In 2011, Tom Ford famously laid out his style commandments, including his simple thoughts on outfitting our bottom half: “A man should never wear shorts in the city.” As with all opinions on the internet, the take was met with equal parts sharp criticism, unrelenting support, and the eventual New York Times op-ed.

For whatever reason, opinions were strong, and those who argued passionately took their stance. Similar to the is-a-hot-dog-a-sandwich debate (it's not, it's a hot dog), the internet couldn't agree, and our pants debate has raged on until we found something else to argue about.

Almost a decade later, summer 2020 presents a new wrinkle in our slacks squabble: we're on pace for one of the hottest years on record. According to a Harris Poll, “39% of urban dwellers said the COVID-19 crisis has prompted them to consider leaving for a less crowded place.” Great, so it's hotter than ever, and we're less likely to be in a city than ever before. If you're keeping track at home—that's two tallies in the “Pro-Shorts” column.

Even with temperatures on the rise, and formalwear occasions on the decline, the truth is sometimes it's just nice to find a reason to dress up. Swapping in some trousers for jeans or (gasp) shorts is a proven upgrade. Fortunately, it's easier than ever to mix pants into our wardrobe with the help of new fabrics, cuts and a litany of brands that have entered this brave new space.