Jade Small
Jade Small
December 15, 2024 ·  3 min read

10 Tiny Shorts That Defined Men’s Fashion in the ’70s

Turns out, the 1970s were a bold time for men’s fashion—especially when it came to showing some leg! Fashion trends are known to come back around, but one look from the disco era that hasn’t made a resurgence is men rocking ultra-short shorts. Measuring as little as 4 inches in length, these daring styles were practically hotpants. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some unforgettable short-short moments from the ’70s that left quite the impression.

A Swing and a Short

Golfer is in mid-swing on a lush green field, with trees in the background
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While golf fashion is no stranger to eccentricity, short shorts on the green were a surprising sight. Who knew men’s athletic wear extended to showing off this much leg?

Too Hot to Cover Up

Forget the “no shirt, no service” rule—some men in the ’70s ditched more than just their shirts. These bold looks blurred the line between casual and barely-there!

Leg Day Goals

young man holding a microphone and singing or speaking.
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One man proved he never skipped leg day, proudly showing off his toned thighs in shorts so brief they might as well be gym equipment. Confidence was clearly the accessory of choice!

A Style Face-Off

young couple in Shorts showoff
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In one retro snapshot, a couple made fashion history—if only for a debate over whose shorts were shorter. Let’s just say the competition was tight, in more ways than one.

Big Personality, Tiny Shorts

a shirtless person walking outdoors on a grassy area
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A Reddit user shared a nostalgic photo of their father donning shorts so snug, they seemed to defy the laws of physics. He looked ready for anything, and his confidence was clearly as big as his personality.

The DIY Denim Crew

four individuals wearing denim shorts standing in front of a van.
OH Flamingo Vintage

What do you do when it’s hot and you’ve got jeans? You grab scissors and turn them into makeshift shorts! This group of friends seemed to embrace this spontaneous, breezy trend.

The Complete Package

A Man and his Comet(1978)
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In 1978, the epitome of cool was a long-haired man in short shorts, knee-high socks, and a handlebar mustache. Add a vintage car, and you’ve got the ultimate ‘70s style statement.

Shorts or Underwear?

a lovely moment of a pony ride! You’ve got a child sitting on a white and brown pony, one person leading the pony, and another walking behind.
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Some shorts from this era were so skimpy, they barely qualified as pants. Imagine finding a picture of your dad in one of these styles—talk about an unforgettable family photo!

Glamour Shots for Guys

glamour shot
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Men in the ’70s didn’t shy away from showing off their daring looks. Whether it was a candid or a posed glamour shot, they confidently embraced their bold fashion choices.

Parental Shock

three individuals standing in a backyard.
Reddit

Parents may have been shocked by some of these adventurous outfits. One photo shows a man clearly having too much fun with scissors, leaving just enough fabric for his “shorts.”

A Bold Fashion Statement

While these looks might seem outlandish today, they remind us of how fearless and fun fashion used to be. No matter how you feel about today’s styles, the past proves there’s always something bolder waiting in the archives. Fashion may evolve, but one thing is certain: the ’70s were a time when men weren’t afraid to let their legs do the talking.

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