Business casual is as nebulous as someone’s taste in art. You know when a suit is your armor of choice for the day. Have a high-profile meeting? Suit. The big boss is in town? Suit. Job interview at another financial firm? Suit. The problem is that more firms are relaxing their dress attire standards for the office, even financial service giants J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP are loosening the reins a bit. (Wall Street Journal) Donning a navy suit, light-colored shirt, and tie is an easy choice, but men are at a crossroads when it comes to the very broad definition of ‘business casual’.
Pants are some of the more clear-cut options: dress slacks, khakis, or dark jeans. Some firms make it obvious which of those three do not classify as business casual: we’re looking at you, jeans. Whatever type of pants you choose to wear, investing in a pair of custom fit pants can go a long way towards ruling the business casual context.
Even the type of shirt you wear can be segmented by the length of the sleeves, the style of the buttons, and the color or pattern of the fabric. But, what about your jacket? What do you choose to wear over your dress shirt between a vest, cardigan, lightweight sweater, or soft-knit sport coat? You don’t want to have a great-fitting pair of custom pants be shamed by a shoddy choice of a jacket. A tasteful jacket of choice can help complete your attire.
Don’t settle for what everyone else is wearing as business casual. You have the chance to redefine and master the art of dressing for any occasion. Dressing for business casual may take some extra work, but it’s worth the time to stand out from your colleagues as a fine-dressed fellow. While some of your co-workers may abuse the ‘casual’ part of business casual, there’s no question that you can strike a perfect balance to stand out while also fitting in.
Does your wardrobe need a new take on business casual? Visit Savile Row located in Clayton at 8101 Maryland Avenue to get fitted today. You can also give us a call at 314.721.SUIT or click here to schedule your next appointment.
Recent Comments