The Bruce short
Our updated take on a summer staple, the chino short, made with East Harbour Surplus, the same company that makes our popular Bruce chino.
The shorts use the same fabric and come in largely the same colours, which makes it easy for anyone that owns the chinos already and means both have that same nice washed-cotton feel.
The only addition is a dark navy in the shorts, as Simon often finds navy a more useful colour in shorts than chinos. It's a rich menswear navy that will fade slightly over time, but not too much as the fabric is already pre-washed.
The sizing is the same as the chinos too, so if you know your size in those you're safe to buy the same size here. If not, the number is based off chest measurements, but the best approach is to check the size chart and compare the waist, for example, to your own or to a pair of trousers you already own.
The cut of the shorts is slightly looser than our previous model, so we would not suggest using that as a guide to sizing.
The shorts have a roughly 5.5 to 6.5 inch inseam, depending on size, which means they finish nicely above the knee but aren't so short they're ever uncomfortable when you sit down.
Simon takes a 48 in the shorts as he has a 34 inch waist. Lucas takes a 54 and is a 38 waist.
Read the full article about the project here for more details and pictures.
Product summary:
Chino short in a strong right-hand twill cotton
- Comfortable cut with a straight leg
- Pre-washed so no shrinkage
- Slant pockets, coin pocket, open back pockets
- Three colours, beige, navy and khaki
- Made in Italy by East Harbour Surplus
Sizing:
- Simon is wearing a size 48 in the beige and khaki, Lucas is wearing a size 54 in the navy
- The size refers to a corresponding suit jacket, but best is to work off the waist size in the chart below. Simon's waist, for example, measures just under 34 inches
- We recommend sizing up and taking in the waist a little if between sizes
- Split waistband to make them easier to alter
- Hemmed (unlike the chinos) to the inseams noted below
| Shorts - CM | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 |
| Front rise | 30 | 30.5 | 31 | 31.5 | 32 | 32.5 | 33 | 33.5 |
| Waist | 74 | 78 | 82 | 86 | 90 | 94 | 98 | 102 |
| Hip | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 60 | 62 |
| Thigh | 30.5 | 31.5 | 32.5 | 33.5 | 34.5 | 35.5 | 36.5 | 37.5 |
| Hem | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
| Inside leg | 13 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 |
| Shorts - Inches | 42 | 44 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 | 56 |
| Front rise | 11.8 | 12.0 | 12.2 | 12.4 | 12.6 | 12.8 | 13.0 | 13.2 |
| Waist | 29.1 | 30.7 | 32.3 | 33.9 | 35.4 | 37.0 | 38.6 | 40.2 |
| Hip | 18.9 | 19.7 | 20.5 | 21.3 | 22.0 | 22.8 | 23.6 | 24.4 |
| Thigh | 12.0 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 13.2 | 13.6 | 14.0 | 14.4 | 14.8 |
| Hem | 11.4 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 12.6 | 13.0 | 13.4 | 13.8 | 14.2 |
| Inside leg | 5.1 | 5.3 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.1 | 6.3 | 6.5 |