Drone, no more, in short-sleeves

Grocers and missionaries. That’s what flits across the mind’s screen when short-sleeve shirts are mentioned. One looks uncomfortable in the air-conditioned store, the other impossibly comfortable in the heat of the neighbourhood. And that’s why short-sleeve shirts have always been anathema.

Now, Michael Douglas did wonders for two-tone collars in Wall Street and sparked a whole fashion trend. In marked contrast, the vastly underrated Falling Down had the reverse affect – the uniform he wears marks him as a beaten man and no one wants to voluntarily don that garb.

In fairness, one man made the white short-sleeve look authoritative – Ed Harris as Gene Kranz in Apollo 13. Other than that, not so much. It became a costume that identified folks as drones, many even replete with pocket protector.

Perception is changing this perspective, due to age and heat in equal parts.

Here in Victoria there’s been something of a heat wave or as much of a heated stretch that can be inflicted when there is a constant sea breeze that flutters from flirtatious to ferocious. But it was warm. And the workplace is a 100-year-old rock pile that doesn’t accommodate modern convenience to keep everyone cool.

So short-sleeves are welcome aid in getting respite from the sun’s tender touch, as direct contact is better than sweaty cotton. Those are the practical reasons.

With age, it seems, comes a lack of fussiness. Rules that must be strictly adhered to can be slightly altered to circumstances. But one hard and fast rule: collared shirt at work, so no one confuses you for a tourist (to be fair, tourists often look like they are headed for a day at the beach and that is acceptable but only if you’re taking up residence beside water). With that non-negotiable, long sleeves do seem cruel and polos, while offering versatility, often lack any panache.

Drone no more, however, as white short-sleeve shirts are no longer the sole choice open to those battling the temperature. Where dress shirts tend to express personality through colours (white, blue or daringly pink) and the occasional pinstripe (sometimes a pink one), today’s summer shirts offer colours and patterns that would be verboten with a suit and tie. And that’s what they are: summer shirts.

If your residence is the Caribbean or similar climate, then disregard and consider them appropriate for the year long.

For the rest of us, it’s a time to indulge. Colours that work because the skin pigment has some tone, a chance to wear a stripe horizontally or odd geometric shapes are all fair game. Up until just about Labour Day.

The relaxation of rules, of course, only goes so far. Some tenets are unbreakable. Unless you are wearing a white short-sleeve shirt, then a necktie should not adorn the neck. It just looks weird and creepy. If a grocery store manager, missionary or NASA administrator, then white shirt and black tie is perfect. Also recognize which shirts work tucked in and which don’t. And Hawaiian shirts are awesome – when in Oahu. Cuban collars are great on holidays.

There, feel better already. Enjoy the sun, soak up the rays and feel the wind blowing the heat on arms unsleeved. Bask in the warmth while being cool.

Oh, one more summer rule, no matter how trendy it appears – socks and sandals, no.