There is always one pair that gets grabbed before anything else. The colour is right, the length sits properly, the fabric doesn’t cling or crease the moment you sit down. You stop thinking about what to wear and just get on with the day. That is what a great pair of blue shorts actually does, and it is harder to find than it should be.

Blue is doing a lot of work here as a shade. Navy, mid blue, washed out, almost grey. Each one sits differently in a wardrobe and works differently depending on what you are pairing it with. We have been looking at cuts that work with a linen shirt and a loafer as well as a plain tee and a trainer, because the best shorts earn their place in more than one situation.

Inseam length, waistband comfort, and whether the fabric actually breathes. Those are the things we looked at. These are the ones that passed.