Staying Cool While Hot Desking

There was a time when wearing shorts to work felt like a fast-track to an awkward conversation with your manager. Not anymore. As office dress codes continue to loosen their tie (or get rid of it altogether), shorts have rightly earned their place in the weekday wardrobe — provided your workplace isn't still operating on Mad Men rules.

The move is making them feel more distinct from your gym kit: think pleated shorts in crisp cotton, lightweight wool (trust us, it won't be too hot) or a breezy linen, rather than performance fabric. Silhouettes have become a broader spectrum these days, but generally erring on the side of caution isn't a terrible idea — so save your Harry Styles–inspired inseam for weekends and opt for a more voluminous width and length that plays on the idea of formality.

Of course, context is everything. And while your job in finance probably isn't ready for your thighs, if you spend your days at a creative agency? Knock yourself out.

When the mercury starts climbing, fabric becomes the backbone of your survival strategy — and it’s time to pivot away from denim and towards the deliberately delicate.

Linen is the perennial heavyweight champion of hot-weather dressing. It lets air flow and dries quickly. Right now, you’re likely thinking about the fear of creases, but we’d suggest embracing the creases. Fighting against them is a fools errand, so choosing to not let the wrinkles rule you allows you to move through the summer haze with a laissez faire confidence.

Cotton poplin, seersucker, and open-weave fabrics deserve a mention too, as both offer plenty of airflow without sacrificing your style. Even tropical wool, despite sounding like an oxymoron, is surprisingly adept at regulating temperature thanks to its breathable open weave.

One final point: no amount of clever styling can convince heavyweight polyester to stop behaving like cling film, so stay away. We warned you.

The Japanese concept of Ma celebrates the idea of space, putting as much emphasis on what isn't there as what is. It's also one of the smartest principles you can borrow when the office begins to feel more like a greenhouse.

The instinct when it's hot is to wear less; the better move is often to wear looser. Clothes that sit away from the body create natural channels for air to circulate, helping heat escape instead of trapping it against your skin all day.

That's why boxy shirts, fuller-leg trousers and relaxed tailoring feel so good in the heat. You get to partake in the oversized end of menswear agenda, all while your clothes function as personal air-conditioning.

Don't jump to buying clothes three sizes too big though, as that will give your outfits an awkward feeling instead of an intentional one. The idea here is to leave just enough breathing room between you and your clothes. When the office thermostat has given up and the subway platform feels like the seventh circle of hell, airflow is the smartest thing you can wear.