I wore them to a friend’s garden party last weekend. Another friend spilled a full pint of lager on my leg (thanks, Dave). I panicked for a second, expecting a dark, wet stain to mark me forever. But the cotton twill fabric repelled most of it, and the rest dried in minutes. No weird watermarks. That’s when I knew these shorts were for keeps.
Later, I sat on grass, walked to the bus stop, and even did a spontaneous sprint to catch the ice cream van. (Don’t judge—it was a Flake 99 emergency.) The shorts moved with me, didn’t ride up, and still looked presentable when I got home. They felt like pajamas, but looked like I had my life together. That’s a rare combo, honestly.
The Pockets: An Ode to Practicality
You know what I hate? Fake pockets. The ones that are sewn shut, or the tiny ones that barely hold a key. M&S gives you real pockets—deep enough to hold a phone, a wallet, and a snack bar without bulging weirdly. The back pockets have a button closure, so nothing falls out when you sit down. I’m not saying I’ve done a victory dance in them, but I’m not not saying that either.
Marks & Spencer Blue Harbour Beige Chino Shorts 40" | eBay
One tiny downside: the front pockets are slightly angled, which means your phone can occasionally slip if you’re lying on a deckchair. But honestly, that’s a nitpick. For the price—around £35 to £45, depending on the sale—you’re getting a solid construction. I’ve owned mine for eight months, washed them a dozen times, and they still look new. No fading, no fraying, no loose threads.
