With the notable exception of prep school uniforms for the under-10 set and AC/DC’s Angus Young (whose trademark onstage look is modeled after a prep school uniform), I don’t think the “shorts-plus-business-attire” look works:
![Men displaying \"officewear shorts\"](https://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/office_shorts.jpg "Men displaying \\"officewear shorts\\"")
Pairing shorts with business attire is bad enough — especially in the case of the guy on the left, who looks like he had the pants from his suit tailored into shorts — but the “dress shoes minus socks” look takes these outfits into a new realm of horrible.
Perhaps these fashionistas dream of a future like the one shown in the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, where some crew members of either sex wore “skants” — a cross between a skirt and pants — a subtle note by the series’ creators that gender equality had been achieved in the 24th century:
“Even Wesley Crusher is laughing at me!”
There’s a reason that even in the hottest countries in the world, long pants are the only acceptable business attire. Shorts are fine, but they work best with shirts and shoes that match them.
For more on these business attire shorts, see the International Herald-Tribune article Shorts Crack the Code.
6 replies on “The “Business Shorts” Look”
Don’t go to Bermuda then. The people there were these except they are sometimes pink and always with Knee high socks.
Nothing like going to a meeting with an executive in his late 50s wearing a Jacket, shirt and Tie up top and Pink tight shorts, knee-highs and tassled shoes below. It is like the mullet of corparate wear.
I’m not absolutely sure, but… did those guys (especially the first two) shave their legs?!
And if you’re not going to wear socks… SANDALS, DAMMIT, SANDALS!
@Bryce Johnson: Oh yeah, I’d forgotten about Bermuda business attire, a very clumsy attempt to reconcile their climate with London business attire…
@Bruce A.: It’s hard to tell with those photos, but I’d bet money on it. Perhaps Philips’ “Shave Everywhere” campaign is reaching people.
Of all of them, the Bermuda business attire guy looks the least cringe-worthy.
Although I’d still be snickering behind his back as he walked by…
I am a regular Accordion Guy reader and currently live in Bermuda. I emailed this NYT story out to all my friends and family back in Toronto when it came out. Look i resisted for a year the shorts, socks combo – but am now a total convert. Seriously when it is 28-30 degrees and 80% humidity it REALLY makes sense. Now some might say “why the lame socks?!?” well frankly they kinda class up the whole thing. I can go into a meeting with a senior banker handling 100 million with the socks – no socks and boat shoes and i can’t get into a restaurant. Plus the socks breathe so you can’t even notice them.
Its a balance between comfort and dress code and it works here. Ok….now i have no explanation for some of the garish colour combos that exist (pink, canary yellow and seafoam) but the concept is sound. And I am going to try and import the look when i go back to T-dot.
So to you shorts haters – schedule a meeting down here in mid august and only bring pants – then you will understand. You will be a sweaty bothered mess and i will laugh as my knees breathe! Whahaha