Only in Seattle

So I’m riding in an elevator this afternoon in some downtown high-rise when the guy next to me turns and says, “Why aren’t you wearing shorts?”

I smile politely and reply, “Because I’m wearing linen pants.”

To this he responds, “But it’s EIGHTY degrees!”

“Yes,” I say, “I know. But linen is actually quite comfortable in this kind of weather. More so than shorts.”

To this he scrunches up his nose (yes the elevator was slow) and stares at me incredulously. (The guy’s wearing hiking shorts, a T-shirt and Tevas.) I add, “Plus, I don’t wear shorts to work.”

With that the ride and the conversation is over. But if I had longer, I would’ve told him that, first 80 degrees (actually 76 degrees according to my computer), while lovely in Seattle, isn’t hot. Second, while he’s lucky to live in one of the few cities where a pair of shorts and some sandals pass for work attire, this guy and all Gramicci-clad guys and gals should branch out. Try some of this wrinkly, light, ultra-wearable material. You don’t have to buy a button-up or fancy pants. Linen is one of life’s little pleasures in the summertime.

And it even comes in pullovers.