I started this with a bit of humor intended; that being said short of the homeless, dressing like a gentleman isnt that hard but dressing like a slob is just lazy-look at the walmart pics. Do you want to look like Walmart or Wall Street? Dont care, OK wear your "Lounge" pants and slippers to the store.

If you really think its THAT hard to dress like a gentleman look at the historical pics of hunters, many, most are wearing a tie, if not a tie then at least a scarf AND a proper hat. Check the pics of TR while hunting in the West and Afrika, even without a tie, hes dressed like a gentleman.

I remember my father wearing a fedora to cut the grass and work on the car. He might have been wearing "work" Pants but they were clean and pressed. He grew up through the depression and WW2 and he always said that you could tell a gentleman by how he was dressed AND that you could be dirt poor and still dress like a gentleman--it started by being clean and wearing clean clothes to start the day. I asked him what he thought about Gen Patton requiring the troops to wear ties. He said he wasnt a fan; but it did make the men look like soldiers.

As for shorts in the heat, well I leave you to determine how hot is hot enough; but Ive lived in temps regularly over 98F and temps in the 100s wasnt unheard of, and I never wore shorts (or sandals)

Wear what you like but dont be surprised how folks act because of it. A few years back, I was in my bank making a deposit. The outside temp was high 70s, a man came in the bank. He was wearing shorts a tee shirt and sandals. He asked to speak to someone about a home loan. The same day I was wearing slacks and a shirt with a tie. As soon as I heard him ask about the loan, I knew what my thoughts on the loan were. Maybe he was the next Howard Hughes? Maybe? but Id take that bet.