Office Wear for Men – Business Casual Gone Mad

Hanging Out Around the Watercooler in Style!

Oct 11, 2008

Khakis no more; there are plenty of fun and stylish alternatives to traditional office wear.

Depending on what type of office environment you work in, several different approaches to what you might choose to wear can present themselves accordingly. Increasingly, a great number of workplaces are making the switch back to a more formal attitude towards dress code – but that does not mean that business casual, or casual for that matter – is off the table entirely!

For the Formal Gentleman

If you are a high powered CEO, work in the financial industry, or in any number of other business sectors – chances are that you are working in a suit most of the time. There is a bit less flexibility when it comes to breaking the mould in this category, but it primarily stems from a basic understanding of what trends are really breaking through on the fashion horizon.

The first step is to play with colour in your primary garments. Buy a light gray, chalk-striped, peak lapel suit – don't be afraid to pair it with a lilac, pink, or bright yellow dress shirt and a power tie. Dress like you mean it, business that is – and success will follow. Slovenly appearances in the business world are a sure sign of unprofessionalism, a serious detractor from one's credibility.

The second step is to really step it up with accessories. Purchase contrast collared, french cuffed shirts – and pair them with cufflinks that really suit your personal flair and style. Your footwear should be expensive, well-made, and comfortable. Footwear is often the most underlooked expenditure in a businessman's wardrobe – always buy high quality, name brand footwear and never accept substitutes. Good shoes look amazing even after a few years if cared for properly and will promote better posture while improving your overall image.

For the formal gentleman, accepting a wider and more vibrant colour palette, purchasing accessories, as well as understanding and taking an interest in individual designers and design houses will pay the greatest benefits. For reading material, the superb Harry magazine (of Harry Rosen menswear outlets) is a surefire choice.

Business Casual, and Simply Casual

It's almost a given for most men that khakis are the de facto choice in pants for men who work in a semi-casual environment – this is simply not the case whatsoever.

Pants are one of the most important pieces of a man's wardrobe – and khakis are simply a compromise or concession in most cases where a dress pant would be more comfortable and more stylish. The tip to freshening up your image in a business casual or casual environment is to dress one cut above the status quo – this means taking a little extra effort with great reward.

In lieu of khaki pants, invest in a few pairs of quality dress pants, tailored to your body by a professional wardrobe consultant or sales associate at a reputable menswear store. Flat-front pants, if your shape is conducive to wearing such, with a slight pinstripe are an excellent and versatile choice – pinstripes are very trendy and show a bit of an eye for style. If you find a particular cut that fits you perfectly, do not hesitate to buy additional pairs – you will thank yourself for the variety.

If you work in a more casual workplace, forgo the sneakers or skate shoes and invest in a few pairs of quality shoes. Once again, there are many hybrid styles that will suit both formal and semi-casual needs and this investment in your comfort cannot be underscored enough. Follow up with a nice pair of dressier, well fit (that is, not relaxed fit) jeans that match the tone of your employment. Marketers and other personalities may opt for more aggressive denim tints and bolder shirts, for examples.

A Note About Fitted and Taped / Semi-Tapered Shirts

Instead of opting for the baggy, department store pinpoint oxford – try a fitted sport-shirt and drop the tie. A necktie always looks best when framed by a suitcoat – if one is not wearing a blazer or suit jacket then a necktie is better left on the rack at home. Fitted shirts, like those offered by Daniel Hechter and almost all other contemporary designers, will frame your silhouette in a much more flattering manner if you are of average build or slighter. Larger men would be advised to purchase semi-tapered shirts in lieu of a truly fitted cut for obvious reasons.

When the majority of your colleagues are wearing department store khakis, ill-fitting shirts and polyester neckties – your tailored, professional fit will set you apart, necktie or no.