You may have spotted a new shorts style floating around on your Instagram feeds. Surprising and unconventional, yet certainly soft. Of course, I’m talking about men’s boxer shorts. Yes, really. But no matter whether you’ve spied the luxury pinstripe pairs sold by the likes of Prada and Miu Miu, or the authentic cost-cutting men’s pant variety, the loose-fitting shorts have slotted seamlessly into our warm-weather wardrobes, my own included. So when I stumbled across a new, somewhat similar trend, best believe I grabbed onto it with both hands.

Appropriating men’s pyjama pants as trousers, the styling sentiment is much the same as the boxer shorts. They’re cut to keep you cool, are often crafted from 100% cotton and perfectly lean into the oversized look without feeling too forced. Just as I did with my search for pants (picking up these striped woven boxers), I made a beeline for the M&S men’s department, which, of course, did me justice with this simple cotton-blend set. 

But why, you may be asking, are we searching through men’s underwear drawers in search of summer style? Well, according to Stylist’s Fashion Director, Lucy Reber, it’s this great fabrication and slouchy cut that leads us to look more at men’s labels. And let’s not forget the recent fabulous men’s fashion week collections, which more than proved the point that fashion is no longer segregated by gender.

Add to this the underwear as outerwear trend that’s continued to grow over the past few seasons – Prada’s boudoir dresses, Burberry’s silk slips and Versace’s thigh-high stockings all included – and suddenly, it makes much more sense.

It’s also not the first time pyjamas have been picked up as a core styling staple, as the fashionable feather-trimmed Sleeper sets regularly make an appearance at Christmas parties, birthdays and other fun, more formal occasions. Although men’s pyjama trousers certainly take more time to style than these luxurious-looking silky options. In fact, despite bringing the boxer shorts into my wardrobe without much thought, swapping out denim and cycling short kinds, the pyjama pants took extra effort to perfect. 

On hand to help, Reber shared some styling tips: “a classic blue stripe will look fresh and gorgeous styled with a ribbed white vest, oversized white linen shirt, flat leather sandals and chunky gold accents.” So, of course, that’s exactly what I did, and, I have to say, it certainly looks chic. Although the fit was a little bit fiddly. The gusset is incredibly long, so I folded the waistband to make it more wearable and rolled up the hem to tailor the length – a simple stitch will hold this in place. For ease, an adjustable tie waistband may work better, but alas I only had an elasticated style to work with.

For more formal occasions, I’d wear them with a waistcoat, keeping the rest of the look simple with nude flip-flops and a white satchel. And to keep the co-ord together, layer over the matching shirt with the white vest underneath, although this may be playing with the PJ look a little too much for some people’s style. 

Either way, however you wear them, they’re sure to keep you comfortable and cool and looking incredibly chic – just be sure to pay attention to how you style them, lest you look like you’re pottering around the supermarket in your pyjamas. And if you can shop them from your partners own underwear drawer, even better. 

Images courtesy of: Lauren Cunningham.