Mayor Bloomberg, Global Warming and Men's Bermuda Shorts

Posted on August 7, 2006

In an article entitled "I Wore Shorts to Work, and They All Laughed," Eric Wilson of The New York Times considers considers the effect that global warming may have on men's fashions. Apparently, many Wall Street men are quite grumpy because they are still stuck in dark wool suits with a tie during the current heat wave suffocating the East Coast, while women are being given more latitude in what to wear to the office.

Mayor Bloomberg suggested that New Yorkers dress more comfortably for work to deal with the heat but -- alas -- he didn't take his own advice. Nevertheless, Wilson decided to take Bloomberg's challenge and wear shorts to the office.

Wilson says, "I wore a dressy pair of low-waisted, narrow knee-length navy twill shorts from Joseph, a white dress shirt, brown loafers (no socks) and a tightly tailored gray jacket from Thom Browne, another designer who put shorts suits in his fall collection. I found myself cooler, strangely confident and, because of that, walking more gaily than usual. But on the street, people stared. Some took pictures."

While there are designer rumblings about the resurgence of the "suit with short-pants/shorts" mini-trend of 1950's, for now, Mayor Bloomberg continues to show up to work in a dark blue navy worsted suit and tie. So goes Bloomberg, so goes Wall Street, as far as male fashion goes anyway. But still, think of the exciting moment in fashion history if Mayor Bloomberg sauntered into to work wearing Bermuda shorts and a nice jacket. The execs at Brooks Brothers are no doubt trembling in their wingtips over the very thought.