Men Wearing Shorts to Work: Fashion Forward or Faux Pas?

As the weather gets hotter, it seems many men are forgoing long pants in favor of comfort.

This week, as temperatures climbed into the 90s, many were seen sporting shorts.

Lincoln Anderson was one of them. But he wasn't out for a jog, or going to the beach. He was on his way to work in Brooklyn.

Sometimes, he said, he wants to know: "Once we hit these summer months, why doesn't everybody just wear shorts?"

Still, Anderson considers himself lucky. He works at a community newspaper, The Villager, where he's editor-in-chief. He said he'd definitely consider changing his work clothes if he had an important meeting, or a big interview — but not if it's hot out and he's planning to edit in the office for most of the day. 

He and many others say times have changed. Lee Frank, an e-commerce manager at a small fashion company, has a good reason to wear shorts. The brightly colored shorts with a poppy-flower print that he wore this week were actually made for him by the company he works for. He's quick to note that there are certain rules he follows.

"I don't think I would wear shorts that were ripped, or frayed, or things like that, or, you know, have holes in them or stains," he said. "There's definitely some shorts that are a little bit nicer to me than other shorts." Gym shorts, bike shorts, and cargo shorts do not make the cut.

It's pretty hard to say whether men wearing shorts to work is becoming more common or not. Alex Campbell said sometimes it comes down to the industry you work in.

"My banker friends...they said, 'tough day at the office, huh, wearing shorts and a polo,' and I said, 'well yea, it's fine,'" he said. "I'm doing my job, I'm getting my work done. Why does it matter if I have a suit on or not?"

Still, not everyone thinks shorts are so hot.

Earlier this year, social commentator Fran Lebowitz said in an interview with Elle magazine that seeing grown men in shorts is "disgusting" and "repulsive."

If you're wearing shorts to work, post a picture on Twitter or Instagram with #FreeTheKnee.