Jessica Saggio|FLORIDA TODAY
Skies out, thighs out.
That’s the mantra behind a new trend buzzing through Brevard that has boys wearing their shorts just a bit shorter.
Think you’re seeing a mirage of the late 70s and early 80s haunting the local high school? You’re not crazy, they really are wearing shorter shorts. They’re called Chubbies and they’re a trend that local teens say is not going away anytime soon.
“Once you wear it once you don’t really want to go back to any other shorts,” said 16-year-old Jackson Johns, a junior at Astronaut High School. “The above-the-knee feeling, it’s just a feeling of freedom.”
The trend deemed “preppy” by most who don the shorts started primarily at the collegiate level, said Ben Mechachonis, a recent West Shore Jr./Sr. High grad. Spreading throughout the fraternity circuit, the shorts trickled down to the high school level and boys across the county are going ga-ga over the bold colors and high hems. The shorts are primarily available for purchase online and range in price from $49.50 to $59.50. Among the most popular are the “ ’Mericas,” which display an American flag. All of the patriotic looks “fly off the shelves,” said Kit Garner, director of public relations for Chubbies.
“I started wearing them because I just don’t like long shorts, I like having shorter shorts,” Mechachonis said, noting most of his friends wear the shorts as well. “Me and my friends a couple years ago saw these online because they have this weird website. It’s new and fresh.”
As for the brand itself, the company is based in California and its website is full of colorful humor. The website states that Chubbies may or may not be made with lightning and the shorts will “likely make you 4.2x faster” because of their aerodynamics — “Can’t argue with science,” the website explains.
“Comfortable, flexible, aerodynamic and most of all utterly Radical, Chubbies are everything a short should be and more,” the website states. “They are weekend BBQs in the sun. They are that perfect day on the beach. They are trampoline dodgeball and IM sports. They are radical moustaches and long-boarding in Costa Rica. They go where no cargo shorts can go, and they do it in style.”
As for the name “Chubbies,” the label came about in an effort to be “tongue-and-cheek” and memorable, Garner said.
“I’d say we achieved that, wouldn’t you? But really, a big part of the name's from the elastic waistband — you can hang out in your shorts all day long, BBQ-ing burgers and drinking Budweiser and you’ll always be comfortable thanks to the stretch,” he said in an email.
The company also offers swim trunks, shirts, tanks and “The Miss ’Mericas” shorts for girls.
Ilea Trahan is an English teacher at Titusville High School who said she has definitely noticed the trend catching on. However, as with most high school trends, there is a bit of a stereotype that comes along with the look.
“Speaking in the theme of stereotypes, the students that I have seen wear Chubbies have all been male, and slightly preppy and athletic,” Trahan said. “They are shorter shorts, but definitely not indecent or anything.”
Trahan said she actually prefers the trend over the longer, sagging look that once was a mainstay for high school boys.
“One thing that I really like about these particular shorts is that students wear them at their waist and it looks more appropriate over the students that wear their pants with the sagging style, which in turn means that you can see their underwear,” she said.
Mechachonis explained that the shorts are generally worn with a polo, but can also be paired with boat shoes or a button-up for a “more formal” gathering. It’s also popular to wear the shorts with an Oxford shirt with the sleeves rolled up. However, Johns said he usually pairs his with a t-shirt.
As for mom and dad, Johns said his parents think the shorts “are hilarious.”
“We used to rag on the style of clothes they used to wear and now we’re bringing it back,” Johns said.
While the boys agreed that the trend is more than just a fad and will likely stick around for a while, the only drawback is the price. Evan Tatro owns seven pairs of Chubbies. He said his parents like the trend, but aren’t crazy about how much they cost.
“They think they are fun, but are kind of expensive for a smaller pair of shorts,” said the 17-year-old THS student.
However, according to the Chubbies website the shorts come with “perks,” such as a tan that “chicks dig” and invincibility, that justify the price.
But most importantly, “Chubbies are what Willis was talking ’bout,” the website states.
For the naysayers, Johns said just give them a try before you knock them.
“(People) talk about them bad, but once they actually try them on they usually say ‘oh all right’ and give them a chance. I did the same thing,” he said.
