Looks like the UPS guy won’t be the only dude at the office sporting shorts. The New York Times reports that more and more men are wearing shorts to work.
“FIRST came Casual Fridays, that dread episode in the history of fashion, with their invitation for men to trade in suits for Dockers and to swap a proper shirt and tie for an open neck and a daring flash of masculine décolletage.
Then the bare ankle migrated from country-club Saturdays to meeting-room Mondays and suddenly men, whether shod in wingtips or loafers, were widely seen without socks. Now it appears that, after some stops and starts in recent seasons, the men of the white collar work force are marching into the office in shorts.
It was no more than a moment ago, in the sartorial long view, that a guy who came to work wearing short pants would have been shown the door — or anyway, given the address for human resources at U.P.S. All that appears to be changing.”
I’m usually a supporter of workplace fashion freedom (wear what chu want, fool!), but I have only three words to say about this trend: OH. HELL. NO.
Some men have questionable taste when it comes to attire, and I don’t think I want to see my coworker’s hairy legs as he drones on and on about team-building and streamlined best practices. The kinds of guys who can get away with shorts at work are usually basketball stars, Abercrombie and Fitch models or guitarists for AC/DC.
I hope all these guys wearing shorts to work have the good sense to put some lotion on their gams. Eww!
So how’s your morning coming along? Right now I’m slurping down some coffee with Tabs chillin’ on my lap. I just finished a couple hours of freelance work, and now I’m taking a short break to “research” (LOL) the new MAC Lustre Twins and Star Flash collections. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Lisa says
I work with my husband, and I don’t even want him to wear shorts to the office.
🙂
Karen B says
I don’t mind shorts but not in the office. Some guys shouldn’t even wear them out of the office either. What’s wrong with long trousers? Get some linen or so!
Karen Bs last blog post..flist is ♥
Elena says
Hey Karen,
I could not agree with you more about this. The only guys I can stand seeing in shorts are my classmates and even then it looks unprofessional.
Have you seen the Sephora blog post about men wearing pantyhose? Some men need to seriously just stick with the pants permanently before this gets out of hand. 🙂 The article is here – http://blog.sephora.com/2008/07/hes-got-leggs-pantyhose-for-guys.html
Also, I’m loving your little sunglass-wearing cat popping out all over the page. 😀
Tracy says
I remember last summer, our office officially allowed wearing shorts on Casual Fridays only for the summer, though I didn’t see any of the men take advantage of it. I think it’s okay for the women to wear them, just as long as they’re not too short, since skirts and such are part of our wardrobe, but I think it’s just too weird to see a guy in shorts in the office.
Tracys last blog post..My first video!
Dao says
When you said “Who wears short shorts?” the first image that jumped to my mind was Christian Ronaldo, the soccer player who just visited the U.S last week. Dude seriously wore some really short shorts, maybe that’s a European thing. Another person is Richard Simmons with his polyester pants. Guys around the lab do wear shorts though as it’s hot in here. But the ones who wear have nice legs so I don’t complain.
Daos last blog post..MAC Basic Brush Set: Great Brushes Without Breaking the Bank!
Jaimie says
Now that they’re embracing the joy or shorts, lets hope they embrace shaving too!
Jaimies last blog post..Depotting Mac Eyeshadow and Blushes
Karen says
Hi Lisa,
That’s so cool that you get to work with your hubby. Do you guys own your own business?
Karen says
Hi Karen B.,
I totally agree. Bust out the seersucker, please. Just don’t make me look at your hairy thighs during a meeting. EWW!
Karen says
Hi Elena,
WOW! I mean… seriously. I am all for expressing ones self but honestly I don’t know how I’d feel if I met a dude for business and he was wearing control top hose. I’d be weirded out, fo’ sho!
Karen says
Hi Tracy,
That’s so weird to me. Honestly, I think we’re all going to eventually just end up wearing pajamas to work one of these days.
Karen says
Hi Dao,
Lucky that the ones you have wearing shorts have nice legs. Otherwise… OY. I hope they have the good sense to put on some lotion! On the flip side, at least they are wearing shorts and not man capris, which I can’t stand.
How has your day been?
Karen says
Hi Jaimie,
LOL, a shaved man leg is a bit too sexy for me!
Glosslizard says
If you wear shorts to work, what’s left to kick back in?
I’m so bummed about the Starflash collection! The texture is so fab that I want to buy a couple, but the colors are doin’ nothing for me! Boo! The only one I really like is Lotusland, but I just don’t need another bright pink! Oh well, more money in the wallet I guess!
Yay for tomorrow being Friday! Have a good one! 🙂
Brittany says
Hmm..I’m okay with guys wearing shorts to picnics or to go fishing or something. Or hot UPS guys, totally okay, but as for “professional” guys in an office? Not so much.
I don’t think women should wear shorts to the office either though. But that’s just me.
Brittany says
Afterthought: Well, unless they’re really long like walking shorts with heels and a fancy shirt. I guess that’s alright.
Karen says
Hi Glosslizard,
Yeah, I am on the fence. Cult of Cherry though is another story. 😉
Hey! I watched part of your man B. Fraiser’s movie The Mummy Returns last night. Are you going to watch his new one?
Give the kitties pets for me. 🙂
Karen says
Hi Brittany,
I’m with ya — I don’t mind women in shorts at the office, as long as it’s clear the shorts are “dress” shorts and they’re tastefully executed (daisy dukes = NO).
A guy in shorts with a suit jacket on just looks wrong to me, though. I totally think of the guitarist from AC/DC.
Dao says
Hi Karen,
My day was fine, managed to get my food craving away 😀 Some guys wear shorts, some wear man-pris, and some even go the distance to shave their legs hehe. Florida is so darn hot and humid, people practically wear shorts 9 months of the year.
Daos last blog post..MAC Basic Brush Set: Great Brushes Without Breaking the Bank!
Glosslizard says
Oh, sooner or later you know I gotta go watch my guy! 😉
Consider them thoroughly petted in your name!
Marisol says
To be honest, the only time I want to see a guy in shorts is at the beach.
Marisols last blog post..Blissful Interactions
Karen says
Hi Dao,
The man-pris kill me! I can’t handle them. If it’s hot then dudes should wear linen or seersucker pants.
Do you like living in a place that’s so hot? The Bay Area is pretty mild, so it never gets too hot or too cold. I used to live near Sacramento, where it was like 100 every day in the summer. The heat was dry, though, which I suppose made it “bearable.”
Karen says
Hi Glosslizard,
Aww, thanks! I knew you’d get a belly rub in there for me.
Karen says
Hi Marisol,
Yeah, me too. And he better be hot, and on a surfboard. 🙂
Karen B says
I was just thinking calves but thighs is EWWWWWWWW!
Then again, completely hairless legs are a tad strange too for men… lol
Karen Bs last blog post..flist is ♥
Rowena says
No no no no no.
Unless you are Christian Bale, in which case, go ahead.