Most men play it safe with shorts and end up with a drawer full of navy and grey that all looks the same by June. Orange is the move they keep talking themselves out of, which is exactly why it works so well when someone actually commits to it. Done right, it reads confident without being loud. The trick is in the shade and the cut. A washed terracotta or a burnt sienna in a tailored short length sits closer to a considered color choice than a fashion statement. Pair it with a white linen shirt and you look like you planned it. Throw on a faded tee and it still works. We’ve been looking specifically for orange shorts with the right weight fabric, a clean waistband, and a length that doesn’t require a certain body type to pull off. These are the ones that earn their place at the front of the pile.