As temperatures climb, the office dress code is being put under pressure. Air conditioning can only do so much, and while linen shirts and lightweight tailoring have long offered a summer solution, one sartorial question remains particularly divisive: can men wear shorts to the office – or (dare we ask) to that very important business meeting?
For some, the traditional suit trouser feels increasingly impractical in extreme heat. A well-cut pair of tailored shorts can offer the same considered approach to dressing, particularly in creative industries and less formal settings. Others follow the Tom Ford line of thinking that shorts should remain firmly in the realm of leisurewear, and never be seen in the city.
So, should men rethink the rules of business dress? We asked Savile Row tailor Alexandra Wood and George Glasgow, founder of the bespoke shoe brand George Cleverly, to make their case.
For wearing shorts to a business meeting
Alexandra Wood, founder and creative director at Alexandra Wood
For me, it’s less about whether a man can wear shorts to a business meeting and more about what he’s trying to achieve. But context matters.
A creative agency in Ibiza, a luxury resort meeting, or a relaxed summer networking event is very different from a boardroom in London. In [the former] situations, impeccably tailored shorts in a refined fabric can look sophisticated when paired with a crisp shirt, premium loafers, and an unstructured jacket. The key is that they should look intentional, not like you’ve dressed for the beach.
In my experience dressing CEOs, entrepreneurs, and senior professionals, the men who command the most respect are the ones who understand that exceptional style removes distractions, allowing people to focus on what they’re saying rather than what they’re wearing.
See also: Should Your Suit Trousers Be Straight or Slim?
Against wearing shorts to a business meeting
George Glasgow, founder of George Cleverly
Shorts have no place in a business meeting, and I say that as someone who is not remotely opposed to dressing for the weather.
The purpose of dressing for work is to signal that you have considered the occasion. Shorts, however well cut, signal the opposite. There is a reason the boardroom and the beach club have different codes, and blurring them does neither any favors.
That said, being uncomfortable is not a virtue. If the heat is the problem, the answer is better cloth, not less of it. A lightweight wool, a fresco, a linen blend. An unlined jacket. A shirt in something that actually breathes rather than clings. These are solved problems and have been for a century.
On the feet, this is where most men go wrong in summer. They either persist with a heavy Oxford or abandon ship entirely for something unstructured and shapeless. A well-made loafer in a lighter leather or suede, unlined where possible, will keep you cool and keep you looking like you meant it. Dress for the temperature by all means. Just don’t dress for the pool.
See also: Are Clashing Prints Ever Truly Chic?
