Socks and sandals: the boys' summer dress dilemma

The heat of our sweltering fourth floor office has driven the powers that be to implement an emergency dress code. From tomorrow the boys of the office will be breaking out of their suits and smarts into shorts and sandals… and maybe even socks?

No, I have more faith in them than that. Still, the choices for boys in the summer are surprisingly limited and I can't quite picture what the Men of the Agency will do with this new-found freedom. Not for them the easy escape of the sundresses or sleeveless t-shirts that are the saviours of women across the sweltering City; instead they must contend with the sartorial hurdles of shorts and casual Ts. Who really dares expose their knees to peers and bosses alike? And what will replace the leather shoes that have been the staple of the winter months - the scratty trainers that have sat by the door for the last eighteen months, or - heaven forbid - flipflops?

As the clock ticks towards 9am on Friday morning, the women of the agency will turn towards the door as one, asking themselves the killer question: who will get it wrong?

Poor boys, it does seem unfair. I'm sure the only other people who have it this hard in summer are the Goths.