Timothy Mulcare
Welcome to The Esquire Endorsement. Heavily researched. Thoroughly vetted. These picks are the best way to spend your hard-earned cash.
This is going to sound a little wild, but bear with me. If you’re going on a trip in the near future, I’ve discovered a way to make your suitcase about 34 percent lighter. If you’re looking to clear out room in your closet, I’ve discovered a way to ditch multiple garments without sacrificing one bit of overall wardrobe wearability. And if you’re simply on the hunt for one of the most impressively versatile items you can work into your warm-weather rotation, well, I’ve discovered that, too.
Because it’s all the same discovery: J.Crew’s Tech Dock Shorts. They can work out. They can chill out. They can take a dip and then saunter over to drinks and dinner afterwards. They’re exactly what you need this summer, and after putting them through the paces, I’m here to tell you why.
Timothy Mulcare
They bring technical know-how to a classic design
It seems like a lifetime ago, but it’s actually been just three summers since Esquire first pontificated on the many virtues of J.Crew’s original Dock Shorts. In brief: We love them. And the good news is, they’re still available and they’re still great. But for my money, the Tech ones are even better. Because instead of chino, they’re made of a blend of super-stretchy spandex and recycled nylon. That means they’re not too hard on the planet, which is great. It also means they’re exceptionally easy to move around in, so you can go ahead and swing your leg over that picnic table bench or bike crossbar with ease. Another update is switching in back button closures for snaps, which keep your stuff secure while lending them a more streamlined look. Listen, I know these aren’t major changes. But shorts are simple things when you get right down to it, and even minor shifts make a world of difference, turning the design into something sleek, subtle, and forward-thinking.
Timothy Mulcare
They go anywhere
I’ve worn my Tech Dock Shorts walking around, sitting around, working out, and even going in the water. They’re up for the task, whatever it may be. Walking and sitting aren’t usually strenuous, I’ll admit, but when you’ve got the wrong shorts on, it can feel that way. These don’t bunch up when you sit—though with a six-inch inseam, you should be prepared to show a bit of thigh—or billow around your legs when you take a stride. They’re a goldilocks situation: roomy enough for comfort, trim enough that you don’t have fabric flapping around. Speaking of that fabric: Like I said, it moves with ease, even on a hill climb on a spinning bike. But the other bonus is that water and sweat bead off the surface at first—so go ahead and run through those sprinklers at the next backyard barbecue—and the fabric dries very quickly when it does get saturated. So, yeah, you can swim in these things. (Though fans of liners on their swimwear should be warned that they’re unlined, so it’s a BYO underpinnings kinda situation.)
Timothy Mulcare
They go with pretty much everything
Put all that functional versatility together and you’ve got a pair of shorts that can sub in for your everyday shorts, your workout shorts, and your swim trunks in one go. But that’s not all that helpful if they don’t look the part, too. Luckily, thanks to a pared-down, tuned-in aesthetic, these shorts can fit in with just about any vibe. I’ve already mentioned the fit in terms of how it feels: Goldilocks, baby. That’s the impression style-wise, too. Not too boxy, not too skinny, but just right. Aside from the drawstring at the waist, which you can tuck in or leave out, there aren’t any bells or whistles. No logos. No weird pockets or piping or patterns. They may be able to do a lot, but when it comes down to it, they’re just…shorts. Simple. Which means you can wear them with a big ol’ vintage tee and sneakers or a camp collar shirt and sandals. A crewneck sweatshirt and loafers on a chilly evening, or button-up and a blazer if that’s your bag. Hell, you can wear them with no shirt and entirely barefoot, though maybe it’s best to keep that to the pool or the beach. The trick is to wear them—everywhere, and all summer long.
Photography by Timothy Mulcare. Prop styling John Olson for Halley Resources.
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