Wearing shorts to the office isn't always a fashion faux pas. Here's how to pull them off.
Fashion experts and public figures are debating whether shorts are appropriate attire for a professional office environment. While many remain skeptical, stylists suggest that shorts can be acceptable if they are styled correctly with formal accessories.
Why it matters
It reflects the shifting norms of workplace dress codes in a post-pandemic, more casual professional landscape.
Shorts can be acceptable workwear, so long as you style them right. Picture Alliance/DPA/Getty Images Instagram head Adam Mosseri said he supports people wearing shorts to the office. Stylist Zahra Waliji agreed that shorts can be appropriate if worn and styled smartly. She suggests pairing longer shorts with a more formal top, loafers, and accessories like a belt. In 2026, you can show up to work in jeans, eat a slopbowl at your desk while working through lunch, and enjoy wine on tap later in the day. If you dare to show a little knee, though, you might stun your colleagues. Adam Mosseri reignited the debate over wearing shorts in the office on Monday's episode of the " Throwing Fits " podcast . The head of Instagram said he's "pro," though "not everyone can pull them off, and not all shorts are created equal."
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