THE JOURNAL
Can you wear shorts to the office? It’s the one menswear question that gets asked more than most, especially at this time of the year. The honest answer? It depends on where you work. Also, the shorts, as the experts tell us.
“Context is everything,” says Rachel O-Williams, Assistant Personal Shopper at MR PORTER (our EIPs get her sage advice on tap). “In a creative studio, the rules go out the window. But in a more traditional corporate office, however, they may still be better reserved for the commute home.”
Even if the dress code allows shorts, there are still unwritten rules to adhere to. “The secret lies in treating them with the same consideration you’d give a pair of trousers,” O-Williams says. “Save the gym shorts for the weekend and opt for a clean, tailored silhouette instead.”
“Whether flat-front or pleated, tailored shorts are a great place to start,” agrees Kit Swann, MR PORTER’s Fashion Editor. “They offer a more polished silhouette while keeping you cool and comfortable. The key is to make a shorts outfit feel considered rather than overly casual, especially when dressing for work and meetings.”
“Length is equally important,” O-Williams says. “Aim for a hem that sits around the knee or just above it.”
“Just above the knee is acceptable, but anything shorter can start to feel too casual,” Swann adds. “Tailored shorts from mfpen would be my perfect example of how long the shorts should be.”
That said, you can use a shorter short length to your advantage. “If you’re on the shorter side yourself, a couple of inches above the knee can help create the illusion of longer legs,” O-Williams says.
That’s the shorts sorted. Now for the rest of your outfit. “For work, they are best paired with a shirt to maintain a more polished appearance,” Swann says. “Without this, you risk the outfit feeling too casual for a professional setting.”
“A leather belt instantly lends a smarter finish, while a button-down shirt is almost always a safer bet than a T-shirt,” O-Williams says. “There’s no need for anything overly fitted, a relaxed Oxford or linen shirt strikes the right balance. Polos are another option, offering just enough structure to elevate the look without feeling too formal. And if you can’t part with your favourite T-shirt, layer a lightweight overshirt on top.”
As for shoes? “I’d keep it on the smarter side,” O-Williams says. “A classic penny loafer is hard to beat, but a softer, more contemporary loafer works just as well if you prefer a relaxed feel. The contrast between tailored shorts and polished shoes is what makes the outfit feel intentional.”
“A loafer of any kind would be a great combination with shorts,” Swann agrees. “From a classic Gucci horsebit loafer to something that might seem a little more relaxed such as a seasonal suede and rubber-sole loafer. A wide Derby shoe is also a good option, but I would avoid anything too slender; a wider silhouette ensures the proportions stay right.”
And socks? “People say your socks should match either your shoes or your trousers – in this case, shorts,” Swann says. “But I’d argue a coloured sock is a great opportunity to introduce a pop of colour into an outfit, making the whole look seem that more considered.”
This deep into summer, you’ve probably already got a feel for how shorts will go down in your workplace. But, as with most things in life, timing is everything. “I once worked in an office where being ‘the first guy in shorts’ when the clocks went back was a badge of honour,” says Johnny Davis, luxury director at British Esquire. “Don’t be that guy.”