the knee.

the ankle bone.

I wear shorts and flip flops for comfort in hot weather and don't really care a jot if anyone else is bothered or if it's a faux pas.

So there!

or slightly longer.

And sod Tom Ford. Does he think I should sweat in a pair of trousers when I go for a walk in the sun? Bloody hypocrite as well - he's selling shorts in his summer season. Unpleasantly short and patterned ones at that.

I read somewhere that in the early days of The Sopranos, David Chase heard that the real-life counterparts of the show's protagonists had offered tacit approval of the series. However, there was one notice from a prominently-placed gentlemen, who referred to a scene in which Tony Soprano appeared in short trousers at a barbecue. 'A real don would never wear shorts' was the observation.

Never heard of him. But he can wear what he damn well pleases and so can I.

I'm also not keen. It seems to be standard doofus uniform, as described. Also, the same people always carry their car keys, rather than put them in a pocket or a bag. If anything, the key carrying thing seems to have been around for longer. It almost seems to be a meme, like riding in the passenger seat of a car, window down, hand holding onto roof "look at me I'm a rally driver's passenger".

Then there's the young folks with their twisted, low-slung jeans. Kids, you look like you've poohed yourselves.

That said, I am in my 40s and sometimes wear a hoody. People in glass houses, etc. I'm sure we all look profoundly silly to someone.

when flying off on their jollies. Quite right: it shouldn't be allowed.

...and lowered braces should be a gentleman's only concession to unseasonable, unbritish, warm weather. Oh, and a knotted handkerchief on the head if sur le continent*.

* That's foreign for 'abroad'.

... southern California. T-shirts, shorts & flip-flops are mandatory. I have no choice.

What's wrong with that? My feet would have been hot in socks and shoes... as they are now, in fact.

Known for its 10 month winters, you want to make the most of the 4-5 weeks (if you´re lucky) of I CAN WEAR SHORTS TODAY! OUTDOORS! Trust me.

Although, I must add, in theory I´m with you.

Living in the tropical climate of Singapore (daily weather forecast, 365 days a year - 24 to 32degC, showers in places) shorts and sandals are worn virtually all the time outside work.

Personally, I have no idea on what the fashion is - some are above the knee, some below. All are comfortable, so that's all that matters....

...frankly, it is no-one's business who wears or carries what when

BUT Tom Ford always looks ace, I do like a man in a good suit and tie and great shoes much better than baggy shorts and flip-flops.

fine. Flip-flops - if you must.

Jeans and flip-flops - no. If it's warm enough for flip flops then wear shorts. The trousers and flip flops things is twatty.

On the day France has decided to ban women from covering their faces in public, I'm glad we're debating the REAL clothing issues that matter to people here ;)

A Jelaba (massive ankle length nightshirt garment) as worn in the Levant is cool and instead of looking like a doofus you'll just be considered eccentric, especially when paired with a Fez/flyswatter combo.

So I wear flip flips or birkinstock sandals.
I sweat like a horse and ride a bike, so I wear shorts, sometimes even three quarter length trousers.
I do keep my t-shirt on though. Only because I have hairy shoulders, I draw the line at exposing them.

I couldn't give a f*ck what some stuck up fashion designer twat thinks about my clothing. Nor do I care what anyone else thinks for that matter. Clothes are practical things, or work things (which I guess amounts to the same thing). I am not rich or vain enough to dress up.

Whether Tom Ford is right or not, all that "A gentleman never..." stuff gets on my wick, usually because it is declaimed by absurd fops from ( or affecting to be from) old money, who would have us all looking like Prince Charles or Bryan Ferry.

Plus it is usually cobblers anyway. For example, when I was growing up, my elders and betters would always declare "a gentleman always wears a white shirt". You know something : they lied. Unless it is a funeral, strictly for the coppers.

and it said that the most unhip garment to wear in the summer is a short-sleeved shirt - i.e. not a T-shirt, but a button-up shirt with short sleeves. Hopelessly uncool, apparently. And, like, I felt pretty silly, because my wardrobe is full of short-sleeved shirts. I've got a couple that are a silk/linen blend, and I rather liked them. Now I'm not sure whether I dare put them on again...

Whatever the weather. Whatever the occasion. Trousers are for wimps.

slagging off the fashionista's for giving their opinions about what's cool and what looks good when they'd quite cheerfully tell anyone within earshot that they should or shouldn't turn the ears towards the latest U2 / Decemberists / Justin Bieber record.

I have freakishly truncated legs.

I wear them because they occupy TWO CONFLICTING STATES OF BEING AT ONCE. It's like fashion meets quantum philosophy.

Plus I have lanky legs and bandy knees.

like that that I apply is the one about men's jackets.

Middle button always, top button sometimes, bottom button never

If you have children, you are DUTY BOUND to dress in a way that causes them maximum embarrassment.

Not much causes the boys to cringe (they've generally seen it all before) but long shorts/silly hats or sunglasses on top of head - and lots of surfer jewellery - will generally do the trick.

Oh, and bandanas are normally good for a wince too.

I normally wear them with a slightly tatty pair of deck shoes and no socks. And a sort of yachtie top. But I am allowed to look a bit nautical because I live by the sea. Makes you look a bit of a tit in Crouch End, mind.

but may a lady?

*adjusts denim hotpants*

doesn't tell other gentleman what they should or shouldn't be wearing.

Shorts and Steel Toecapped Red Wing boots.I'd wear flip flops but if anyone drops an Adjustable Wrench on my foot......
It was 30 celsius here (Barcelona) today and add 10 degrees in the garage.
The big no-no is surely socks and sandals.

But I still don't know who Tom Ford is and why his opinion should or shouldn't matter to me.

The most impossibly handsome guy in an impossibly stylish film? Directed by Tom Ford. He might be a wazzock but he knows how to dress a chap...

And if small daughter decides that (look away now if easily offended sartorially) socks and Crocs are the way forward for both herself and her da for the afternoon, so be it. Tom Ford can stick it.

there are not a lot of gentlemen.

grey trackies with holes in the crotch, black socks and loafers. In certain pubs up the East End of Newcastle, that's smart casual for Sunday lunch at the pub. TomFord in his Gucci wouldn't get a sniff of the top Benwell cludge, and he should conider that before making his ill-informed comments.

I wouldn't wear shorts in town generally (except in someone else's town when I'm on holiday!).

I wear short sleeved shirts in summer.

Linen trousers keep me cool when it's hot.

I've got to an age when I couldn't give a monkey's about what fashionistas consider to be cool or not. Comfort is the key!

the notion of wearing a suit with trainers a particularly appealing image. It looks like someone on day release from a Medium Secure Mental Health Unit.

Shorts I have no problem with (and if 'gentlemen' don't wear them, then we need to hold the revolution on a sunny day so we can find them in their long troos and put the sweaty lot up against the wall)

But flip flops? For children on the beach or in the garden, fine, but for adults? Not only are they ugly and impractical, but the noise they make when adorning a fat adult heel is actually painful to me. Sounds like Monty Python's fish dance...

And as for all this trainers bollox - I'm a canvas shoe man, meself - comfy, cool (ie not hot - don't care about the fashists), keeps the feet covered and won't fall off. And available in a variety of styles:

Old fart
Inconspicuous (thank you Mr Boden)
Yoof

They were almost impossible to find for 5 years, but they have made a come-back in the last few years.

And knew it was an FC post. For me shorts at home, beach or BBQ :camo style things, neither too long or short. Flip flops (just picked up some great Levi's ones in Oxford) - yes, but with jeans, shorts or of an evening - think of them Scandinavian style, worn like floppy clogs

Crocs are an all out no-no though..