Decades of "casual Fridays" couldn't do it, but scorching summer temperatures finally broke the corporate dress code. From Tokyo to London, heatwaves are driving men to work in shorts, linen, and tees.
- Tokyo Leads the Charge: Japan expanded its "Cool Biz" campaign, actively encouraging office staff to ditch ties, long trousers, and jackets in favor of T-shirts, sneakers, and shorts.
- Retail Boom: Major brands are seeing a massive shift toward breathable fabrics. John Lewis reports a blur between "holiday" and "commuter" styles, while Marks & Spencer logged a 183% surge in men's linen trouser sales. H&M is even delaying its autumn launches to keep lighter gear on shelves longer.
- The Corporate Split: Dress codes are adapting—with conditions. Norway’s DNB bank allows smart shorts, but explicitly bans "cheeky 1970s soccer shorts." Meanwhile, Swiss Re pushed back, explicitly telling staff that "shorts are for weekends."
- Worker Pushback: Unions in Germany (IG Metall and Verdi) are urging companies to drop strict attire rules during heat spikes. In Warsaw, a frustrated bus driver made headlines by wearing a skirt to protest suffocating polyester uniforms, sparking a 400+ signature petition for shorts.
As climate change pushes temperatures higher, the traditional business suit is officially losing its grip.
