Was the New York Times trying to be funny when it published its men’s fashion feature, “Shorts Crack the Code?”
In our BNET piece, Five Rules of Style for the Business-Casual Workplace, San Francisco business style consultant, Anthea Tolomei, relates the story of a recent trip to a corporate client to speak to an audience of women managers.
She was stunned by what these professional women wore on a hot day. “We had belly buttons showing,” she said. “We had short-shorts. We had flip-flops. We had not-enough-fabric all over the place. I had to say… The rules don’t change just because it’s 110 degrees outside.’”
Well, according to the New York Times piece, women aren’t the only ones willing to flash a little flesh in the conference room anymore. Now men, too, are asserting their right to reveal. The new, summertime power-dressing garment of choice? Shorts.
We’re not talking linen, Mexican-vacation-type shorts worn with a guayabera or Hawaiian shirt here. Nor are we talking sporty, weekend-warrior cargo shorts worn with North Face hiking boots. No; we’re talking Bermuda-style “suit shorts” meant to compliment a business ensemble.
Imagine your boss walking in on a hot, humid Monday morning. You see him over the top of your cubicle wall. He’s looking smart in a lightweight gray sport coat and rep tie. Then he rounds the corner and stands before you. You look down. Where you would expect to see a pair of nicely creased trousers you instead see a pair knobby knees protruding from two narrow stalks, each tucked into a brown loafer… without socks.
It’s not a pretty picture. Yet the Gray Lady acts like this is just another inevitable trend, like rap music or the Sony Walkman… er… I mean, the iPod.
Listen, at BNET we’re far from sartorially uptight, as I have explained. We’re based in San Francisco, after all. A man wants to wear jeans to the office? Fine. Athletic shoes? Swell. “Giant Robot” t-shirt? As long as it’s clean. A fleece vest? Whatever – provided you get that PowerPoint deck done on time.
But shorts? As part of a suit? On a man? Someone has to draw the line here. It’s a matter of simple human dignity. Maybe now it’s our turn to “stand in front of the train of sartorial history and shout ‘stop’!”
