Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. How We Make These Picks We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on …

To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price. Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best in their category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer …

Horsebit loafers get their name from equestrian culture, not equestrian footwear. In 1953, Aldo Gucci (eldest son of Gucci founder Guccio Gucci) revolutionized the loafer game by adding a metal snaffle bit—a rounded double ring and bar—across the vamp of a sleek leather loafer. It was a stylish nod to a horse’s bridle and bit, and the world of footwear hasn’t looked back since. Horsebit loafers quickly trotted into elite closets everywhere, worn by Hollywood legends like Clark Gable and Fred Astaire, Italian industrialists, and Wall Street big shots (where they became known by finance bros as “deal sleds”). For some, they’re an old-money symbol of understated wealth and European flair; for others, a bit of status-y style. How to wear them? Pair with a piqué polo and white jeans for Riviera vibes, or try full “go-go gadget” with a trench coat over a suit and tie. Whether you’re vacationing in Capri or closing deals on Madison Avenue, horsebit loafers always bridge the gap between formal and casual. How We Test and Review Products Style …

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. How We Make These Picks We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on …

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. How We Make These Picks We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on …

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t. How We Make These Picks We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price. To kick off the process, we enlist the GQ Recommends braintrust to vote on our contenders. Some of the folks involved have worked in retail, slinging clothes to the masses; others have toiled for small-batch menswear labels; all spend way too much time thinking about what hangs in their closets. We lean on …

Fabric: The materials should be sturdy, lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying. Sounds like a lot to ask, but our favorite pairs manage to balance it all like professional slackliner/plate spinner. While this isn’t required, some pairs will use spandex or 4-way stretch, too. Either way, the fabric should make you feel confident to go for a hike or a swim. Construction: Ideally, hybrid shorts should come with pockets that allow water to drain easily. Usually that means they’re made of mesh or include eyelets. They should also be constructed with an elastic waistband to allow for better mobility. Fit: Because hybrid shorts are geared toward sports and physical activity, they should have a relaxed fit to give you a range of motion. Thigh-squeezing shorts do you no good when you’re trying to catch a wave or traverse rocky trails. Style: Hybrid shorts can veer into so many different directions. They can lean more into the sporty side, with a gang of cargo pockets, zips, and shiny swishy materials. Or they can tap into the more quotidian …