Ask the Image Expert Sherry Maysonave is the founder and president of Empowerment Enterprises, one of America's leading communication-image firms. Sherry conducts corporate seminars and coaches executives, professionals, and politicians in achieving excellence in communication and image. She is also the author of Casual Power: How to Power Up your Nonverbal Communication and Dress Down for Success Shorts at Work Question: I am a senior manager of a very conservative old company. Recently there were changes to the dress code policy that made it OK for women to wear "business casual shorts" to work. Within one week of the new policy going into effect, already there is controversy. Set the record straight, what would you consider appropriate guidelines for women wearing business casual shorts. Your help will be appreciated. Tony Answer: My, oh my, allowing shorts (even only in the summer months) is a gigantic leap for a conservative company. And one I do not recommend. Shorts are extremely risky to allow as business casual attire. The room for abuse is enormous. Regular recreational-style shorts are on the “Sabotage” list in my book, Casual Power. If a company is inclined to allow women to wear shorts, it should be required that they be in the “city short” style, which is longer than the typical pair of recreational shorts. City shorts (sometimes called dressy walking shorts) mimic a knee-length short skirt. The length should come to the knees or no more than 2 to 3” above the knee. Ideally, they are worn with hosiery, as a short skirt should be in a business environment. Some companies allow knee-length skirts or city shorts worn without hosiery but only when they come to the top of the knees or a close proximity. Remember too, that shorts appear much shorter when the wearer is sitting. Obviously, short-shorts, biking shorts, and workout shorts, etc. should be completely disallowed. City shorts are typically made of nicer fabrics than the ultra casual cotton varieties worn for kickback time. At the minimum, your company should request that all shorts appear pressed and neat just as skirts and pants should be. I recommend that your company set some clear guidelines in writing and enforce them. It is legal to do so as long as they are enforced uniformly. You cannot allow a trim woman with good legs to wear her shorts a shorter length than you allow a heavyset woman to wear them just because she has unappealing legs. You either allow shorts for all women, including any designated length, or you don’t. Otherwise, there’s no legal standing if a difficulty should arise. As a senior manager, you may have a tough summer ahead. Written dress policies save managers hours of policing time. It’s really the only legal way to require (and enforce) a particular standard of dress. When you have a clearly written policy in place, it is legal to send an employee home to change and dock them vacation time for doing so. It is also legal to terminate an employee for noncompliance when there have been repeated violations (well documented, of course). Best of luck, Sherry Maysonave Also see: I recently accepted a position in the office of the University President. This summer I have worn skirts and tops - but sometimes I feel underdressed without a suit jacket. Are suits required in an office like this? The law firm I work for just adopted business casual dress policy. What should I wear? Ask your image questions Personal Power: A case study from 'Casual Power'