Men’s Business Casual Attire Ideas: A Quick Guide
Published June 3, 2022
Business casual attire is defined as attire that is less formal than typical office attire but is nevertheless intended to convey a professional impression. That, of course, gives plenty of space for interpretation. Unfortunately, the word “casual,” which paints a picture of men in Hawaiian shirts, shorts, and sandals, does not help — try wearing a completely casual look to the workplace on a normal workday and see where it leads you. This means that even if it’s called business casual, it’s still a lot more “formal” than “casual.”
Do’s and Don’ts
To strengthen your understanding of the dress code of men’s business casual, let’s begin with the fundamentals. First, consider the following list of “dos” and “don’ts”:
- Do wear a well-tailored blazer made.
- Keep your suit jacket simple.
- Wear a cotton button-down shirt with long sleeves.
- Avoid wearing polo shirts or T-shirts.
- Wear a collared shirt under a tight-fitting sweater or cardigan.
- Avoid wearing oversized sweaters.
- Wear dress slacks, pants, or denim with a tight fit.
- Avoid wearing shorts, casual jeans, street-style jeans, and athletic pants.
- Do wear neutral, monochrome colors.
- Don’t wear patterns such as polka dots or stripes.
- Do wear formal shoes.
- Do not wear sneakers, slip-ons, or sandals.
Business Casual: Big Men
The key to appearing sharper and thinner is to use optical illusion. First, reduce the surface area; dress shirts should always be tucked into pants, and a belt should be worn to separate the belly area from the crotch area.
Make a vertical line that directs the viewer’s attention to the center of your body, not your belly. Darken the areas of your body that you do not wish to be highlighted, such as your belly and thighs, and use lighter colors on your leaner regions. Pants with solid neutral colors, such as navy, chocolate, olive, black, and grey, are ideal for business casual for big guys.
Men’s Business Casual: Blazers, Shirts, Pants, and Shoes
Your business casual attire begins with a tailored and fitted blazer. The blazer should have a slim fit, square shoulders, a lapel that ends just above the back end, and sleeves that end before the shirt cuff.
The shirt should have a couple of straight seams in the back and fit snugly around the shoulders and frame. Begin with monochromatic colors. As your confidence grows, you can experiment with different patterns and bolder colors.
It is important to highlight that your pants should reflect the same sharpness and class as the rest of your attire. Clean, tight-fitting pants are recommended for this, but they shouldn’t be so tight to be uncomfortable. And if you choose denim, it should be of the same quality as a pair of premium pants.
Men’s business casual dress codes allow for a wide choice of appropriate shoes with two common characteristics: quality and style. We advise sticking to current dress shoes, like Oxfords, monk straps, or loafers, in materials such as leather and colors such as brown, dark red, or black.
Make Sure Everything Matches
A fitted blazer and a dress shirt are always safe bets. Also, if you’re working in a business casual-friendly workplace, make sure you’re wearing quality jeans. Otherwise, stick to high-quality trousers such as cotton chinos for a work-appropriate look. Dress shoes, including loafers and Oxfords, are comfortable to wear. Lastly, don’t forget to check that everything goes together.
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About The Author
Krizzia Paolyn is an SEO Specialist and holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She started her professional career as a writer for various digital magazines and renowned publications. It has always been her passion to share her voice, and at the same time, to encourage other people to speak up.
