The newest summer trend in office wear won't affect the length of the workday, but a crisp shorts suit might make the weekend seem a little closer.
With the right pairings and accessories, shorts can be just as appropriate at the office as they are for a day at the beach. Just think slingbacks instead of sandals, a cropped jacket instead of a bikini top, and snappy belts instead of big sunglasses.
"We saw this trend come in last summer," says Heather Hannan, Macy's Midwest public relations manager. "Now that we've seen a little bit of it, women are really embracing the trend this summer. I think maybe some work places have begun to work on their dress codes to work this format in."
But whether the office dress policy supports shorts or not, "These aren't Daisy Duke shorts," Hannan says.
Tailored city shorts or Bermudas that fall at or just above the knee make a good foundation for a shorts suit. When picking out a pair, choose shorts that fall around the same area a skirt would.
"That's really the ultimate yardstick. If you're not going to wear a mini skirt to work, then you shouldn't wear minishorts to work," says Andy Paige, owner of Cents of Style, a fashion and beauty coaching organization based in New York.
Because of the coverage offered by city suits, "It's rarely a question of being age appropriate, it's just a question of 'Is it right for my job⢠Is it right for my style?'" says Lois Joy Johnson, More magazine's beauty and fashion director.
"I don't think they're for everybody to wear to work," Johnson says. "Bosses at traditional, corporate work places probably would be surprised to see their employees in shorts anywhere besides the company picnic. But at more casual offices that deal with creative fields, or in retail or small-business environments, a long pair of Bermudas fit right in.
"You don't want to have it look too summery or too beachy," says Betsy Thompson, fashion spokeswoman for Talbots. "You want to pull it together in a slightly more sophisticated feel, and that comes down to what you put with it. There's a big difference between a flip flop and a peep-toe flat."
The pairings added to the shorts can define the look as weekend or workday appropriate. "You get the basic short in a neutral color, then add a little pizzazz with the top, and then you can really punch it up with the accessories," says Amy Tara Koch, iVillage style and beauty expert.
Making shorts work at work is no sweat -- adding structure and style to the summertime staple makes a shorts suit office ready.
The Shorts
* The long and short of it is that shorts should be long when worn at the office. "They should be crisp and tailored and, most importantly, hit the knee," says Gap spokeswoman Kim Terry. Bodies of all shapes and sizes can fit into shorts, but the knee area is the universal ending point. "We'll have the different fits at the waist, so it's not the length that's different," Terry says. "In the terms of trends in waist lines, they have been coming a bit higher."
* Different leg lengths and proportions mean that there is a bit of leeway on the area of the knee the shorts fall to. "It's the same thing as a skirt," says Talbots spokeswoman Betsy Thompson. "Dead smack in the middle of the knee is not good for a lot of women because most of us don't have pretty knees."
* Remember when you got sent to the principal's office in high school for wearing hot shorts⢠Talking to your boss about your wardrobe malfunctions is even more embarrassing. Fashion and beauty coach Andy Paige recommends measuring up city shorts with "the old Catholic school-girl rule," making sure the shorts are no shorter than three horizontal fingers lined up above the knee. "You want to show the introduction of the calf. If you lose the introduction then you thicken the calf and the whole look will be off," Paige says. She also cautions of wearing cuffed Bermudas to work, which make the shorts seem shorter than they are. "That can be a good thing or that can be a bad thing."
* Do a sit test in the fitting room when choosing your shorts. "The big issue of shorts is not when you're standing, it's when you're sitting, because they ride up," says More magazine beauty and fashion director Lois Joy Johnson. Crossing your legs can complicate matters even more.
The Style
* The shorts you wear to work are not the same ones you wear to a barbecue. "You wouldn't wear a bright, day-glow green skirt to work," says fashion and beauty coach Andy Paige. "You want to wear appropriate earth-tone colors, just like you would with skirts and trousers." Gauze fabrics should stay at the beach; instead choose gabardine or polyesters blended with cotton or linen. "You just don't want it to be flimsy," says Paige. "You want it to have body and a little structure." And no matter what anyone says, pleats don't equal professionalism. "Pleats are heinous, and the fact that designers are bringing them back just says that they're desperate for people to buy more stuff."
* City shorts should be tailored close to the body, but shouldn't be tight enough to glimpse panty lines. "I think everybody who wears shorts should wear a thong, because you want it to hug your body across your tummy and through your hips," says More magazine beauty and fashion director Lois Joy Johnson. Fabrics with a bit of Lycra-induced stretchiness can make this fit even more comfortable.
The Shoes
* What you're wearing on your feet can make the difference between a beach bum and a office executive. "Your shoes are going to dictate the mood of the outfit," says fashion and beauty coach Andy Paige. She recommends "A 1- to 2-inch heel that will give you height in your shorts without sending you down the hoochie highway." Peep-toe heels are a cute way to complete a city suit, but not if your office requires you to wear hosiery with them. "If you're going to show your toes, you should not see your hose," Paige says. "And if we're going to see your toes ... then they need to be painted. Nobody wants to see gnarly toes."
* Lois Joy Johnson, More magazine's beauty and fashion director, wears a shoe that is either toned to the color of the shorts to pull the look together, or a pair of nude, skin-colored shoes to lengthen the leg. Ballet flats, low slingbacks or a wedge can all make this work, but be wary of an ankle strap that interrupts the line of a long leg. And since your legs are going to be on display, they might as well look good. "If your inner lower thigh isn't really toned, a little gradual self-tanner will give you a little bit of self confidence," Johnson says.
Top It Off
* A city suit can blend to be a fashionable look that's both "sporty and sportive," says iVillage fashion and beauty expert Amy Tara Koch. Mixing shorts made of a hard fabric with a soft, flowy tunic, eyelet top or ruffled shirt gives the outfit "a 1940s sort of look," Koch says. But with so much leg showing, the rest of your outfit should balance out the shorts. "If you have a jacket that comes to the mid-thigh, it's going to drown the look. You have to look in the mirror and balance out your proportions."
* What you wear with your office shorts should perpetuate the professional aura you're trying to create. "When in doubt, it's always best to err a little more on the conservative side," says Talbots spokeswoman Betsy Thompson. Creating a shorts suit is the ultimate way to show professionalism. "Most times when you're sitting behind a desk, I think the jacket adds that waist-up authority," Thompson says. Avoid jackets that are too long; they can draw the eye down too far. Short-sleeved jackets can keep the professional look seeming summery, and three-quarter-length sleeves free up arm space to display bracelets. If you opt for traditional full-length sleeves, they should hit above or below -- not at --the widest point of your waist.
* Cardigans, worn alone or cinched with a belt, are a softer version of a jacket. "Sometimes a more feminine looking top with a jacket over it works well" to lighten up the look as well," says Gap spokeswoman Kim Terry.
* Balancing the slim fit of a Bermuda or city short with a flowy tunic or empire-waisted shirt not only evens out proportions, but it can camouflage a tummy as well. "Looser tops with that skinny little short looks great," says More magazine's beauty and fashion director, Lois Joy Johnson.
The Accessories
* Stay away from bug-eye sunglasses and straw hats when adding the finishing touches to your city suit -- the idea is to reinforce the professional look. "Make sure you get some great accessories so it doesn't look like you just threw on a shirt and shorts," says Betsy Thompson of Talbots.
* Adding "a little flash of gold" can refine the look but still give it a trendy "Saint-Tropez feel," says Amy Tara Koch, iVillage fashion and beauty expert. You can strengthen your outfit with a bigger bag that balances the proportion of the shorts. "The bag is pretty important -- you want a tote or a hobo. ... A bag with a little bit of hardwear punches up that look," says Koch.
* Think big when bejeweling your ensemble. "I believe in accessories because they're the most inexpensive way to update your wardrobe," says fashion and beauty coach Andy Paige. Piles of bangle bracelets are trendy, but "can be tough at the office because they make a lot of noise." Substitute a cuff that sits closer on the arm and still has a stacked look.
Fall Transitions
* When the daylight hours get shorter in the fall, city shorts can be a smart choice to transition between seasons. "I think you're going to want to make sure you're not looking too too summery, and have a sense of layers, colors and accessories," says Talbots fashion spokeswoman Betsy Thompson.
* Buying shades of shorts that can fit into fall fashions will keep you trendy in two seasons. "I do think that it will transition into fall in the darker colors, because I think the ankle boots are going to be big," says Amy Tara Koch, iVillage's beauty and fashion expert.
* A few adjustments to the summer look lengthens the run of shorts. "There are winter shorts on the runway -- you just add tights and boots," says fashion and beauty coach Andy Paige. "That's another reason that you need to choose the fabric of your shorts really carefully so that you can transition them into fall."
