Business Casual for Men

A good friend of mine recently joined a well-known investment firm as an assistant investment banker. Prior to that, he had worked for a number of years in an advertising agency where creativity was the only thing that mattered; what you wore and how you looked was secondary and tertiary. You can very well imagine the look on the face of his boss, when this brilliant buddy of mine nonchalantly walked into his new office on the first day of work, wearing nothing but cargo shorts, a white vest, a button-less Hawaiian shirt and a pair of flip-flops!

So what do you think must have happened to him? Did he get fired on the first day of his new job? Surprisingly, he didn't. He was lucky. That particular day coincidentally happened to be 'beach day' at the office. In fact, the boss went on to comment that he was rather well-dressed for the occasion! He was very, very fortunate that his mistake did not cost him his job. However, you may not be so lucky. So if you're a guy who has business casual dress code at your place of work, read on to know about various dressing options in business casual for men.

Dress Code - Business Casual for Men
If you are completely unaware of what a 'business casual dress for men' is, or whether there are sufficient clothing options considering you have a five day working week, relax. You can breathe easy. Thankfully, there are enough options in mens clothing when it comes to business casual attire for men. Let us have a look at a few of them.

Shirts
Business casual is an intermediate level between business formal and plain casual. You should keep this in mind while selecting not just your shirts, but all other clothing items and accessories. Business casual shirts should always have a collar. Whether to opt for half-sleeved or full-sleeved shirts will depend on your individual company dress policy. Avoid extravagant colors. You don't want to be looking like a human neon sign. However, that does not mean that you should buy five white shirts and four blue shirts. You can surely experiment with colors and patterns, but refrain from loud colors or in-your-face designs and patterns. Pastel shades are always a good option. Dark blues, maroons and browns are also good choices. Not to be left behind, the quintessential black shirt...it makes a solid statement everywhere you go. Regarding shirt patterns, you can opt for thin, light stripes or checks.

Trousers
Though pleated formal trousers are not mandatory, you can surely consider having a couple of them in your wardrobe. Opt for flat front cotton trousers in shades of beige, brown, gray, olive, etc. A couple of good black trousers are a must-have. Whether or not you can wear jeans and cargo pants will once again depend on your company dress code policy. A combination of pleated trousers, flat front khakis, chinos and cotton trousers will add a good amount of variety to your wardrobe and will give you a wider choice of dressing options.

Jacket
A jacket is not mandatory as such when it comes to business casual. However, if you can team it with a crisp white shirt and a pair of smart gray or black trousers, then go ahead. In addition to formal jackets, you can also opt for a tweed jacket or a casual corduroy jacket. You can also substitute a jacket with a good sweater or an over-shirt. It not only looks smart, but is also a good option for the winter.

Shoes and Accessories
Formal black leather shoes are always a good option. However, since this is business casual, you can afford to take it a step down. Suede is a good option and works wonderfully well with a number of business casual outfits. Cut shoes are also an option if they match your trousers and your shirt. If you're wearing a jacket, make sure your shoe color compliments your jacket. Refrain from sneakers, gym shoes, sandals and slip-ons. Make sure you always wear a belt. If you are going to be attending an important meeting or are on a client visit, always wear a tie (and a jacket if possible). It is an important part of workplace ethics.

These were some dressing options when it comes to business casual for men. In case your wife also happens to have a business casual dress code at her place of work, here is some information on business casual attire for women. The basic principle remains the same - find out what your company's dress code policy is, and choose your work attire accordingly.