maxalex
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2016
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I lived in New York City for 20 years, riding the Vomit Comet to work every day. In the summer. In a suit and tie. People are looking for style advice on this forum, and my personal advice will always be to not wear shorts in town, especially in the evening. That lots of people won't take my advice is a given. I respect that.It seems that you're taking specific instances where shorts are too casual (ie. dining establishments in the evening), and using those instances to support a general prohibition on shorts.
The boundary between what's presentable and what's practical is always subjective, and a happy medium now occupies a larger gray area than in past eras (even if you personally dislike it)-- unless one is out and about on a Saturday in July in NYC, when it's 90 degrees out, with 90% humidity, and it's literally 130 degrees on subway platforms. If that boundary lies outside of that happy medium, then it becomes quite safe to cross. I imagine dignified, self-respecting, well-dressed men who live in places like DC or Florida agree. Adhering to antiquated sartorial dogma is not worth the discomfort, and society at large no longer demands it.
A good example is how I believe large, bulky winter parkas like Canada Goose etc. are gaudy and frumpy -- but when it's 15 degrees out, I fault no one for wearing them, least of all myself.
Then I suppose "informal daytime activities" is the subjective aspect of this conversation.