Debenhams has revealed that 'Just William' style blazers worn with matching shorts are up 500 per cent on last year, thanks to grown men sporting the look on high streets and in offices across the country.
The surprise style hit of the summer, tailored short suits have been deemed smart enough for work yet cool enough for public transport, leading to a sales boom throughout the warm weather.
Spotted on the SS11 catwalks of Louis Vuitton, Jean Paul Gaultier and Dries Van Noten, this is one trend that has definitely made the leap to the high street.
The short suit is now available in all manner of fabrics and colours from powder blue linen through to black pinstripe cotton.
In fact, the most popular short suit has proved to be light blue, 100% linen Jeff Banks knee-length shorts and matching jackets , which have been the store's top selling menswear product for two weeks running already.
Men are typically wearing short suits with deck shoes - perfect for the tricky smart casual dress code.
Debenhams spokesperson, Ruth Attridge said: "We have heard about the emergence of 'mankles' - male ankles peeking out from rolled up trousers. Well, this takes it to the next level.
"All over the world, British men are renowned for exposing their white knobbly knees during the summer holidays. We want this great tradition to continue whether you are jetsetting, staycationing or off to work."
The look was debuted by AC/DC lead guitarist Angus Young in the seventies and eighties but it wasn't until recent shots of celebrities including tennis player Roger Federer, designer Henry Holland and The Only Way is Essex's Mark Wright appeared that the fashion really took off.
