From longer lengths to appropriate prints, we measure up the office-friendly shorts debate

Unfortunately those palm-print Bermudas won’t prove quite so useful back at your desk
Bow-waist shorts, £25.99, Zara
Emma McCarthy11 August 2017

In 2017 — a time when millennial pink ruffles are written into the fourth-wave feminist manifesto and Sarah Knight’s The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*** is every women’s handbook — it’s remarkable that the question of whether it’s OK to wear shorts to work is one still capable of raising an eyebrow. Because there are few other items in your wardrobe still restricted to a casual-only contract. Jeans? Standard. Track pants? Why not. Trainers? Obviously. But shorts? Oh no.

Though exactly why shorts are the final frontier of nine-to-five dressing is a head-scratcher. After all, August — the month of supposed sunshine and perpetual management absence — is surely a prime time to embrace the silly season and reveal your knees to your nearest and dearest colleagues?

Perhaps the real reason for shorts’ shortcomings is down to the fact that once you’ve overcome the hurdle of office impropriety, finding a suitable pair is an even bigger dilemma. Because unfortunately, the palm-print Bermudas which served you so well in Santorini won’t prove quite so useful back at your desk.

Instead, think low-key, long-ish and tailored. With their belted high-rise and flattering A-line fit, New York label Sea’s navy pleat-front canvas shorts are a safe bet even for conservative dressers, while Chinti & Parker’s pre-fall collection boasts a host of boardroom-appropriate options, from scallop-trim styles to neat navy-printed numbers.

Chinti & Parker scallop-pocket shorts, from a selection at Chinti and Parker

For those who wish to keep their thighs under wraps, Margaret Howell’s no-nonsense navy knee-skimming shorts are a surprisingly versatile addition to your working wardrobe. As for those seeking something a little snazzier, but which won’t result in being handed your P45, the daffodil yellow turn-ups from modernist workwear hero COS will fit the bill.

Cotton turn-up shorts, £45, COS

J Crew also has a host of smart but not sleep-inducing styles, including a not-as-scary-as-they-sound high-waisted plaid pair, as well as leopard-print, ruffle-hem khakis and a range of reassuringly straightforward chino shorts in bold shades of lemon, emerald and sugar pink.

Then comes the next task — how to wear them. Zara’s bow-waist, thigh-grazing shorts, for example, are great if you’re twentysomething with great legs and a job in a Shoreditch start-up, but even then it’s probably best to balance the exposure with a roll-neck top, sharp blazer and smart flats. (NB the addition of a pair of tights in autumn will also do wonders for their office potential).

Sea pleat-front belted shorts, £300 (matchesfashion.com)

In fact, flats are generally a good idea all round, particularly when it comes to shorter shorts, with low heels best saved for styles that meet or cover the knee, while crisp, mannish shirting and coordinating suit jackets are good ways to ensure you don’t look like you’ve taken a wrong turn on your way to the beach.

One sure-fire way to ensure your look hits the right note — while also making life easier for yourself when getting dressed in the morning — is to opt for an all-in-one, such as French Connection’s winter playsuit (which we are now officially rechristening the worksuit). With its structured yet relaxed fit, long-sleeves and shirting details, it offers further proof that you don’t have to save your shorts for a Sunday — or a sunny day.

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