Men's Business Casual - The Ultimate Guide

FAQs

What Does 'Business Casual' Mean For Men?

Having dressed men of all ages, body types, and industries for 10+ years now, I'm still baffled by this: Business casual means different things to different events and industries. Either way, business casual (also often called "smart casual" or "dress casual") is taking over.

This trend started many years ago but has accelerated in recent times due to the pandemic allowing people to work from home and/or showing them that dressing in stuffy or season-inappropriate clothing is really not all that great.

I've distilled it down to 2 versions to make it quick and easy for you to understand.

1. If you work in finance, you're going to have to lean much more toward the "business" end of business casual and dress closer to a fully suited look.

2. If you work in tech or a more creative or labor-intensive industry, you will likely be able to lean more toward the casual end of business casual.

Also, if the restaurant is upscale and they require business casual attire, then it's usually better to go more business than casual.

After that, there are smart casual weddings or events - what that means will be heavily dependent on the hosts' preference, setting, and weather.

But don't get too discouraged, though, it's not that hard to figure out what is appropriate.

How To Know What's Appropriate

Here are a few strategies I use or instruct others to do to figure out what is meant by "business casual":

Look Around

You might have one of those jobs where the owners dress in t-shirts and jeans and expect people to wear ties (or vice versa).

So consider your office's style as a whole, look around, and get an average.

Are most people in sports coats and button-up shirts? Then your place probably leans on the business side.

Is everyone in jeans, boots, and sweaters? Your place probably leans casual.

Ask Someone

I know it might sound like a "well duh" moment, but you'd be surprised how often clients are afraid to ask what business casual means in the context, for fear of looking foolish or ignorant.

I can assure you that when you ask, you're actually showing you're being considerate and respectful of the request and want to fulfill the requirements.

• Jobs

  Read the employee packet or welcoming/onboarding material, and they usually mention it in there. If not, the HR department should be able to tell you what's appropriate and not appropriate to wear.
  

• Events
  Ask the organizers what the dress code means. If they're still not clear or decisive enough, ask them to tell you what is not allowed and to show you some example images.
  

• Restaurants
  Look on their website first, as places with dress codes tend to be quite explicit about what they require. If you can't find it, simply call them and ask.

2 Versions Of Business Casual

Over the years, I've honed it down to roughly two versions of business casual. Let me show you and explain each one below.

If in doubt, always go to the more dressy version of what you've been told is business casual. It's always better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.

1. Strict Business Casual

This is what finance, banking, government, and more conservative industries and events will lean toward. There are two ways that "strict" can be interpreted, however. When in doubt, lean more toward the "Traditional" version because the "Very Strict" version is atypical, but I've seen it enough times that it needs to be noted.

a) Very Strict

This is a full-suited look, just missing the tie. I don't see it often, but it pops up enough times that it needs to be noted in case you are in one of the above industries.

• Full Suit (Jacket and Pants)

• Dress Shirt

• Dress Shoes

• No Tie

• Optional: Pocket Square

b) Traditional

This is a more traditional business casual outfit, which means no suit, but you'd still wear a jacket, dress shirt, and potentially a tie (a more casual one).

• Blazer or Sport Coat

• Dress Shirt or Oxford Button Down

• Chino Pants or Wool Trousers

• Dress Shoes, Loafers, or Chukka Boots

• Optional: Knit Tie or Pocket Square

2. Creative Business Casual or "Smart Casual"

This type of business casual is what I see most often, which is similar to the "Traditional" version above and specifically in tech and more creative industry companies - marketing, entertainment, etc.

This typically means anything from a blazer or sports coat, button-down shirt, chino pants or dark wash jeans, and either boots, dress shoes, or high-end leather sneakers.

How to Tell If Clothing Is Business (Dressy) or Casual?

I see lots of guys new to dressing well struggling with this question. Here are some quick and dirty rules to follow that'll work 98% of the time to guide you in knowing if something is too casual or dressy for a situation.

More Stuff = More Casual

Think about a graphic t-shirt vs. a plain white Oxford shirt.

Or cargo pants with tons of pockets compared to a simple, clean pair of chinos. They might be made of the same fabric, but the excess pockets, stitching, and details make it more casual. You probably wouldn’t wear those to an important meeting.

Later on, this rule will be more apparent when you see me lay out items on the formality scale.

But for now, think about this rule another way: The simpler, more minimal the design, the more formal it will be.

More Trendy = More Casual

A more trendy design – like athleisure sweats, Hawaiian style print shirts, or “crossbody bags” you can place in the casual section. Items that rank higher on the formal scale tend to be more classic, timeless designs.

While this tool isn’t 100% foolproof, it’s a good starting point you can use when shopping and planning your outfits.

Like any good wardrobe, it’s not about a single individual piece, but how your pieces work together as part of a versatile wardrobe.

More Color = More Casual

A pink shirt is more casual than a crisp white shirt. A light blue suit is more casual than a dark navy suit.

When it comes to formality, neutral colors (navy, white, black, grey, olive, camel), come off more professional and formal.

Items To Avoid

So, before we get into what items you need as part of your business casual wardrobe, allow me to elaborate on certain pieces that do not fit within this particular dress code:

Dressier Items

I know I said earlier that if in doubt, you should lean more business than casual but there are definitely a few items that are way too dressy.

• First of all, no suits (unless it's a 'strict business casual' dress code).
  These are just too formal, and the same could be said for dress shirts and neckties.

• Though blazers are indeed a business casual staple, make sure you are going for a blazer here and not a suit jacket.

  • The reason why is that suit jackets can look particularly boxy when paired with other non-formal items, particularly around the shoulders.

T-Shirts

Though t-shirts can look great when paired with dressier items, I’d usually avoid wearing them, as, when it comes to business casual environments, they’re just too relaxed-looking.

Casual Bottoms

This should go without saying but:

• No joggers

• No light-wash jeans

• No shorts

Casual Footwear

Shoe-wise, you’ll want to steer clear of the more casual styles, like high-tops, colorful low-tops, running shoes, sandals, and boat shoes.

Bad Accessories

This is where a lot of guys screw up, so pay attention to your accessories. Certain items, like casual backpacks, gaudy jewelry, and novelty cufflinks, will sink your overall look.

Essential Business Casual Items

Oxford Shirt

Stylish, smart, and versatile, Oxford shirts are usually made from a thicker fabric which gives them a more relaxed appearance than thinner dress shirts.

For a more professional look, I’d recommend tucking your Oxford into your pants but feel free to leave yours untucked if you’re going for a more casual vibe.

Colors & Quantities

Get one in white and one in light blue before moving on to other colors.

Blazer/Sports Coat

As I mentioned earlier, a blazer or sports coat is also an essential business casual item that will allow you to elevate your outfits with ease.

Colors

I like to recommend one in a solid color (like charcoal or navy), as this will be easier to layer and pair with different shirt-and-pants combos.

Sweaters

Speaking of layering, you’re definitely going to want some items to throw over your shirts when it starts to get chilly during the fall and winter months. I’d recommend picking up some v-neck and crew neck sweaters in fabrics like merino wool and cashmere

Colors

Dark neutral colors like black, navy, and navy are timeless sweater options and always look good when layered (v-necks only!) over white or light blue Oxford shirts.

Polo Shirt

If you’re looking for something smarter than a crewneck tee but lighter than an Oxford long-sleeve shirt then you really can’t go wrong with a good polo. These have a distinct preppy vibe that just screams ‘smart casual’ and they can be paired with everything from dress pants to dark-wash jeans.

Also, if you’re wearing a belt (that obviously matches your shoes, right?) then don’t be afraid to tuck that polo in to earn some extra style points.

Colors

Stick with the classics; black and navy.

Chinos

Not too dressy, not relaxed, chinos are the perfect smart-casual pant. They allow for a clean and put-together appearance and go with so many different items.

Colors & Quantities

I’d recommend not too bold with the colors and sticking to neutral shades like sand, navy, olive, and gray.

Dark-Wash Jeans

If you’re in a more relaxed office environment and you really want to put the ‘casual’ in business casual, then you are permitted to swap out the chinos for some classic well-fitting jeans.

Colors

Stick with a dark-wash (dark indigo) color. Anything lighter than that is too casual and black or gray jeans will just look off.

Wool Trousers

Wool trousers are a classic smart-casual item and are a nice alternative to your go-to chinos or denim. Just try and save these for fall and winter, as they can look (and feel) a bit heavy during the warm-weather months.

Colors

Charcoal is a classic shade for wool trousers but you can always go with navy if you're looking for a smarter alternative to your dark-wash jeans.

Business Casual Shoes

OK, so at this stage, you’re probably asking ‘But what about my footwear?’ Well, the short answer is that most types of dress shoes are appropriate for a business-casual dress code.

However, before you go out and buy some square-toed leather shoes that look boxier than the box they came in, let’s get a bit more specific.

Oxford Dress Shoes

This is a classic dress shoe that never fails to look smart when paired with the items listed above. If the aesthetic of leather is just too dressy for you, then you could always go for a suede pair instead.

Colors

If your outfit features black as its predominant color (in your sweater, pants, or both), then go with black Oxford shoes. Otherwise, stick with medium brown.

Loafers

If dress shoes aren’t your thing, then consider going for a pair of loafers instead. Provided that you pair them with no-show socks, these timeless slip-on shoes are perfect for the majority of business casual outfits.

Colors

I like to recommend a nice chocolatey penny loafer, but you could always go for a more relaxed suede driving moccasin if that’s more your thing.

Chukka Boots

If you’re looking for footwear that’s a bit more rugged and manly but still office-appropriate, then I highly recommend considering a pair of leather suede chukka boots. This cool stylish boot goes with all types of pants of business-casual pants, from chinos to jeans, and is definitely worth investing in.

Colors

Go for medium or dark brown, as these are the most versatile colors.

Low-Top Sneakers

So, sneakers are permissible but, as they are definitely a more casual item, they need to be paired with smarter items for the overall outfit to work. This obviously won't work in a very traditional business casual outfit, so don't think it works across the board.

Colors

You’ll want to go fora minimal, white, preferably leather version. Also, these will need to be kept immaculately clean.

Accessories

So, when it comes to the business casual dress code, your accessories really shouldn’t differ from any other dress code in that less will always be more.

You really want to nail the fundamentals and invest in minimal and versatile items that will complement your overall aesthetic rather than distract from it.

Everything else, like pocket squares, neckties, cufflinks, boutonnieres, etc, is just overkill and not necessary.

Watch

The wristwatch is the ultimate men’s accessory, and when it comes to which kind of watch to go for, you honestly have a lot of room to play with.

I’d recommend choosing one that reflects your own personal style, but try not to go too colorful or cartoony.

Alternatively, you could always go for a nice metal cuff, provided it has a stylish minimal design.

Sunglasses

Your sunglasses should be a classic frame that compliments your face in a black, brown, or tortoiseshell shade.

Outfit Ideas

Outfit 1

This outfit formula never fails to impress. If you get too hot, feel free to remove the blazer and if you want to dress it down, you could always swap out the dress shoes for a pair of shiny white low-top sneakers.

Outfit 2

We've got some expert-level business-casual layering going on here! This combo would also work if you wanted to remove the V-neck sweater and make sure that you're going for a brown belt to match the shoes.

Outfit 3

Sometimes less is definitely more, as shown in this simple and stylish outfit combination. If you wanted to dress this up even further, you could always layer a charcoal blazer or sports coat on top.