From Tokyo to London, heatwaves send men to work in shorts

Scorching summer temperatures have done what decades of dress-down Fridays have failed to do — get men to the office in shorts.

Japan’s capital led the way. This year the metropolitan government’s long-standing no-tie, no-jacket “Cool Biz” campaign took a step further by encouraging its staff to ditch long trousers, and even try T-shirts and sneakers.

As heatwaves mounted across Europe, other workers followed in Tokyo’s wake, sometimes with the encouragement of authorities and management, sometimes without.

Major retailers said linen shorts and suits were flying off the shelves in Britain, as men opted for breathable fabrics more commonly associated with Mediterranean climes.

“The lines between ‘commuter’ and ‘holiday’ style are blurring,” Martha Hibberd, menswear buyer at British department store John Lewis, said.

Marks and Spencer said sales of men’s linen trousers in June to July jumped 183% compared with the same period a year ago.

H&M — one of Europe’s biggest fashion retailers — said it was bringing in lighter clothes and delaying the release of autumnal lines to later in the year.

“It looks like we’re not going back when it comes to climate change,” Andreas Lowenstam, H&M’s head of menswear design, said.

Hugo Boss said it had increased its assortment of tailored shorts. Its “Boss by Beckham” range in collaboration with soccer star David Beckham, offers a pair of cotton tailored shorts for €229 (R3,600).

The trend was there to see in Europe’s business hubs, from London’s Canary Wharf to the streets of Frankfurt. But there were some limits.

At Norway’s largest bank, DNB, staff were welcome to wear shorts and skirts, said spokesperson Vidar Korsberg Dalsbo.

“However, we are probably talking about smarter garments with some length rather than a ballerina skirt or a cheeky pair of 1970s-style soccer shorts.”

In June, Gianfranco Lot, Switzerland head at insurance group Swiss Re, wrote an email to staff with tips on how to stay cool.

Alongside the list of suggestions — such as drinking water, breaking when needed, and taking a dip in Lake Zurich just across from the office — there was a quick reminder that “shorts are for weekends”.