Dressing Business Casual for Men

On occasion it may spark some confusion and looks of puzzlement, but in general dressing business casual for men is really quite straightforward. In fact, it's one of the easiest dress codes to follow, if only because it's so common in everyday life and appropriate for so many situations.

The business casual look is slightly relaxed.

When dressing for a business casual situation, think cool, clean, crisp, unencumbered, polished – in other words, think professional. Your ensemble should be better suited to a meeting with a high-ranking executive than a friend at a nightclub. Forgo the temptation to break out anything overly colorful, baggy or simply unflattering (actually, forgo the unflattering stuff no matter what the occasion). Dressing business casual is an invitation to look your best, yet not necessarily as though you're headed to dinner with the Queen of England.

Think about what you might wear to a job interview, a dinner meeting or a social evening event. You certainly aren't sporting a tuxedo, yet you may not feel the need to wear a tie, either. The key to dressing business casual is to pay greater heed to the "business" and less to the "casual." It's much more likely that your sports jacket-and-tie ensemble will pass muster than your T-shirt-and-jeans idea. In fact, nix the T-shirts altogether; they may be casual, but they certainly aren't business. Wearing anything too casual is unlikely to win you any points in the business casual setting.

Do you need to wear an actual suit, though? This is often a point of contention among those who aren't sure just how dressy they actually should be. The answer is simple: Wear a suit when the occasion calls for it. If you're meeting with a bigwig client, the president of your company (or any company) or anyone whose company might make you even consider dressing up a bit more than usual, then you're right – you should dress up. Wear a suit, complete with a tie and smart shoes.

Believe it or not, the suit can be business casual, especially if you opt for a warm or neutral color palette. A pop of color beneath your suit – a slightly bold tie or knit shirt – keeps your look down to earth and less formal. Headed to a more relaxed setting later on? Lose the tie, undo a couple of buttons and slip into casual shoes.

When the situation does not call for a suit, you have more options at your disposal. Consider any of these tips the next time you ponder the mysteries of dressing business casual for men:

• Invest in a sports jacket. It's polished and clean cut, available in numerous colors and strikes the right chord no matter what it's worn with. For example, paired with smart trousers and a button down top, it transforms the outfit into something of a relaxed suit. Worn with jeans and a long sleeve knit top, however, it lends an otherwise casual outfit a refined edge.

• On the subject of smart trousers, nothing fits better in a business casual setting than a pair of khakis. They aren't exactly the height of men's fashion, but then again that's not the look you're going for here. When in doubt, you can't go wrong with khakis – they, too, pair well with everything from short sleeve polo shirts to long sleeve button down tops.

• The long sleeve shirt is an essential. Short sleeves are definitely more casual, and they generally don't resonate well in professional settings. Mix it up with solid colors and a few prints here and there (nothing over the top, of course), and feel free to roll those sleeves up during the day if it's appropriate.

• The aforementioned polo shirt has its time and place, too. It's easily one of the most relaxed items in a business casual wardrobe, and is probably best saved for situations like golf outings or laid-back lunches with coworkers. Avoid wearing them to meetings – and always tuck them in.

• Who knew socks could be so important? In the grand scheme of things, they certainly aren't – but stick with dark socks for all of your ensembles. They should extend to the mid-calf area so that your legs do not show when you sit down. Note that if your pants are dark, your socks should be in the same color family, but don't necessarily have to be the same color (a cocoa colored sock is acceptable with a dark brown pant, for example).

• They do say that shoes make the man, so don't make the mistake of overlooking your footwear in a business casual setting. Athletic shoes are a big no-no. They're easily another example of too casual. Opt for a pair of smart leather slip-ons. Leave the ultra-shiny loafers behind.

• Yes, you can wear denim in certain business casual situations, as long as your jeans are of the pulled together, well fitting variety. This means steering clear of anything voluminous and generally unbecoming. A dark rinse is more appropriate since it lends the jeans a sedate, polished appearance. Try it on with your sports jacket for best results; if they look right together, you're on the right track.

When in doubt, seek the assistance of an experienced salesperson. Fit is crucial, so it's often helpful to get a second opinion for items like sports jackets and even pants. Considering you'll often be wearing your business casual attire in semi-professional settings, you'll want to make the best possible impression. That starts with your overall appearance, so make it a good one!

• Mens Designer Fashions
• Versace Mens Dress Pants
• How to Wear a Dress Shirt With No Tie
• Men's Fashion Quiz
• Dress Codes for Men Quiz

• 80's Mens Fashion
• Dress Code for Smart Casual
• Bras for Men to Wear
• Mens Fashion in the 1940's
• How to Fold a Handkerchief

• Main Page
• Office Casual Dress Code
• Dressing for Success
• Category:Mens Casual Clothing
• Dress Code for Smart Casual