The Great Shorts Debate Isn't About Shorts
It's about how culture, context, and expectations shape our idea of professionalism.
How would you react if one of your colleagues walked into the office tomorrow wearing shorts?
Would you be shocked? Slightly amused? Secretly jealous? Completely unfazed?
The interesting thing is that there probably isn't one correct answer. Different people, industries, and cultures would all react differently. For some, shorts in the workplace might seem perfectly acceptable. For others, they might immediately feel out of place.
That was precisely the conversation sparked by a recent New York Times opinion piece by David Coggins, who argued that men simply shouldn't wear shorts to the office. Even during the height of summer, he believes professional environments should still maintain professional standards of dress because our clothing communicates respect, authority, and seriousness.
Although a perfectly reasonable argument, it also made me wonder: what exactly do we mean by "professional"?
When Shorts Didn't Matter
Last month, I wrote about attending a Spanish language immersion program in Spain. One of the school's most popular teachers regularly arrived in shorts, sandals, and clothing that many people would hardly describe as "professional office attire." Had I judged him on appearance alone, I might have questioned whether he took his job seriously.
Does attire really matter in this day and age?
He was engaging, energetic, and approachable. Students weren't afraid to make mistakes or speak up, a crucial part of learning any language. Rather than focusing solely on grammar, he built lessons around everyday conversations, travel, and cultural differences. He encouraged students to compare how the same ideas were expressed in their own countries, turning each class into an engaging discussion about language, translation, and localization.
Before long, I wasn’t even thinking about his shorts anymore.
Ironically, other teachers at the same school dressed impeccably in pressed collared shirts and polished shoes. Yet some of their lessons felt noticeably more formal, less interactive, and, in some cases, less memorable.
It made me wonder whether first impressions should outweigh the quality of someone's work.
Clothing Is Communication
One of David Coggins' strongest arguments is that clothing communicates before we ever speak. There's a great deal of truth in that. Long before a meeting begins, we subconsciously associate clothing with authority, competence, creativity, or confidence. Whether we realize it or not, what we wear contributes to our professional image and becomes a powerful form of workplace communication.
My Spanish teacher demonstrated something equally important. His relaxed appearance wasn't accidental but complemented the environment he wanted to create. Learning a language can be intimidating, so he deliberately made the classroom feel welcoming and informal. His clothing, teaching style, and personality all reinforced the same message.
Meanwhile, the more formally dressed teachers projected structure and academic rigor.
Quality vs first impressions
While neither approach was better, each simply communicated different expectations.
Professionalism Has Always Been Local
We often assume professionalism has a universal look, but history suggests otherwise. A tailored suit projects authority in London's financial district. That same suit, worn in Singapore's tropical humidity, can feel more like endurance training than professionalism. In Southern Europe, lightweight linen is perfectly acceptable during summer. In Hawaii, the aloha shirt is recognized business attire. Meanwhile, shorts that barely attract attention in Brisbane may still raise eyebrows in Frankfurt or Tokyo.
None of these places are more professional than the others. They simply define professionalism differently, each reflecting international business culture, local climate, and social expectations. Just as language changes from one market to another, so too do the unwritten rules that surround appearances.
The Workplace Has Changed
The pandemic quietly reshaped one of the oldest traditions of working life.
For several years, millions of professionals worked successfully from home wearing T-shirts, hoodies, and, quite often, shorts. Productivity remained high, businesses continued to grow, and clients were still served.
Returning to the office has therefore created an interesting tension. Our working habits evolved remarkably quickly, but many dress code policies remained rooted in expectations established long before remote work and today's hybrid workplace.
Perhaps that's why conversations like David Coggins' continue to resonate. They aren't really about shorts but about whether our traditional signals of professionalism still align with the realities of modern work.
Should Dress Codes Be Localized?
Here’s an interesting thought: If companies can localize their websites, advertising campaigns, and customer experiences, should they also think about localizing workplace expectations?
A single global dress code may not always make sense for offices spread across Stockholm, Singapore, Madrid, and Sydney, each with different climates, cultures, and working environments. Effective cross-cultural communication has never been about treating every audience identically; it's about understanding local expectations while remaining true to your organization's values.
Perhaps workplace attire deserves the same consideration.
The Bigger Conversation
David Coggins is correct to remind us that appearance matters. Clothing still shapes first impressions and influences how colleagues and clients perceive us.
But perhaps professionalism isn't defined by a single dress code.
Sometimes professionalism means wearing a tailored suit to a board of directors’ presentation. Other times it could mean steel-capped boots on a construction site. And sometimes it means shorts and sandals because creating a relaxed, welcoming environment helps students gain the confidence to speak a new language.
In each case, the clothing supports the purpose.
Perhaps professionalism has never really been about what we wear. It's about understanding our audience, respecting the context, and delivering what is expected of us.
About the Author
Colin Drysdale is the Chief Strategy Officer with Flynde, a global company providing translation solutions to businesses of all sizes.
Discover the best-in-class translation solutions for your business. Trusted & certified for all languages with locations in Singapore, Switzerland & the USA. Flynde takes human translation strategies and uses advanced technologies to deliver them to our customers across our three business lines: Flynde for startups, Flynde for small businesses, and Flynde for corporations.
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