h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's possible that people should increasingly wear shorts as they age, because exposure to sunlight sometimes seems to help guard against thinning skin (anecdotally at least).

It's not possible to be too old for shorts. Unless they're Spiderman shorts, in which case seven is too old.

Are we talking about Spiderman shorts?

I must admit, I don't make a habit of talking about Spiderman shorts...

Perhaps you should.

(Not at all sure what I mean by that.)

Age is the major factor in the marketing of shorts here-abouts.

All they offer any more are these long baggy kids shorts
that come down below the knees - worse than the knee length
old-man, baggy-Bermuda type but with Scooby Doo and Spongebob
prints and wild purples and yellows.

My gf told me I was too old to be wearing these hip-hop styles
that are definitely too young for me, or, yes, I'm too old for them.

They are not comfortable, get bunched up, trip me up and snag my
leg movements when double-clutching or going for the brakes.
The colours are hideous.

I love the old boxer-size, gym-shorts or swim trunk styles which
exposed about half the thigh, snugly but not tightly like stretchy
biking shorts (which are also too long in the thigh). I used to have
a very handsome and admirable leg with muscular calves and oaken
thighs.

So I have been buying boxer briefs (pants/undies) in solid colours
and actually strutting about in public to reactions I can only imagine
to be complimentary and approving. My gf hasn't seen them yet but
we're meeting up next week sometime... I might get her to sew up
the open flies...


~jwf~

There is the matter of where you are.
As I commuted to London yesterday I was looking at the choice of garb of my fellow travellers.
Some older people in knee length shorts looked fine - better than the short shorts & vest , or baggy shorts & no top of some of the younger folk. I just don't want to see all that exposed hot flesh on a crowded train.

I wear shorts every day, of the almost knee-length, 6-pocketed variety, except November-February - very practical to cycle in, and I don't do lycra.

I don't think anyone has commented at all.

<BB<

I think I'll partake of the shorts-worn-outdoors malarkey today for the first time since I've been old enough to shave, probably.

All that remains is to choose between the plain blue ones and the mad tartan ones...gotta be the mad tartan ones I'm afraid.

Now all we need is permission to wear shorts at work. The women in our office can get away with shorts or knee-length skirts, so why not us blokes, eh?

<BB<

I think it was Swedish train drivers weren't given permission to wear shorts so they wore the uniform skirts and found them to very comfortable in hot weather so perhaps you could follow their lead BB

Bluebottle...have you been specifically told that you can't wear shorts? If not, wear them and see what happens.

Shorts haven't been specifically mentioned, but this is the text of an e-mail sent to us from on high:

'...to promote professionalism and I expect that line managers will be including objectives associated with this into forthcoming appraisals (NB: Line managers - we will talk a little more about this.) that as a team we adopt a 'dress code' because first impressions really do count. Whilst I believe that we are all capable of doing the same job whether we are smartly dressed, or in our muddy gardening gear or snowboarding togs or whatever, it is true to say that our customers will form a first impression of us and our expertise when they first approach us. It is our dress that will lead them to form this first impression. So please, may I request that we all adopt a dress code of smart or smart casual. That means smart attire (no jeans of any sort - except as noted below) please and no fashionably ripped trousers. For the one member of the admin team who spends their days crawling under desks fixing up PCs and other hardware, I accept that jeans and a tee shirt is appropriate for that work - but that's the only one for whom it is appropriate. If you have to have a day tidying up store rooms then of course much more casual attire would be appropriate for you on that day.

At the admin meeting we did have some discussion about 'dress down Fridays'. Can I suggest that jeans on a Friday are fine, providing they are not those light blue jeans (or light blue jeans-material skirts) which look really casual.'

<BB<

There was a local news report a year or two back about a schoolboy who wasn't allowed to wear shorts, so he wore a skirt.

Right, that certainly rules out jeans. But I see no reason not to wear shorts. I suggest you wear khaki shorts and use the word "heroes" a lot, and if your boss objects he'll have the Daily Mail to answer to.

I'd also take a few photos of the Naval Male tropical dress and show that. (although you might not like to wear shorts, shirt, long socks and brogues...)

It's a sad fact of life for men that at this time of year most women in the workplace have it a little easier in terms of attire. I would support anyone who wants to wear smart-ish shorts and/or a skirt. In the same way I am constantly reminding the younger be-flip-flopped/mini skirt/vest wearing women that they are not going to the beach and that our dresscode is about to specify set-in sleeves if they're not careful and introduce a minimum skirt length...

I wore a skirt to complain about the unequal dress code in my school. I didn't make the news for it though.

I didn't like it - felt far too exposed, kept on expecting it to do a Marilyn at any minute.

Kaftans for everyone!

I wouldn't think twice about wearing a kilt to work. It would raise an eyebrow or two, but they'd get used to it.

I think out here in the Coachella Valley (the greater Palm Springs area), more people wear shorts than not, especially in the long hot summer.