should also include beefy long-sleeve tees, flowing button-ups, baggy sweaters, and jackets lightweight enough to be considered seasonally appropriate.

Tyler twists the look at every turn (mary janes!). But you should absolutely hijack the bucket-with-a-sweater combo.

Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images

Some of menswear's greatest have paved the way for us. Kanye West made reverse layering a household term (in households with at least one hypebeast in them, anyway). Jonah Hill, Pharrell, Tyler, the Creator, Justin Bieber have all put their own spin on the combo. They've shown us that you can pair athletic shorts with droopy designer sweatshirts without looking like Adam Sandler, or unite pleated Bermuda shorts with shaggy knitwear. If you're inspired but need the right pieces, keep scrolling for our picks. Then get out there and enjoy the beautifully confusing weather while you still can.  

THE BOTTOM HALF

Nail the fundamentals and you're halfway there. Don't be afraid to get beach-y or sporty—the whole point of long-over-short is to be ready for anything. 

Noah Core swim trunk

Because if Pharrell swears by ‘em (he does), Noah's swim trunks have got to be good.
$148
Noah

Patagonia Baggies shorts

Assuming you can get your hands on a pair, Patagonia's perennially sold-out shorts are always a smart play—no matter which way your style leans.
$55
Urban Outfitters

Fear of God track shorts

The brand reinventing American luxury has earned itself a staunch celebrity following by making elevated, easy-wearing clothing exactly like these.
$495
Nordstrom

Rick Owens Drkshdw "Faun" midweight jersey short

Even goths get hot.
$625
END.

John Elliott terry game shorts

You know those shorts you practically lived in every summer break of your youth? Well, thanks to guys like Justin Bieber (and designers like John Elliott) those shorts are cool again.
$400
SSENSE

Nike Challenger Wild Run shorts

If you're dead set on wearing a sweatshirt up top, opt for gorp-y, technical-leaning shorts down below, like these ones from Nike.
$40
Nike

4SDesigns Ventile baggy short

Cheekily-branded, highly-breathable shorts from one of the coolest brands of the moment.
$459
END.

Uniqlo x JW Anderson pleated chino shorts

Embracing the long-over-short look doesn't have to mean dressing down. To get the full gramps-core Tyler, the Creator effect, try pairing these with a sharp V-neck sweater, derby shoes, and mid-calf socks.
$40
Uniqlo

In the Hood

We firmly believe you can go beyond the hoodie. But there's a reason it's a classic companion.

Cole Buxton zip hoody

Boxy, oversized, and washed to perfection, Cole Buxton's double-zip hoodie is here to level-up your layering game.
$199
END.

Gap vintage soft hoodie (was $55, now 40% off with code FRIEND)

Details are still scarce on what Kanye's line for Gap will actually look like, but we're guessing something like this.
$50$33
Gap

Birdwell "Cayucos" loopback cotton-jersey hoodie

You know that circa-'40s vintage hoodie you've been eyeing for months on eBay? Birdwell up and made a better version of it.
$110
Mr. Porter

Big Tops

Long sleeve tees, cardigans, tennis sweaters—this is how you long-over-short without getting lost in the crowd.

Awake NY bloom logo tee

Menswear's current fruit moment aside, we're still gassed to wear anything with even a hint of floral.
$54
Awake NY

Stüssy logo-print cotton-jersey t-shirt

$50
Mr. Porter

Brain Dead Peruvian stripe knit sweater

Best paired with Baggies, scrunched camp socks, and retro-inspired sneakers.
$180
Brain Dead

Corridor space dye cardigan

A sunset you can wear.
$245
Corridor

Aries column-jacquard cotton long-sleeved t-shirt (was $138, now 50% off)

Forget iconic fits. We're all about ionic fits.
$138$68
Matchesfashion

Ralph Lauren iconic cricket sweater (was $298, now 25% off)

Okay, fine: iconic fits are pretty cool too.
$298$225
Ralph Lauren

The Full Pharrell

His legendary legacy includes perfecting the leather-jacket-with-shorts look. It may be the one thing he does that you, too, can pull off.  

Noon Goons Black Leather Public Image Jacket

$1,040$738
SSENSE

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