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!