Shorts for work in summer ?

[ebikeerwidnes]

I'm glad to work in an environment with a relaxed attitude to dress codes. I work in a tech consultancy. There isn't really a codified dress code, but it's been stated as "business casual", whatever the hell that means. Shorts, trainers, band t-shirts etc are fine in the office which suits me. I usually wear either jeans or shorts plus a polo shirt. Occasionally if at a conference or client site visit I might stretch to button up shirt and chinos.

I'm a naturally scruffy person. I could be done up to the nines and thirty minutes later I'd look like I'd been pulled through a hedge. I like to be comfortable and I simply don't work as well if I'm not. There is no correlation between dress codes and performance. Simply, some people like being smart and some people don't. If you force people, the latter type will either rebel or quietly leave, and you've lost a big chunk of your talent pool.

Oh and ties should just be flat out banned. They are an utterly pointless garment. Last time I wore one was to a funeral.

Thing with ties is that a half decent tie worn with a cheap old worn out shirt looks OKish

but without the tie it looks as cheap and worn out as it is

so if you wear a shirt but no tie then you have to wear a better shirt - i.e. more expensive and well made


although nowadays I only wear them for Wedding and Funerals

for "The Wedding" a few weeks ago I was seriously worried whether or not I would remember how to tie one!
especially as I tie it ina way that I made up in my teens so I have no idea what the know is called - or even if it is one of the normal ones!!

 

[Webbo2]

I have lots of nice ties and lots of nice suits. However I rarely wear a tie as my shoulders and fingers are so fubar due years of rock climbing, I can’t even do up my top button or fold my collar down at the back.
As much as Mrs W is a saint I think she might draw the line at having to dress me.

 

[Gunk]

And then there's the somewhat bizarre but nevertheless well observed phenomenon of improved behaviour and academic performance in schools with a smart uniform policy (ie, proper shirt and tie, not polo shirts or sweat shirts.)

It’s anecdotal and inconclusive, our own experience is that both our kids went to a local comprehensive which had a pretty liberal uniform policy but a very strong and capable head, both achieved very good GCSE and A level results (9’s at GCSE’s and plenty of A*’s at A level) wearing polo shirts, sweatshirts and trainers!, School uniform seems to be a very British phenomenon in Western Europe, most other countries seem to manage without it. I’m not convinced, it’s expensive and poorer families struggle to afford it, especially when there is a very closely controlled cartel of suppliers.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

It’s anecdotal and inconclusive, our own experience is that both our kids went to a local comprehensive which had a pretty liberal uniform policy but a very strong and capable head, both achieved very good GCSE and A level results (9’s at GCSE’s and plenty of A*’s at A level) wearing polo shirts, sweatshirts and trainers!, School uniform seems to be a very British phenomenon in Western Europe, most other countries seem to manage without it. I’m not convinced, it’s expensive and poorer families struggle to afford it, especially when there is a very closely controlled cartel of suppliers.

I taught at 2 secondary school

First one was in Denbigh and the only shop that sold teh school uniform was in Manchester
and it cost a fortune

and was rubbish quality

for example the summer dress was so thin you could see what the girl was wearing underneath so they all felt they had to weart-shirt and short under it
and the seams kept coming loose so the textile teacher was often busy at lunchtimes sewing up dresses for kids

and this was a girl's school with an even higher percentage of female staff than even normals schools!!!


second school was in a "less well off" area
school put a lot of effort into making sure the uniform was as cheap as possible, as functional as possible and was good enough quality to last

they even had a shop where you could buy used uniform and families that were know to have serious financial problems that were not their fault often ended up accidentally not being charged for stuff from it

Massive difference in the 2 schools
in the first one the cost of the uniform was effectively used - in my opinion - as an unofficial way of discouraging poorer familes from sending their children there

 

[Webbo2]

I am led to believe by Mrs W that at my grandsons school in Malton, shorts for the boys were School uniform for the summer term.

 

[PhotoNic69]

At work I prefer to wear culottes when the weather is warm. Love the breeze around my nether regions.

 

[Seevio]

When I worked it went smart casual end of the 90s. Only time a tie gets worn is weddings and funerals. The tie and jacket comes off for the dancing

I don't really want to do any more research, but there has been no dancing at any funeral that I have so far attended.

 

[Electric_Andy]

there was no dress code for women

This has been my experience in my last 5 or 6 offices, and still is to a large extent.

I just ensure that I wear smart navy blue shorts, short-sleeved shirt, and leather boat shoes (or other light shoes that are leather and let your feet breathe). It helps if your clothes are ironed, so even a semi-casual short can pass as smart.

There is a dress code at my place which is only enforced for men i.e you'd get pulled up if you wore a t-shirt, cargo shorts, sandals etc. But women can wear billowing summer dresses and sandals. I even experienced a senior manager take her shoes off in the office because it was so hot. And then 2 days later had a go at our junior admin (male) for doing the same

 

[Dogtrousers]

Really depends on what/where the job is. Some blokes come into my office in shorts. I don't think there's a dress code and it's OK. In other offices where I've worked it would just look stupid.

Not something I'd do. But I'm an old fuddy duddy.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

It is shoes that always confuse me with shorts and offices

clearly you don;t want people wearing the same shoes and socks
but do you wear shoes with those short socks that don;t come over the side of the shoe
or no socks and make the shoes sweaty?

or should you wear sandals

they just don;t make smart shoes for men to wear when their legs are visible in the same way as they do for women

 

[Electric_Andy]

It is shoes that always confuse me with shorts and offices

clearly you don;t want people wearing the same shoes and socks
but do you wear shoes with those short socks that don;t come over the side of the shoe
or no socks and make the shoes sweaty?

or should you wear sandals

they just don;t make smart shoes for men to wear when their legs are visible in the same way as they do for women

I always go with a boat shoe, with trainer socks. Bare feet are a no-go with me as they make the soes sweaty and slippery and horrible. I don't actually care what colour socks I wear, as they don't come up much above the shoe. But any sort of brogue or slip-on with shorts just makes you look like you're wearing clown shoes.

Edit: I have also worn smart trainers (i.e. sketchers that are plain/bland looking). More comfortable but can only be worn when no managers are in the office

 

[biggs682]

I work from home so yes I can wear shorts and the last time I worked in an office we were allowed as long as they were smart and nothing hung out 😁

 

[PhotoNic69]

As a kid growing up in SA in the 70s a Safari Suit was a work wear thing, often with long socks with a comb tucked in and desert boots. It was a look I rocked as a 7 year old.
This was also a thing. See, shorts of different lengths.

Bring it back I say!

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Those socks with those shoes are



something

 

[Gunk]

As a kid growing up in SA in the 70s a Safari Suit was a work wear thing, often with long socks with a comb tucked in and desert boots. It was a look I rocked as a 7 year old.
This was also a thing. See, shorts of different lengths.



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Bring it back I say!

You wouldn’t want those two anywhere near your children