You'll see him proudly strutting down every high street across the UK, wearing the  uniform of choice for the man who wants to be noticed. 

It may be freezing outside, but he's proudly baring his legs in a pair of shorts - the more miniscule the better - often paired with pulled-up gym socks and a pair of chunky work boots. 

However, this is not a builder on his way to work or a postman doing his rounds, but a normal bloke who is still clinging to the trend for 'short shorts', despite the freezing temperatures currently sweeping the UK.

While the sight of so many pasty pins in winter may leave women horrified, a determined bunch of chaps are clinging to the trend in all weathers, perhaps hoping to be mistaken for shorts pioneer Paul Mescal.

Most recently, former Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing styled a pair of extra-short shorts with a puffer while taking his newborn Ziggy on a stroll in Notting Hill.

His wife, Sophie Habboo, by contrast, was protected from the bitter December chill in a long-line quilted coat, a polo-neck jumper, and trousers.

Meanwhile, Love Island alum Tom Clare and Tommy Fury are still dressing for Casa Amor while actually in Manchester and Cheshire, respectively, with the reality TV stars walking the streets in cut-offs.

So, why do men insist on dressing in 'builder chic' in Baltic temperatures? Fashion expert and celebrity stylist Lisa Talbot weighed in on the question.

'This is one of those trends that refuses to die because it taps into something deeper than fashion.

'For many men, wearing short shorts in winter is part bravado, part habit, and part comfort. It's a quiet way of saying, "I'm fine, actually", while everyone else is freezing.

'There's also an element of body confidence at play. Showing leg is a way to look fit, youthful, and a little bit rebellious, especially for famous men who know they're being photographed.

'It draws the eye, gets people talking and feels more "fashion-forward" than hiding under layers.

'Once a man commits to being that guy who wears shorts all year round, it becomes part of his identity, and at that point, it doesn't matter how cold it is.

'Fashion rules have relaxed, masculinity has shifted, and this look now sits somewhere between a confidence statement and cold-weather controversy. Love it or hate it, that's exactly why it keeps coming back.'

The look has been a focus for various high fashion brands, with Ami Paris sending a model down the Autumn/Winter 2023 runway in short shorts and a trench coat, while Dries van Noten sells a pair of shorts suitable for the beach with a thick winter bomber jacket.

Rapper Tyler the Creator, who starred in the recent box office hit Marty Supreme, has also supported the look and wore shorts during a winter performance.

While fashion credentials play a part, luxury stylist Angela Kyte said men also seek out shorts in winter to radiate an image associated with fitness and youth.

'Short shorts still telegraph fitness and discipline, subtly reinforcing the idea that the wearer is active, energetic and physically capable,' she said.

'Short shorts offer genuine freedom of movement and temperature control, while also tapping into long-standing ideas about toughness and confidence.

'As long as men value efficiency, comfort and looking physically capable, even in the cold; the trend is unlikely to disappear.'

Meanwhile, there's one star doing overtime to ensure the trend stays in the spotlight - Paul Mescal.

He shot to fame in 2020 after playing Connell in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney's Normal People, before going on to become a darling of the indie film industry.

As his stardom has continued to rise, he has, perhaps unwittingly, influenced men's style.

First, men across the globe began sporting 'Connell's Chain' after Mescal's Normal People character sent fans wild with his necklace - and then, Gen Z men went after the Irish actor's 'short shorts' look.

While men in the UK and Ireland began to find themselves influenced by the 29-year-old's style some time ago, an Irish man living in Brooklyn, New York, has revealed that the actor's style has left Gen Z men in the US city 'in a chokehold' as they emulate his classic out-and-about style on the streets.

Posting on X, journalist Cahir O'Doherty, who is originally from Donegal but now lives in New York, said: 'Paul Mescal has Gen Z in a chokehold in Brooklyn. They all look like they play GAA for Mayo now. It's like the early days of Beatlemania here. People don't understand the scale of colonization.'

After a fellow Irish pal expressed his amusement at the writer's observation, he added: 'I live on the Lorimer stop, Liam. At the weekend, it looks like an all-Ireland just let out from Croke Park. 

'That show changed lives during the pandemic I think. It has absolutely changed fashion.'