Alright, so I was thinking about what to wear to the office the other day, and this question popped into my head: are cargo shorts business casual? I mean, they’re comfy, they’ve got pockets for days, but are they okay for work?
First, I did a little digging online. I found some stuff saying that cargo pants, and especially cargo shorts, are usually a no-go for business casual. Most places say that business casual means dress pants, button-down shirts, that kind of thing. And yeah, some sites mentioned that T-shirts and cargo pants aren’t business casual, but capris and sandals might be alright. It was all a bit confusing.
So, I decided to do a little experiment. I wore my favorite pair of cargo shorts to the office. They’re not too baggy, and they’re a nice, neutral color. I paired them with a decent polo shirt and some clean sneakers, just to try to keep it somewhat presentable.
- Day 1: Walked into the office, and immediately felt a bit self-conscious. I noticed a few people glancing at my shorts. My boss didn’t say anything, but I could tell he wasn’t too thrilled. During a coffee break, a coworker jokingly asked if I was going on a hike later. Got a few chuckles, but it confirmed my doubts.
- Day 2: I decided to up my game a bit. I wore the same cargo shorts but swapped the polo for a button-down shirt. It felt a little strange, like I was mixing two different worlds. This time, nobody said anything, but the looks I got were enough. I realized that even though I was trying to dress them up, the cargo shorts just didn’t fit in.
- Day 3: I went back to my usual business casual getup, slacks and a button-down shirt. Everything felt normal again. No weird looks, no comments. It was clear that my experiment was over.
My Conclusion
From what I experienced, cargo shorts just don’t cut it for business casual. They might be okay for a super relaxed office or a casual Friday, but in most workplaces, they’re just too casual. It’s better to play it safe and stick with dress pants or chinos. You can still be comfortable without sacrificing professionalism. I learned my lesson, and now my cargo shorts are strictly for weekends and non-work activities.
So yeah, that was my little adventure into the world of cargo shorts and business casual. Hope you found it somewhat helpful, or at least a little bit entertaining!
