{"id":199878,"date":"2019-10-11T05:38:49","date_gmt":"2019-10-11T12:38:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heartifb.com\/?p=199878"},"modified":"2024-09-04T02:56:09","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:56:09","slug":"business-casual-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heartifb.com\/business-casual-men\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Business Casual for Men?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Business casual attire is a gray area in men\u2019s fashion. Men everywhere struggle with the concept, trying to find that elusive happy medium between business and casual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To complicate matters, different designers, employers, and ma\u00eetre d\u2019s have different understandings of what business casual means. Especially for men who enjoy the hoodie-over-t-shirt look, the words \u201cbusiness casual dress code\u201d are cringeworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, and perhaps to many man\u2019s chagrin, business casual attire is expected in many offices, corporate parties, and conferences. And even where business casual isn\u2019t expected, in the majority of places, business casual outfits will be accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is that the more important the situation is, the more conservatively you should dress. If you\u2019re interviewing for a new job, meeting with important clients, or hosting an event, it\u2019s important to look like you\u2019re a mature adult who takes your position seriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that\u2019s not enough information for you \u2013 if you spend your mornings parsing the lines between business and casual, struggling to decide if dark wash denim jeans, v-neck t-shirts, and knitted ties pass muster \u2013 then you\u2019re in luck. In this 10-minute read, we dive deeper into the business casual realm to ease your men\u2019s fashion woes and give you a clearer understanding of this idiosyncratic style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Business Casual Anyway?<\/h2>\n\n\n
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Sadly, even the most popular and experienced designers still haven\u2019t come up with an exact definition of business casual. A business casual dress code for your workplace usually means you have to look professional, but can have some casual elements in your clothing. What is a casual element? Well\u2026 that depends. Are you on the East Coast, or the West Coast? Working in a law firm, or the tech industry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all sounds clear, right? Probably not. How can you understand where professional crosses the casual threshold and vice versa?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usually, business attire means wearing clean, well-fitting pants and premium casual shirts<\/a>. Ties are optional. You can wear a sports jacket or something similar to varsity jackets by VarsityBase<\/a>, if it suits the season. You can also wear sweaters and cardigans. In men\u2019s fashion, shoes should cover your entire foot. Peep-toe shoes and open-toed shoes might be fine in women\u2019s fashion, but aren\u2019t allowed in men\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best advice you can get is to look around and pay attention. If you overhear your cubicle mate being dressed down for wearing tennis shoes and no tie, then you know you need to dress up a little more than he did. If the people who get promoted avoid merino wool and cardigans, then you might suspect the bosses are biased against sweaters \u2013 but you know not to wear them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re new to a situation \u2013 an interview, the first day on a job, or if you\u2019re hosting an event at a new upscale restaurant \u2013 then you need to act like Scot McCloughan<\/a> and do some scouting. You can call and ask the receptionist or ma\u00eetre d\u2019. Or, you can spend time in the lobby of the building, or even on the curb outside. If it makes you feel uncomfortable and stalkery, just remember that spending a few minutes doing a little research will help you feel more comfortable later, and possibly help you get the job, or even get promoted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you grow more comfortable and experienced, being conservative with your fashion becomes less important. People get their first impression of you in the first few seconds after meeting you \u2013 and yes, clothes are part of what they judge<\/a>. But for many employers, their understanding of business casual is no better than yours. As long as your wardrobe is as professional as your colleagues\u2019, clean, and inoffensive, they\u2019ll pay little attention to how well you follow those rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Little History of Business Casual<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A couple of centuries ago, the clothing men wore to work wasn\u2019t special or diverse. Men used to wear classical suits, which were often passed from father to son. Over time, people started doubting the need for wearing such suits, which were often uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The process of shifting from business wear to business casual was a natural, gradual one. Men began leaving hats at home or on the train, forgetting to bring suit jackets to work, and loosening ties and unfastening top buttons after long hours at work. Over time, there was a tacit understanding that once-strict business attire stopped being as important as it used to be, and that people were happier and worked more efficiently when they were comfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past, all men knew how to dress appropriately for their workplaces. Today, almost none of them do. Let\u2019s start with a few simple rules that can help you on the way to mastering business casual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Rules You Can\u2019t Overlook When Choosing Business Casual Attire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before we dive into shirts and pants, let\u2019s talk about a general approach to the choice of attire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong>   Too Large to Be Good<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Some men prefer to wear clothing one size too large. It may make them feel free and add extra ventilation but, from the outside, this \u201cone size fits all\u201d approach appears unprofessional. Wear it to a Sunday poker game, or a Thanksgiving feast, but never take it to the office with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a common misconception that larger clothing makes some body types look slimmer<\/a>. At the workplace though, it just makes you look strange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designers put the little \u201cS, L, XL\u201d letters on the tags for a reason. Figure out what size you are and don\u2019t wear anything bigger or smaller. Your business casual outfit should fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you aren\u2019t sure if a shirt or jacket fits you well, ask for help. Bring a friend who knows how to dress to the store with you. And here a few guidelines to follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n