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You can wear loose, lightweights fabrics that are cool and breathable without wearing shorts or sandals
There are plenty of business attire options that allow you to stay professional and comfortable during the summer. I wear them all the time. In my experience, women tend to have more choices than men, but there are still good options available for everyone.
I've worked with representatives who wore short-sleeved dress shirts or polos paired with lightweight dress pants. For women, open-toe dress shoes are often acceptable, although the same look might be considered less appropriate for men in many workplaces.
Ultimately, it comes down to your company's dress code policy. I've worked for organizations that didn't allow shoelaces, open-toe shoes, or certain types of footwear, while others required shoes to be secured around the heel and prohibited slip-on dress sandals.
For men, I often recommend checking out golf apparel at sporting goods stores. Golf clothing is designed to look professional while being lightweight, breathable, and comfortable in warmer weather. You can find excellent dress pants and polos that work well in a business environment.
Why do you think the only "summertime appropriate" clothes are shorts and open toed shoes?
And why are you "enraged" at the notion that those aren't office appropriate clothes?
Seems a pretty dramatic overreaction. Put on some linen pants or skirt and flats and call it a day.
Your office has air conditioning, yes?
Why shouldn't they be office appropriate? It may be time to rethink that standard. Shorts and open toed shoes can be quite nice looking, if the correct ones are chosen.
Ask yourself, what image, as a professional, do you want to put out there? Also, think about how other people see you, especially the older business men and women...You are the representative of the business you work for so, sandals, yes, flip flops no. Skirts/dresses yes, shorts, no. Ribbons in your hair, yes, full on hats and head coverings, no (unless this is a religious wearing of a burka or similar) Just as PwC1 stated, your office should have air conditioning. Our office is so kind, we have small fans in our offices and at the desks. Refer to your firm's employee manual for guidance. I hope this helps.
If your office is so “kind,” you’d come to realize that we now live in a world where it’s not appropriate to judge a person just based upon what they’re wearing. Is my outfit truly a representation of my quality of work and performance? No. I think others need to realize that business professional isn’t a common thing anymore. A lot of bigger companies allow business casual and jeans. So what’s the problem if someone is wearing business professional shorts and appropriate open toed shoes? I also think people are forgetting about Covid and how when working from home was popular, all office dress codes went out the window. Yet, a client could still see you on teams/zoom camera and look at a messy room behind you while practically wearing pajamas, and that was never an issue or a bigger discussion. I think people need to start shifting the way they think. Personally, I wear more business professional clothing because it’s more comfortable to me than tight jeans, and dressing up makes me feel good. But don’t for a second think that I’m wearing it for others.
If you're a girl, a skirt/professional dress and dressy open shoes can be appropriate. If you're a guy, get some breathable pants and a lightweight polo, you'll be fine....that's what golfers wear in all kinds of summer heat.
The key word in your question is “appropriate”. Shorts and flip flops are not appropriate office workplace attire.
One of my clients ages ago permitted some of their departments to dress down. While the accounting floor was always dressed in suits (even on snow days) I couldn’t believe some of the inappropriate attire I’d see in the elevator heading to other floors. Jeans with tears and holes (not the ‘fashionable’ ones) or splattered with paint, stretched out tees and sweatshirts and way too short jeans on people who shouldn’t be wearing shorts in public.
Casual attire can still have rules.
Is your office air conditioned? Are there multiple people complaining? If so, talk to the facilities management and get it turned down a bit. If not find comfortable pants or skirt to wear. You're going to an office, not a park.
Summer appropriate clothing doesn't necessarily mean super casual. Dress shorts and dress sandals exist.
I’ve worked at three public accounting firms; business casual (no shorts) has been the minimum standard. Seconding the recommendation to look into loose, lightweight fabrics for summer.
Yes you can, howeve, keep in mind that you are at an office. If you can wear it to a club, or the beach, don’t bother. You need to know how to dress appropriately. Wear business shorts, with a button up and a vest. Short suits work as well. Make sure your sandals have a heel no more than 3 inches and not too strappy. You don’t want to look sexy or as if you’re at the beach.
I guess your level of respect for colleagues and clients is reduced to shorts and flip flops..
My office doesn't care. Ladies wear summer dresses and open toe sandals, all appropriate. However, I have honestly never seen any of the men wear shorts or open toe shoes honestly. I'm sure they could, but they don't.
Where is your office?
Nuh uh.. have you seen Meredith’s dress in the “casual Monday” episode.. no way they’re opening up Pandora’s box
I’ve heard that lmao but it was a reference to Dundler Mifflin/the Office..
I thought the tone/Nuh uh would shout satire but maybe not 😂
What difference does it matter what kind of shoes you wear ...
Our office doesn't seem to care much (small office, most staff do zero client meetings). But I do think keeping on the neat and and crisp side helps. Shorts are fine - something well fitted and all - but baggy gym shorts, meh. Sandals can be quite nice if they are, like, not crocs, and if your toenails are trimmed and and your feet are clean (beleeve me ... some of the things I've seen...). Dress policies are not much a thing at smaller companies, I would guess?
I worked for Omnicom Media in NYC, one of the largest ad agencies in the world. Some of my colleagues, decided that they would wear cargo shorts, sandals, spaghetti strap shirts--basically what looked like outdoor / beach attire. I didn't find it particularly pleasant to see hairy legs and toes (men or women) when attending meetings. While I didn't officially complain, some others did. Instead of calling employees out, the HR department decided to hold a meeting defining what "business casual" means--no sandals, shorts, undershirt-type clothing. Lightweight slacks, polo shirts, capri pants, are fine. I never even considered wearing "beach" attire to work.
No
Shorts No, Open toe shoes yes
This is something that has never come up in my office. I have always worn long pants in the office, and pretty much every other male I have seen have worn pants. I have seen women wearing skirts or a dress, but no shorts.
Our office does for women but not for men
I work in a manufacturing area, so I am in my office most of the time but I need close toe and heel shoes to go back into manufacturing. Why don't you wear a skirt and if your in an office open toe shoes should be fine, I can wear open toe but no shorts.