Bermuda shorts
It will be no
surprise to learn that Bermuda shorts are the national dress for the Island.
The shorts
originated with the British Empire, when military and civilian administrators in
far-flung, tropical parts of the globe adopted the shorts in order to cope with the
hot climate.
 Whilst
they can be worn year-round (and some people do), most men wear them from
April to November when the temperature and humidity are at their peak.
Highly flexible, they can be worn as smart business wear, part of a uniform,
evening wear or with casual clothes.
They come in
an array of colours: from conservative blue and grey through to green,
orange, pink and yellow. You can often tell how long an expatriate has been
living on the Island by the colour of his shorts – new residents often start
with a cautious, dark blue pair and work their way up to pink or yellow!
The correct
height for civil servants and businessmen to wear the shorts is
approximately three inches above the knee. Bermuda shorts are best worn with a
blazer, smart short-sleeved shirt with tie, and long socks (often dark
blue).
You should not attempt to buy Bermuda
shorts from abroad before you arrive on the Island as they will invariably
not have quite the right design. It's much better and easier to pick them up once
you've arrived.
A good
quality, smart pair will typically cost around $50.
Popular local stores
in Hamilton
where you can buy Bermuda shorts include HA&E Smiths, Triminghams, AS Cooper
and the English Sports Shop.
PS: The wearing of Bermuda shorts is, of
course, optional and you can choose to wear a suit year-round if you prefer.
Most people who try this, however, soon find that they end up switching over
to shorts in the summer due to the heat... and good-natured speculation in the
office about whether or not they have knobbly knees! |
