Slouchy, tailored or camo: Eight brands making work-appropriate shorts
image via @lem.wear/instagram
words by daisy henry
Sun’s out, knees out.
Recently, we unpacked the debate surrounding thongs in the office. As it turns out, the consensus is that unless you work with children, food or in the medical field, they’ve officially been deemed by FJ readers as Safe For Work (SFW).
Ever since, the question of office dressing continues to play on our minds. As par for the course of an Australian summer, hot weather is commonplace (and that’s not to mention the recent slate of 40-degree days). The UV is strong and the humidity is high.
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This might be welcomed on a day off when you can get away with walking around in your underwear, or weekends spent in bikinis by the beach. But when you’re dressing for a nine-hour day surrounded by work colleagues, how exactly do you balance temperature control with feeling professional?
Though thongs are one potential avenue to staying cool, we’ve noticed an uptick in the number of local brands broadening their shorts range. Not to be confused with a capri, which we’d define as cropped pants falling between the knee and the ankle, the beauty of shorts is that they come in a variety of styles, lengths and silhouettes.
From longline Bermuda-style cuts, to slouchy and oversized, the category is broad enough that you’re almost guaranteed to find something that’ll get you over the line when it comes to what’s considered work-appropriate.
Whether you want to pair them with a crisp shirt, dressy shoe or chunky accessory, there are plenty of ways to keep it feeling polished. If you’re feeling curious to try it out for yourself, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite styles below.
Lem Wear
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Fashion creator Naima Fatema has all but sold us on Lem Wear’s baggy shorts. A relaxed, wide-leg silhouette, you can choose between navy pinstripe, white denim or khaki.
Marle
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Marle is known for its versatile, timeless approach to dressing. From belted jean shorts to black cotton, the New Zealand-born label is perfect for those who lean towards the minimal.
Henne
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Henne’s tailored shorts are ideal if your workplace leans more coporate. Find loose, knee-length styles, as well as shorter lengths, on offer.
Monphell
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Melbourne-born label Monphell has well and truly perfected the art of the short. From a slouchy, tailored silhouette to a wide-leg terry marle, they’re easily dressed up with the right accessories.
Bassike
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For those feeling a little more adventurous and wanting to move beyond a tailored pinstripe (which the label also offers here), Australian label Bassike’s Camo Print Shorts are a fun, unexpected option.
Suku Home
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In a similar vein, Suku Home’s latest collection is a fun way to experiment with texture, prints, colour and layering.
Elka Collective
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Elka Collective’s broad range of short styles toes an effortless line between everyday wear and formal dressing. From high-waisted gingham to tailored and pleated styles, they’re easily made office-safe with a plain T-shirt, button-up shirt or a pair of mules.
Variety Hour
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A boxer style cut, Variety Hour’s Runner Short are 100 per cent made from cotton, with an elasticated waistband for extra comfort. Dress them up with the matching top.
For more on summer office outfits, try this.
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