THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MEN'S BUSINESS CASUAL DRESS CODE

Getting started with Business Casual

In recent years, the landscape of what we men wear to work has changed entirely. Through time, and increasingly after the pandemic, we’re seeing the workplace dress code become more casual by the year as men ditch their suits and ties for something more toned down and relaxed. This is what we call business casual. 

But this new dress code can be problematic for guys because it marries the comforts of more casual attire with more classic and formal business attire, which is a tricky balance to master. 

Here, We’ll explore the nuances of men’s business casual style and its essential components so that you can fully understand how to dress for any workplace. You’ll learn exactly what to purchase and how to put it all together with ease.

With the proper knowledge and clothing, you’ll be ready to tackle any workplace dress code while still wearing clothing that reflects your personal style. And once you do, you’ll actually like getting dressed for work. 

The Evolution of Business Casual for men

The term “business casual” is relatively new. Up until the last twenty or thirty years, the extent of casual attire in the workplace was reserved for “Casual Fridays,” where men could wear something a little more relaxed than their typical workplace outfits, opting for something like a polo and sportcoat (which now, funny enough, might be considered too formal for many workplaces). 

This more laid-back approach really took off due to the tech industry's relaxed nature. Silicon Valley and other tech hubs adopted a more relaxed men’s dress code to foster an environment that felt creative and comfortable, which then spread to other industries as time went on. 

The adoption of business casual attire continued to spread rapidly throughout the country, furthered by the progression of working from home as the boundaries of the office and life outside of it began to blur. 

The Defining Factors of Industry and Geography 

When first adopting business casual, you need to consider where you live and the industry you work in. When we dress our personal styling clients, these are two primary factors that influence the type of clothing we put together for them. 

In sectors like Tech, Advertising, and Design, the dress code tends to be more casual overall. These sectors pride themselves on being different and non-conformist. You can take more liberties with your clothing and get more creative in these settings. 

However, in more traditional industries such as finance, law, or other corporate sectors, employees are expected to veer towards the more formal side of the spectrum. Acceptable clothing tends to be more conservative than creative, and if you take risks, you should be more calculated about what you wear. In these industries, you’ll want to dress more formally when in doubt. 

Aside from your industry, the location you work from will play a significant role in what you wear. In warmer climates on the West Coast, things tend to be more casual. Conversely, in colder climates on the East Coast, styles tend to be more conservative. 

Elements of Men's Business Casual Clothing

There are some fundamental components of men’s business casual attire that can help you quickly put together outfits. Your individual preferences and workplace environment will influence these choices, but generally, these items will give you a good starting point. Let’s review some of the essential pieces of men’s business casual attire and what you should look for when you shop. These are the pieces we’ve seen work for our clients repeatedly.

Business Casual Shirts & Tops For Men

Let’s start with tops. You have a handful of options here, more than you might realize. Business casual tops can range from a polo to a dress shirt. Typically, you want items that are a thinner weight rather than made with thick, hefty, bulky fabric. Make sure to avoid tops that are too casual, such as a t-shirt, athletic shirts, or anything with logos/branding other than your company. Let’s go over your options…

POLOS

Reiss, Robert Barakett, Suitsupply

A polo is on the more casual end of the spectrum, but it is usually very acceptable in the workplace, depending on your industry. You are typically looking for a 100% Cotton or Merino Wool polo. These should be non-athletic looking and have no logos or branding on them. Get a mix of both short and long-sleeve options here. 

SWEATERS

Reiss, Suit Supply, Barbour

Most men aren’t used to wearing knitwear to the office, but it provides a wonderful and easy option. Here, you should be looking at a crew neck, V-neck, or quarter zip sweater. I’d recommend at least one of each, eventually. Steer clear of items like hoodies. They should be made from a relatively thin material rather than a bulky, casual-looking sweater. Ideally, you’ll want something made from Merino Wool, Cashmere, or a Wool/Silk blend. 

BUTTON-UP SHIRTS

Suitsupply, Brooks Brothers

The classic business casual staple. The type of shirt you get depends on your workplace environment. On the more casual end, a shirt with a button-down collar and a length that can be untucked works well, typically made from Oxford cloth. On the more formal side, you’ll want a shirt with a classic spread or semi-spread collar and a length long enough to be tucked in, typically made from Twill or Poplin cotton. Ideally, it’s good to have both options. These days, most shirts are made or treated to be wrinkle-resistant, so you won’t need to worry much about that. You’ll want a mix of pattern and solid-colored shirts here. A crisp white, light blue, and stripe or check printed shirt in any color can set you up for success in the business casual space. 

VESTS

Emporio Armani, Zella, Barbour

An easy option to layer over any sweater piece or long-sleeved shirt, a casual vest can add interest and dimension to any men’s business casual outfit. You want something thinner rather than thick and puffy, as you’ll wear it indoors. Black and dark gray work well as they are neutral and will pair with almost any shirt or sweater color. These are usually worn open or just partly zipped up the sternum/chest area.

SPORTCOATS AND JACKETS

Suitsupply, Boss, Suitsupply

There are many times when you may want to throw on a jacket to elevate your outfit a bit. A sportcoat can be worn with almost all of the above attire, from nicer polo up to the crisp dress shirt option. You’ll typically want to look for something in gray or navy. Once you get that out of the way, a little pop of color or pattern can make your outfit stand out, specifically if you work in a more creative environment.

Business Casual Pants & Trousers For Men

Bottoms for business casual are relatively straightforward. You’ll have just a few options to choose from, which keeps things simple: chinos, jeans, and dressier wool trousers. All of these should fit your leg well, meaning they’re not too tight or loose, simply following and mirroring the shape of your leg without squeezing it. Let’s start with the most casual option. 

JEANS

AG, Paige

Jeans are more widely accepted in the workplace than ever before. You’ll want to wear jeans in a darker blue color with typically no fading, distressing, or discoloration; this makes them appear slightly more formal than their rugged-looking counterparts. 

CHINOS

AG, Bonobos, AG

Often referred to (and mislabeled as) “khakis,” chinos are simply cotton pants in a Twill weave with typically a flat front. These pants do a great job of bridging the gap between casual and formal attire and can be worn in various situations. A neutral Khaki pair and a Charcoal Gray pair offer a lot of versatility. 

WOOL TROUSERS

Zanella, Boss, Santorelli

Often referred to as dress trousers, these are going to be your more formal pair of pants. They’ll usually sit slightly higher on the waist and have a sharp crease running down the font, making them look more elevated. They look great with a crisp dress shirt and/or one of those nicer sweaters we did before. I recommend a dark gray as a starting point, then adding in a navy pair. 

Business Casual Shoes & Footwear For Men

The trick to sorting your business casual footwear is ensuring your shoes are neither too formal nor too casual. They should almost always be made from leather rather than mesh or canvas. The easiest choices for color will be darker browns and blacks, both neutrals that will pair with almost everything. Let’s go over your shoe options, starting with the most casual. 

LEATHER SNEAKERS

Morjas, Magnanni

Depending on how casual your workplace is, a leather sneaker is an excellent choice for a more laid-back look. Always choose something in leather rather than an athletic-looking sneaker. Black or white leather is an easy choice that works versatilely. 

CHUKKA BOOTS

Johnston & Murphy, Scout, Blake Mckay

A mid-top boot that can replace a dressier shoe. This works wonderfully with all the previously listed trousers, specifically the chinos and jeans. We typically recommend using these in the fall and winter months. Ideally, you’ll want something clean and classic rather than a more rugged-looking boot. Dark brown and black look great here. 

PENNY LOAFERS

Morjas, Cole Haan, Morjas

A stylish staple that works well in the summer and spring months. Always go for a leather loafer, and remember that this will stretch to your foot, so purchase it a bit tighter in the beginning. Black or brown, specifically suede, is a great color choice. 

DERBIES

Magnanni, Alden, Coach

You probably think of this when you envision a dress shoe. It’s classic, works well in conservative environments, and can pair easily with any of the trousers listed above. If you want a creative, bold twist on this shoe to make it more of a statement item, I’d recommend a double monk strap shoe. 

Business Casual Accessories For Men

Accessories can add personality to your outfits and take your business casual attire to the next level. However, you want to be careful not to go overboard with loud, flashy items. It’s best to keep your accessories understated in a business casual environment. Let’s talk about what you should be looking for. 

WATCHES 

Seiko, Rolex

Keep it understated. Ideally, you’ll have a watch with a stainless steel bracelet and a black and/or brown leather strap. The face should be minimal, typically in black or white, without many bells and whistles that aren’t needed in day-to-day business attire.

BELTS

Thursday Boot Company

You only need two belts to keep things simple: a black and a brown to match the shoes. You don’t need to mirror the color of the shoe exactly, but it should be close (e.g., Dark brown with dark brown). The belt should be thinner and have a cleaner, shiny-looking leather buckle without fading or distressing, as you’d find on a more casual belt. It’s easiest if you buy this from the same place you buy your shoes, and remember, you always want to size up when purchasing a belt (e.g., if you wear a waist size of 32, you typically wear a belt size of 34). 

BAGS

Thursday Boot Company, Satchel & Page, Mark & Graham

A leather bag and folio can significantly enhance your look. Typically, you should choose a high-quality leather manufacturer and keep everything the same color, ideally darker, to hide stains and dirt. You’ll look polished and professional wherever you go. 

These items will give you a great head start in dressing well for your workplace. If you want us to assemble a wardrobe that fits incredibly well, you can see more about what that would look like here. 

Dressing for Your Industry

The term business casual is interpreted differently across a variety of industries. It helps to pinpoint what that might look like in your sector so you don’t appear too casual or unnecessarily formal. Here are some general guidelines across different industries. 

Tech and Creative Fields

Innovation is prized in these workplaces; thus, more casual and bolder choices are rewarded. Here, you might find that jeans paired with a patterned blazer perfectly encapsulate the business casual look. Sneakers, once a fashion faux pas in the office, are often accepted in these environments. Feel free to experiment with your style a bit more if you work in the tech and creative industries. 

Finance and Law

These more traditional sectors skew towards a more conservative interpretation of business casual. While this doesn't necessarily mean a full suit and tie,  you’ll typically do well wearing a tailored blazer, button-down shirt, and wool trousers, almost always in conservative, neutral colors and minimal patterns. Your shoes should be more formal, so you should opt for derbies or Oxford dress shoes, which complement the overall polished appearance that has come to be expected in these sectors. 

Consulting, Business, and Sales

These roles typically involve frequent client interaction, which demands a smart, authoritative wardrobe. We find with clients that it’s best to dress slightly above the group you’re consulting to fit in while looking like an authority. Solid colors and clothing that skews more formal are good ideas here to convey a more neutral appearance and let you and your work do the talking rather than your outfit. 

Start-Ups and Casual Offices

Start-up culture has popularized and championed the casual look, but there's a seriously fine line between casual and unkempt. You can get away with a lot in these environments. However, you should focus on clean, well-fitted pieces that convey effort and respect for the workplace, even if you’re simply wearing sneakers and jeans. 

Adapting to Company Culture

This provides a framework, but your company's culture should ultimately guide you to what's considered appropriate. Observe what your co-workers and management team are wearing and work backward from there, identifying key pieces you should add in. You always want your outfits to make you feel like you’re part of the collective culture without being too formal or casual. When in doubt, however, always err on the side of slightly more formal. 

Common Mistakes in Men’s Business Casual

First, it’s important to understand some potential pitfalls of dressing for the business casual dress code to steer you in the right direction. We see certain mistakes that our personal styling clients tend to make and try to correct them first before setting them up for success with an incredible wardrobe. Here are some of those common mistakes. 

Ignoring The Fit of Your Clothing

Even if you get the proper clothing, it will look sloppy if it doesn’t fit well. Fit is one of the largest and most important things we work with clients on to improve, teaching them how to dress their bodies and get them clothing that actually fits them perfectly. 

Nothing should be too tight or loose in your business casual menswear. It should give you just enough room that your clothing isn’t pulling or squeezing your body, but not enough to grab a whole handful of extra fabric. The clothing should simply conform to your body well. Ignoring fit will make your body look worse, but it also shows a lack of care and professionalism. 

To fix this, you should find brands that fit your body shape well. If you find pants that fit, get multiple pairs right then and there. If a shirt works for you, buy three of them. Double down on what works. If things don’t fit how you’d like, the best solution is to tailor them. This is actually part of the process of our in-person consultation program, where we tailor all of your ill-fitting clothes for you. If you’re alone, find a local tailor and take anything that needs a slight adjustment. You’ll be hooked after seeing how good things look, and it’s much easier than you’d think. 

Dressing in Athletic-Inspired Men’s Clothing

While most guys get that they can’t wear basketball shorts to the office, we see a lot of men who wear items like LuLu Lemon pants, running shoes, and a golf or tennis polo to work. This is not business attire; it’s athletic attire. It’s meant for a specific athletic activity and should be reserved for that. A golf polo is intended for the course, not the office. It has specific moisture-wicking properties and fabric that make it perfect for being out on the course but looks off in an office environment. This doesn’t mean you can’t wear comfortable clothing; it just has to fit the bill and not be intended for use in a different setting. You wouldn’t wear a wetsuit or baseball cleats to the office. Extend the same thinking to golf, tennis, and other athletic-inspired attire. 

Dressing Too Casually

Some men take business casual to a level so low that it simply becomes casual. You never want to be the most casual-looking man in your office, the lowest common denominator. Instead, you want to be just above the average, dressing just one slight deviation above the rest of your colleagues. This way, you’ll be looked upon favorably but without standing out. You’ll never look too casual or too formal, just well-dressed for the group you’re in. Be well dressed but to the right degree. 

In general, you want to have some differentiation between work and personal life, even if there is overlap.

Ignoring Workplace Context

For many men, some work days look a lot different than others. Sometimes, you may be head down in deep creative or analytical work; other times, you may meet with clients. These scenarios call for different clothing. The smart and prepared man has a wardrobe that encapsulates all his different work-related needs. 

Think about the types of situations you’ll find yourself in while working, and then from there, you can plan out all the different item types you’ll need. 

Making Too Much of a Style Statement

Working in some individuality into your work clothing is perfectly fine, but you want to keep it subdued. Your clothing shouldn’t be overly bold with too many loud colors or large logos as this can be distracting for others and come off the wrong way to both co-workers and clients. Keep things simple at work for the most part. However, accessories such as a certain watch, bracelet, or interesting pair of shoes can easily inject some personality without being offputting to others. 

Last-Minute Purchases

Don’t let your workplace wardrobe get constructed by accident. You want to have a plan for the right types of items in the right colors, from the right brands. If you wait until the last minute to add in clothing before you need it, chances are you’ll hate what you purchase and hardly wear it ever again. Be intentional and thoughtful about the way you put together your business casual wardrobe and you’ll never feel at a loss for what to wear. 

Tips For Building a Versatile Business Casual Wardrobe

Brooks Brothers, Suit Supply, Bonobos, Morjas

Creating a business casual wardrobe doesn’t have to be daunting. If you keep a few of these principles in mind. Here’s what you need to consider when building your business casual wardrobe so you always have good-looking stuff for any workplace occasion. 

Start With Basics

Many men have trouble buying items that appear “boring” on a rack or shelf, but that’s exactly what you need to get things started. Items like plain white shirts or charcoal trousers can be worn with almost anything. Buying neutral, essential items will allow you to pair things together quickly so you don’t have to think much when getting dressed. Furthermore, it gives you a great foundation you can build upon through time. 

Invest in Quality Over Quantity

Having seen over 1000+ men’s closets at this point, I can tell you that the majority of men have far too much clothing; it’s just that most of it they don’t like, doesn’t pair together well, and looks and feels cheap. 

Buy less, but buy better. You should aim to buy the best items you can afford but buy fewer of them. This way, you reduce the mental and physical clutter that comes with a large closet, and you’re proud of the items you own. Plus, they’ll last longer meaning you won’t need to shop as much. 

An easy tip to buying quality stuff if you don’t have someone guiding you is to buy from brands that specialize in producing the type of item you’re looking for, and that have done so for a very long time. It’s sort of like how we only work with men and only focus on menswear and have done so for nearly a decade. You go to specialists for the best result, not generalists. 

Add In Layers

Layering helps to add dimension to your outfits and gives you more outfit options when worn over something like a plain shirt. These could be sportcoats, sweaters, vests, etc., which give your outfits a unique look and multiply the number of outfits you can put together.

Maintain Your Items

Proper care and maintenance will ensure your stuff always looks put together, and more importantly, you won’t always have to shop for replacements. Here are some easy tips to help maintain the life of your clothing. 

In short, prolong the life of your items by washing and dry cleaning them less frequently and using lower heat when you wash and dry your clothes. 

FAQ’s About Men’s Business Casual Clothing

What qualifies as business casual for men?

The key is achieving a balance between formal and casual, ensuring a professional yet relaxed appearance. Jeans, chinos, and wool trousers are great for bottoms. Button-down shirts and wool knitwear work great for tops. Sportcoats, although not usually mandatory, can add formality to your look. 

Can jeans be considered business casual?

In some industries, dark, unripped jeans can be appropriate as part of a business casual outfit. However, it's important to understand your workplace's norms and err on the side of caution here. 

Are sneakers acceptable in a business casual wardrobe?

In more casual workplaces, yes. Traditionally, business casual attire leans towards leather shoes so a leather sneaker can work. Unscuffed, minimalist sneakers can be acceptable. It largely depends on your company's dress code policies and culture.

How many outfits do I need for a business casual wardrobe?

This depends on your preferences and workplace. With our clients, we aim for about 3-5 pairs of trousers, 4-6 shirts, 1-3 blazers, 2-4 pieces of knitwear, and a good selection of leather shoes. Quality and versatility are more important than quantity here. 

Is it necessary to wear a tie with a business casual outfit?

No, and increasingly not necessary. Wearing a tie is generally considered more business formal. However, having a few ties for formal meetings or occasions can be beneficial.

Can I incorporate personal style into my business casual attire?

Of course! Personal style is about finding the right balance between professionalism and individuality. You should always adhere to the principles of business casual attire outlined here, but express your own unique preferences through color, pattern, and accessory choices. Working in small doses of your personal taste can go a long way in your business casual outfits. 

What colors are best for business casual attire?

Neutral colors. Black, white, and gray win here as they’re understated and can pair with many items. After you’ve handled your basic items in neutral colors, you should opt to wear the colors you look best in, which you can find out through Seasonal Color Analysis, which is part of what we do for clients in our program. However, easy choices outside of the grayscale we discussed would be navy, brown, and lavender, or lilac. 

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Men are often daunted by business casual and trying to put the setup together. But as we’ve covered, with the right techniques, principles, and items, it’s reasonably straightforward. 

Remember the goal is to understand the essence of business casual - blending traditional business attire with a bit of comfortable casual clothing, making sure to never look too casual or too formal. 

Building a good wardrobe like this is an investment in your appearance, career, and yourself. Each selection brings you closer (or further) from your goals in your working life, whether that’s getting a promotion, connecting with better clients, being taken more seriously, or just feeling better about yourself. 

More than that, having a great business casual wardrobe creates a lot of ease and simplicity. You know you look good and can operate stress-free in the mornings, knowing you have the right stuff to rock whatever comes your way. 

And if you want to have all this done for you, you can see more about how we transform your style here, building you a wardrobe of items you love that fit perfectly, pair together, in colors that enhance you. You’ll learn what looks best on you and get all the clothing that makes it happen. See more and apply for a call here if you want that kind of transformation to your style. 

Hope that helps. 

-Patrick