Unless you work for UPS, if you are a guy- no one at work has seen your knees. (Well, maybe that cute girl in accounting… but don’t tell the boss)
However, today after the New York Times posted an article exploring the exploding new trend of shorts at work, I’ve seen it mentioned on several other sites now.(styledash, nine to fried)
What is the reason behind this trend? Is it another example of the continuous slide away from formal attire at work and toward casual fridays everyday? Perhaps it is men’s reaction to companies using less A/C in order to be more green or save money on the cooling bill with energy costs so high.
Either way, I can’t see this catching on in my industry. The legal world tends to be pretty conservative. This will probably affect the same people who could wear jeans to work in the late 90s and early 00s. I’m seeing Ad execs and web companies. In fact, the person the NY time interviews is an ad guy. Too bad ad men don’t dress like did back in the 60s (think Mad Men)
Good Work Attire
I don’t see the finance exec or your doctor showing up in shorts to the office. It doesn’t seem to inspire much confidence in customers if the guy you are doing business with looks like he belongs on the playground with your son.
Is anyone where you work showing up in shorts? I think the boss would have to do it first. I can’t see being the low guy on the totem poll being first to try it out. If the big guy does it, then other can see its okay. With the boss doing it, it could also be trendy, because who doesn’t want to be/emulate the boss if you are ambitious.
Girls would you date a guy who wears shorts to work? Would you buy your guy a pair of “work shorts”?
If you must try this trend out – style dash gives a couple tips:
1. Avoid cargo pockets, they look casual.
2. Stick to solid colors.
3. If you put your hands down at your sides and they go farther than your shorts, they’re too short by a landslide.
4. No socks. Or at least those athletic socks that you can’t really see in the shoe.
5. Avoid the muffin top, men, careful with those belts.
6. Check with your boss first, and god bless.
Ultimately, I’m going to give the advice I heard years ago – Men wear pants, Boys wear shorts.
