Many a befuddled male executive might well ask, “ What is ‘business casual’?" While the term defies a formal, standard definition, here’s what it doesn’t mean:
- the clothes one wears to lounge around the house on a weekend or extended holida
- apparel fit for attending a rave or going clubbing
Here are some guidelines on what can constitute ‘business casual’ attire, but remember to check with the ‘powers-that-be’ in your company, if there is a specific dress code policy or take a cue from what your boss or senior management wears, in a situation where there is no documented policy.
Suits, Shirts and Trousers
A business casual dress code does not mean dispensing with suits; make sure you have at least one good suit hanging in your wardrobe, in black, dark gray or navy blue, for any formal meetings or presentations with clients or with the senior management in your organization.
Shirts can have short or long sleeves, but check first if the former are acceptable within your company. Shirts should be in plain colors or with tiny stripes or checks, the hues can be pastels or darker shades of solid colors such as green, blue, gray, red, etc.
Trousers should be of the flat-front type and pleated trousers should be avoided. The colors should match with the shirts in your wardrobe and ideally be in shades of gray, dark navy blue or black.
In place of a full suit, you can also opt for separates – blazers or jackets in blue, black or gray. Ideally, your wardrobe should have a minimum of three pairs of trousers, a similar number of jackets, 5-6 shirts and at least one good suit.
Acceptable Casual Attire
Polo shirts or t-shirts with collars made from good-quality fabric can be matched with trousers made of khaki or fabrics such as gabardine or twill blends. If you can wear denim, then make sure the colors are dark and uniform, i.e. no faded patches or light shades where the dirt shows up quickly and clearly.
Lightweight jackets for the summer and silk-knit jumpers for winter are also ideal for the business-casual look.
Shoes and Other Accessories
Leather shoes, slip-on or lace-up loafers in suede or leather and shoes with square toes are acceptable for both formal and casual occasions. Socks must be in dark colors – black, blue or gray – matching the color of the trousers you’re wearing.
Belts must be made of leather, be slim and have buckles which are small to medium in dimensions and have subtle designs. Similarly, a watch with a leather strap is better than a Swatch or similar kind of sports watch.
The key to business casual dressing is to keep the total look sleek and clean, you can experiment with colors and fabrics which are less-formal, such as khaki, etc; but they should be clean and neatly-ironed. Of course, the whole business-casual look one eventually puts together will depend on the company or organization one works for.
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