Fabia Shahzadi
Waking up and getting dressed for work mid-summer often is a sartorial quandary, especially when it comes to wearing anything other than a suit.
Now let’s face it, most of us usually dwell in perplexity as to whether it’s acceptable to wear shorts to the office in summer. The very idea of sporting something so casual in the workplace is enough to set teeth on edge. However, wearing your standard long trousers in August can have its drawbacks and heat coupled with humidity can leave you feeling trapped in your very own circle of sweaty hell.
Once you have successfully overcome the quandary of whether it is appropriate enough or not, actually finding the perfect pair of working shorts is not an easy task, primarily because this is not just about repurposing your holiday wardrobe for your fellow work mates’ amusement – buzzy prints and patterns are always a no-no at any day job. There is also nothing attractive about wearing shapeless shorts either, so your aim should always be to find a fit that is akin to your usual suit trousers while keeping fussy details, such as pleats, simple.
Team your formal shorts with a smart shirt and never a t-shirt, and accessorize with a good pair of leather shoes. It is also worth remembering that there are not many men who can pull off the tailored jacket with matching shorts combo without looking like an over grown school boy. Instead, mis-match with a relaxed unlined blazer.
Obviously, all of the above becomes a moot point if you’ve penciled in that all important meeting with one of the big wigs. Here, the prudent thing to do – especially if you want that promotion – is to leave the shorts at home; a high level business meeting shouldn’t ever require you to get your pins out. So do not overdo your shorts.