How You Can Style Bike Shorts for the Office

Bike shorts might not seem like an office-appropriate outfit choice, but what’s acceptable in the office and what’s not is rapidly changing, and fashion is becoming more and more centered around comfort. 

We’re not saying bike shorts are allowed in your office, but if you’re willing to check with your boss for the okay, we’ve got more than a few ideas on how you can style bike shorts for the office.

Keep reading if you want to know:

• How to style bike shorts in the office
• Our favorite brands of bike shorts
• If you should attempt to wear bike shorts to work

How to Style Bike Shorts for the Office

1. With a Sweater

Pairing your bike shorts with a sweater, especially an oversized one, is a great idea for an office look because it covers your butt which bike shorts aim to pronounce. 

Don’t get us wrong, we love how biker shorts show off your bum, but we’re trying to make bike shorts as office-appropriate as possible. This is your best shot. 

Sweaters are also always a good idea in terms of comfort and style. They are just dressy enough to wear to work, but comfortable enough to be a close relative of the blanket.

2. Keep it Simple in Color

Bike shorts that are simple in color, like the Dona Jo JoJo Biker Short ECO in Black, are ideal to wear to the office because they won’t draw too much attention to your already-bold look.

If you’re worried that you might be pushing it too far by wearing bike shorts and bright colors, you can opt to wear bike shorts in a simple color like black or brown.

These colors are also a good choice because they probably match the rest of your office wear, as office clothes tend to be plainer in color. You probably have a go-to black or brown blazer to wear to the office, so pairing that with your bike shorts will create a perfectly matched look. 

3. With a Blazer

Easily the most office chic bike short outfit is bike shorts paired with a blazer. Blazers have the power to make every outfit one that looks like it can be worn to the office, and bike shorts are no exception.

Blazers are long and baggy, so they complement the shortness and tightness of bike shorts well. They’re also a good idea if you are someone who gets cold in the office easily. You can’t rely on your bike shorts to keep you warm.

A blazer will also make people take you seriously, which you may be dependent on if you choose to wear bike shorts to an office where they’re not exactly welcome yet. Use your blazer as a tool to get people comfortable with the idea of taking you seriously in your bike shorts in the office.

4. With Heels

Pairing your bike shorts with heels will quickly elevate your look from sporty to chic. 

No one can doubt your commitment to work if you still manage to wear heels for the entire day, so this is essentially a way to prove yourself to those in the office who still are a little iffy on the idea of wearing bike shorts in the office.

Wearing heels with bike shorts will also accentuate your calves, which bike shorts already show off. Your legs will look long and strong if you pair these two together, and you will be absolutely unstoppable in the office.

5. With Accessories

Wearing a fancy watch or nice jewelry is another way to elevate your casual bike shorts to a more serious office outfit.

Whether you’re in a blouse, sweater, or a blazer, if you string on some nice necklaces and a big watch, you will look all business. And this is a really easy addition to your outfit, so don’t stress about it! Just remember to put your jewelry on before you head out the door to work.

Our Favorite Brands of Bike Shorts

Dona Jo JoJo Biker Short ECO

One of our bike shorts is the Dona Jo JoJo Biker Short ECO because it is made with an eco-friendly fabric.

Other features of this bike short include a high-rise waistband, flat seams, quick-dry fabric, and UV protection. These bike shorts also come with side pockets for storing your essentials.

Free People Seamless Rib Bike Short

Another one of our favorites is the Free People Seamless Rib Bike Short. This bike short is high-rise, seamless, and stretchy, but what we love most about it is the assortment of colors it comes in.

You can get this bike short in Army, Alchemy, Soft Pink, Hydrangea, White, Ivory, Black, Tan, and much more.

Cotton On The Pip Jersey Bike Shorts

The most affordable pair among our favorites is the Cotton On The Pip Jersey Bike Shorts. 

These bike shorts are form fitting, non see through, and are made with soft fabric. 

You can grab these leggings in Vintage Green, Daisy Blue, Wild Lilac Tie Dye, Black, White, Zodiac Grey Marle, and Frosty Lilac.

Urban Outfitters Wolven Pocket Bike Short

These bike shorts are the perfect mid-thigh length, which is actually what we believe to be a perfectly office-appropriate length. 

They have a high waist silhouette, but they fit true to size, so we recommend sizing up if you want a higher waist than indicated on the website. 

They’re made using post-consumer recycled plastic, so they’re a great choice if sustainability is something you value when making your fashion choices.

They come with two deep side pockets for storing your essentials as well. 

We love that you can get these bike shorts in unique colors named after the spices Turmeric and Cayenne. Urban Outfitters also has matching sports bras to go with these bike shorts, which can be found on their website.

Should You Attempt to Wear Bike Shorts to Work?

As we touched on earlier, what’s acceptable in the office and what’s not, especially in terms of how women should look, is rapidly changing, especially as these spaces are becoming more and more occupied by women. If enough women in your office advocate for bike shorts, you might be able to make them an acceptable office outfit. 

Fashion is also becoming more and more centered around comfort. If you can make a case to your boss that your productivity will be increased if you’re more comfortable, your boss might be more willing to allow you and others to wear bike shorts and other comfortable outfits to work.

But would we recommend just showing up one day to work in bike shorts? Probably not, unless you already have a casual dress code for work. It’s best to check with your boss first so that you don’t get in trouble. After all, you can always wear bike shorts during your downtime.