Your guide to business casual attire: key dress code styles to know

Did you know that actually, Business Casual is an album by Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo? It's also a dress code for men that can be as confusing as its contradictory title suggests. After all, business is not something that should be taken casually.

Josh Sims, author of Men of Style states that the business-casual fashion for men is a dress code with no logic, like smart-casual, but this style created awe and surprise for many people. However, Sims notes that this dress code helped change attitudes toward how men should dress in white-collar workplaces, paving the way for the relaxation of office dress codes in recent years, particularly since the rise of the tech industry. In today's world, where even business tycoons like Zuckerberg can show up to work in casual attire, the idea of this dress code may seem outdated. However, just because someone can wear a hoodie to work, it does not mean that they should, especially in formal fields like finance. One must still dress up, but not necessarily in a full suit and tie. So, what do you do? Here’s our simple guide!

Key pieces for a business-casual style

The chinos

Chinos, also known as "khaki pants" in the US, has been a staple in business-casual attire since Dockers published their guide on the subject. Unlike jeans, which have a blue-collar heritage and can appear too casual, chinos originated from military uniforms and are generally considered appropriate for most occasions. Ironically, light-colored chinos, like khaki, are an exception to this rule as they tend to be less dressy and less flattering than darker hues. Pleats, creases, and a trouser-style tab closure all add to the dressiness of chinos, while rolling them up will have the opposite effect.

The blazer

An unstructured blazer, made of materials like knitted fabrics, scrunchy technical fabrics, or even a sweatshirt-style jersey, can be considered more casual than a suit. Despite this, it can still add a business touch to an outfit, even if you're just wearing jeans and trainers. In fact, unstructured blazers can almost look more like a jacket than a tailored piece.

Different shirts

The Oxford button-down shirt is a classic choice for business-casual attire and pairs well with both chinos and jeans, unlike a more formal cotton-poplin shirt. When selecting an Oxford shirt, the width of the collar is a factor to consider, with narrower collars offering a more modern look but limiting the tie options. The length of the shirt tails also affects its versatility, with shirts that are too short making it difficult to tuck in for dressier occasions, and shirts that are too long appearing overly formal when worn untucked. The polo shirt, like khakis, is the epitome of business-casual attire, but unfortunately, it has gained a negative reputation as the unflattering choice of middle-American managers.

Trainers

The sneaker has transformed from being a gym staple to an elevated version of itself, featuring a dark leather or suede upper, a sleek profile, and a clean design. These sneakers are now considered proper shoes, especially those without a white rim.

The jacket

If traditional tailoring feels too stuffy, a shawl-collar cardigan can be a suitable option for business-casual attire. However, it's essential to avoid styles with chunky ribbing, outdoor-inspired toggles, or rustic patterns as you're still there to work. A chore jacket can also work as a smarter alternative to a denim jacket, especially in a dark wash version without distressing. Additionally, a lightweight bomber jacket can double as a blazer with its military connotations, as long as it's in a dark color like navy and made from a less utilitarian fabric like wool, cotton, or linen instead of the typical shiny nylon.

How to combine your casual outfit

The different elements of a smart-casual outfit can be compared to the levels on a DJ's mixing console, where some are turned up while others are dialed down to create balance and harmony. If you're wearing a blazer, shirt, and brogues, adding tailored trousers might push the balance too far toward the smart side. Conversely, if you're wearing a bomber, T-shirt, and trainers, adding tailored trousers can keep you from looking too casual. You can also adjust the levels by swapping the shirt for a T-shirt or the brogues for trainers.

However, when it comes to separately tailored trousers, it's important to be careful with materials that are too thin or shiny. Opt for something beefier, more textured, and less formal, which will blend more naturally with casual fabrics like denim.