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.” But, he added, “When it hits, it hits.”
Mosseri does lead one of the largest social media platforms, so he likely has more flexibility with his work wardrobe than most of us. Still, a professional stylist says he has a point: Workers can wear shorts to the office. They just have to follow a few style rules.
Yes, you can wear shorts at work — sometimes
If you ask the general public, most people will probably advise against showing your legs at work.
At least, that’s where most people landed in Business Insider’s LinkedIn poll asking whether shorts at the office are appropriate. Over 7,000 people have responded so far, with 55% voting “no” and 20% voting “yes.” Meanwhile, 25% said that “it depends.”
Naturally, this debate found its way into my conversations with friends and family, and everyone I talked to was somewhere in the middle. So I texted an expert.
Zahra Waliji, a stylist who dresses everyday people and corporate workers, told me that wearing shorts in the office can be fair game. After all, it’s about a lot more than style.
Even light trousers can feel like too much fabric on hot days. And while women generally have the option to wear skirts and dresses, they can still be thick and overwhelming.
Shorts can be an easy swap for anyone. They’re light, breezy, and comfortable. So long as your office culture allows it, Waliji said workers should feel empowered to wear them.
“I definitely think women can wear shorts [in the office]. For men, it’s a little trickier,” she said, explaining that there are simply fewer pant options made for men.
“But it’s hot in the summer, and it’s OK to wear dress shorts,” she added.
Some fields, she said, are more welcoming of garments like shorts than others.
Tech is the biggest example, with even the biggest names in the industry wearing everything from simple hoodies to statement leather jackets on work days.
Private-practice jobs are also likely safe spaces to wear the style.
“I’m not sure you could get away with it working at a hospital, but if you’re a therapist in private practice, sure, you can,” Waliji said.
There are a few rules to follow if you want to ‘free the knee’
Even if you can wear shorts at work, you shouldn’t necessarily wear any pair you have.
For one thing, work shorts should be longer than ones you’d likely wear otherwise — knee length or longer. Athletic shorts with five-inch inseams won’t cut it, and neither will satin, lace-lined bottoms. That means this isn’t the time to try those extra-short styles loved by Paul Mescal and Harry Styles, nor the daring pairs worn by Alexander Skarsgård.
“If a skirt of the same length would be too short, you shouldn’t be wearing those shorts,” Waliji said.
Instead, Waliji said workers should generally stick to trouser-style shorts and long chinos. Sorry to fans, but this rules out denim and cargo shorts.
Bold colors, however, are fine — if they’re styled nicely.
“A red short with a white button-down shirt and loafers would look nice,” Waliji said.
She also recommends elevating shorts by pairing them with more formal tops, like polo shirts, and classic accessories like loafers and leather belts.
Ultimately, as long as you dress respectfully and modestly — as you likely would with any work outfit — Waliji said you’ll be fine.
“It all depends on where you’re working and your dress code,” Waliji said. “If you’re an attorney, you need to be in a suit. I don’t think a blazer and shorts are going to work.”
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