Here’s how to dress business casual!
Dress codes have changed a lot in recent years. Finding a good balance between ‘casual’ and ‘formal’ can be a little tricky. You don’t want to be the guy in a coat and tie when everyone else is in chinos and hoodies. But, wearing a full suit can sometimes, well, feel a little much. Enter that lovely hybrid: men’s business casual style.
This guide covers what it is and what it isn’t. It also offers a few key pieces and provides a little inspiration. Hopefully it answers a few questions you might have along the way, too.
What Is Business Casual For Men?
The term is a relatively new one in the lexicon of menswear. Until the early 1960s, casualwear just wasn’t something men — or women — wore most anywhere, much less the office. Most were dressed in a full suit, or, at the very least, a sports jacket and tie.
It’s difficult to place exactly when and how ‘business casual’ became a thing. But, like many holidays and contemporary social traditions, a marketing ploy is a good culprit.
In the mid-1960s, Wilson Cannon, the president of the Bank of Hawaii, decided to wear a printed ‘Aloha’ shirt on Fridays to show his support for the island. The Hawaiian Fashion Guild, needing to sell Aloha shirts, picked up on this and leaned hard into the idea.
Younger people, were already feeling a little rebellious of their parents’ attitudes toward formality. They saw an opportunity to latch on. They called it ‘casual Friday.’
Perhaps living in paradise has something to do with it. Or, perhaps, it had something to do with the changing makeup of textiles in formal clothing. Polyesters and other synthetics began sneaking into suit cloth around the time.
It makes for cheaper and more mass-produced garments but also supremely uncomfortable ones. No wonder men didn’t want to wear them!
A further shift happened in the mid-1980s: the introduction of Dockers. Produced by Levi’s, these pants walked the line between formal slacks and jeans. Comfortable and quite full in fit, they quickly took off. The trend continued to its unfortunate but natural conclusion. Indeed, ‘casual Friday’ has become every day.
What Is Considered Business Casual? (Ideas To Add to Business Casual Capsule Wardrobes)
Today, what is considered business casual attire for men is almost extraordinarily broad. Yes, gray flannel trousers are included. Jeans are fine, too. But some guys have taken it too far. ‘Dressy’ cashmere sweatpants. ‘Performance’ chinos. And, the mother of all abominations, the ‘hybrid’ dress shoe with a running outsole. We can fight this with a few basic guidelines.
Business Casual Jackets for Men (Including Men’s Summer Business Casual-style Jackets)
While a solid navy blazer is always in style and should be first in your rotation, feel free to add some color, pattern, and texture into your looks. You can start out with blue, yes.
Brown is a great second, followed by gray. Once you’ve got those down, consider adding some variety to your business casual jackets. Green and burgundy are nice for fall. Tan and even cream are nice for men’s summer business casual style.
As for pattern, some of it is dictated by color. Windowpane looks best in blue and grey, but green is good, too. Checks, particularly a gun club, look best in blue and brown. One should probably avoid wearing a pinstriped sports jacket altogether.
The scale of the pattern also corresponds to your height. Taller gents can wear larger patterns. Shorter men should gravitate towards tighter, smaller patterns. Again, gun and other club checks are excellent here.
Lapels can be peaked, but a standard notch is probably best. Pockets can be standard flaps, but if you can find (or, better yet, have made) a jacket with patch pockets, that’ll work best for men’s business casual style.
On a final note, it’s important to remember suit jackets are different from sport coats. Many guys will take a standard suit jacket, throw it over a pair of jeans, and think it’s fine. It’s not. In most cases, the clash of formalities is just too great.
Business Casual Shirts for Men
A white dress shirt is perhaps ‘the’ dress shirt. It’s the first one you should have. But, it’s become rather closely associated with politicians trying to appear relatable as they wear one without a tie. While you can certainly wear a white dress shirt for business casual and it’ll be fine, there are other options.
First, try light blue. It’s easy to style with navy, gray, and even some shades of green. Next, consider off-white. It’s less stark than pure white. It blends better with jackets in more casual colorways like brown.
Pink can also look great with most business casual jackets-particularly grays and charcoals. However, try to buy in person if you can. Some shirts scream REAL MEN WEAR PINK and cross into highlighter territory pretty quick.
You can also experiment with collar choice. A standard sewn collar, while dressier and usually meant for a tie, is still fine and readily accessible. You can also wear an Oxford Cloth Button Down ( an ‘OBCD’ for menswear nerds). Once reserved for weekend wear, they’re perfectly acceptable today, especially on a meeting-light workday.
The key here is to use enough fabric so the collar ‘rolls’ well. For most, that starts at about a 3” point. While shorter guys can go with smaller collars, some of the ideal is also determined by the length of your neck. If you’ve got a particularly long neck, short collars can look oddly giraffe-like.
In the summer, polo shirts are *okay* for business casual, but probably best when under a jacket in linen or a lighter hopsack.
Business Casual Pants for Men
Grey slacks are the standard in men’s casual business attire for a reason. They’re a neutral shade, so they pair with everything! If possible, start here. Find a pair in a medium gray shade. Wear them with blue, green, burgundy, and (yes) even brown jackets.
Next, try something in a lighter brown or tan. Then, a darker brown. Olive is nice, particularly with browns, tans, and gray. Navy can work, too.
Some men, particularly younger ones, lean into rather unusual colors with their slacks. Burgundy, brighter greens, that sort of thing. While they’re fun, it is harder to mix and match, particularly in a business casual capsule wardrobe.
A frequent question is are jeans business casual? Yes, with some exceptions. First and foremost, your jeans should have no rips, holes, or frays, stylistically or otherwise. Second, they should be slim, straight, or have a moderate taper.
If you’re thin, excessively skinny jeans make you look smaller than you are. If you’re thick around the middle, they’ll actually accentuate that part of you unless you also have comparatively large legs. Most importantly, please hem your jeans to a proper length.
Jeans for business casual probably look best when they’re dark indigo or black. Medium-wash denim is okay too, but probably best to avoid light wash or white. Ultimately, jeans in this situation are at the discretion of management and the office culture more broadly.
Business Casual Shoes for Men
The best business casual shoes generally fall into Oxfords, Derbys, loafers, chukkas, and dress boots. But, as with any shoe, there are different sublayers of formality.
An Oxford is any shoe with a closed lacing system — or where the eyelets are sewn into the upper. They’re usually the most formal business shoes, probably best with suits or coats and ties. The quintessential one is a black Oxford with a cap toe. While it works well with a navy blazer and slacks, it’s a little too formal for most business casual environments.
However, a medium brown or burgundy one would be great for most situations. And, if you can throw in a little broguing (that’s the decoration), it’ll be even better. Just remember, though, the more ornamentation a shoe has, the more casual it becomes.
The derby is one layer down. The distinguishing feature is an open lacing system, where the eyelets are stitched on top of the upper. While you can absolutely find some sleek ones, it’s a slightly larger profile. Models with wingtips are excellent.
Loafers are a great hybrid player and easy to dress up or down. Those with tassels are perhaps a little more formal, but a lot depends on the lasting and the shape of the toe box. Burgundy tassel loafers work great to brighten up the ‘uniform’ of a navy jacket and gray slacks. Try a pair in a nappy, brushed suede for a softer look.
Chukkas and dress boots are definitely more on the ‘casual’ side of business casual. But, you can do it. Dress boots, particularly Chelseas in smooth leather, look great with a jacket and flannel trousers. Suede chukkas also work very well with chinos, a sweater, and an OCBD.
A few other notes on shoes. Men seem to downplay the formality of the shoes.
Neither are boat shoes. Leave those for the yacht. Slippers are generally a no-no here as well, but some elegant Belgian slippers can look nice and are extraordinarily comfortable. However, those are still probably best for non-business casual professions.
Bags and Watches: Business Casual Accessories
Let’s wrap the discussion on business casual with some words on accessories. At the risk of stating the obvious, bags are an integral piece of kit. They hold the stuff you need to do your work.
But, so many men treat the bag like they’re going to school: with a backpack. And not just any backpack; a technical sports backpack with the company logo on it. We can do better! If you need a backpack, try one in leather. Or canvas, at the very least.
A better option is a leather messenger bag. It doesn’t have the stuffiness of a briefcase, but it is still much, much better than a backpack.
Business Casual Watches
As for watches, this rabbit hole probably requires an entire article. But, to be brief. A stainless steel sports watch between 34 and (perhaps up to) 40mm will look great for shorter guys. One with a brown or burgundy leather band in the same size will also work in just about any situation.
They could have a date complication, chronograph, or even a moonphase, and it would be perfectly acceptable. A plain two or three-hand model is just fine, too. But, if there’s anything to avoid for business casual watches, it’s the digital watch or (gasp!) smartwatch. Unless there’s a medical reason you require one, save it for the weekend.
Business Casual Outfit Ideas
Considering what we’ve discussed, here are six business casual outfit ideas:
As you can see, there’s a lot of variation within business casual.
FAQs around Men’s Business Casual Style
Here are answers to common questions about dressing business casual for men:
Are jeans okay for business casual?
Jeans are sometimes ok for business casual. When in doubt, either opt-out, ask a manager, or read the room. If you do decide on denim, keep them slim — read, not skinny — dark and without distressing. And, no matter whether you’re wearing jeans for work or place, please hem them.
Do I need a blazer for business casual?
Again, whether or not you need a blazer depends on the office environment. In some offices, a collared shirt and slacks are perfectly fine. A blazer is usually a solid-colored jacket with metal or horn buttons. A sports jacket is a little more broadly defined, but it usually has a pattern and a softer (less structured) shoulder. While you don’t need a jacket for business casual, it looks a little more put-together when you have one.
Is semi-formal the same as business casual?
No, semi-formal is not the same as business casual. Semi-formal, even in this dressed-down era, means, at the very least, a coat and tie. It should mean a full suit and tie. Business casual for men doesn’t require a tie. As mentioned above, a jacket looks best for this dress code but isn’t a necessity.
What about men’s summer business casual style?
In the summer, many of the same rules largely apply. Tuck in your shirt. Avoid
Is there a good business casual capsule wardrobe?
Yes. While that’s creating a minimal essential wardrobe is an article in and of itself. A capsule wardrobe is great for business casual. But in brief:
- Start with two jackets: one navy blazer and one sports jacket.
- Three pairs of pants: gray, tan, and blue
- Three shirts: one light blue, one white or off-white, and one light pink
- Two shoes: one brown derby and one burgundy
- Two watches: One dressier, with a leather band, and one stainless steel sports watch
Closing Thoughts
It’s a new world out there. Business casual style for men has changed dramatically in the last 30 years. It’s only accelerated in the last five. But, as workers return to offices with some regularity, what is ‘acceptable’ office attire isn’t always clear. Thus, navigating dressing for the office can be tricky. So much depends on idiosyncrasies within your office’s culture.
The definition of ‘men’s business casual style’ is still pretty broad. But, hopefully this guide gives you some tips and inspiration to nail it no matter the season.
Leave your questions and comments below!
Chris says
Hi Brock
What type of belt would you style with business casual? A thicker casual one or a dressier thin one? I’m a little confused as the outfit seems to be not causal but not formal either!
Thank you.
Brad Payne says
Apparently you have trouble following your own advice. More than half your business casual examples were wearing pants rolled up or too short. Get the pants or jeans hemmed to the correct length!!! Rolled up slacks or jeans are not ‘business casual’. Pants showing your ankles or with no break are too short and look stupid. So do work boots with slacks. Very few examples exuded class.
Brock McGoff says
There is no “correct” length for pants, as it’s subject to trends. This article is aimed at a modern 25-44 crowd. No break pants and cuffs are perfectly acceptable in most of today’s workplaces.
Chris says
Great content. Actionable. Clear. Thanks
Bill Doyle says
Nice article, helpful. One minor disagreement… a good quality pair of boat shoes are perfect for casual business attire.
Akpomuode loony Joseph says
Hi Brock, I wanna say it’s a beautiful and lovely write-up… Really gonna transcend from normal to superb now.
Thanks
Martin B says
Hi Brock, Excellent, practical guide. Hey, what’s the brand and model of the burgundy briefcase that you’re holding in your left hand in the featured photo collage? It looks nicely proportional to your stature and I’d like to buy it as I’m 5’5″.
Thax as always!
M
sarah charles says
Hi Brock, Amazing content! all the choices and combinations given by you look amazing. You have done great a job. Thanks for sharing such amazing information. Keep on writing.
Chris says
It seems that body and age inclusion hasn’t made it to menswear yet. No photo or advice for anyone with grey hair or real world weight.
Jerry D McCartney says
Perfect! Perfect!
I am about to do a presentation to a number of new men on our team and your article will help tremendously in getting us all on the same page for todays men’s casual dress.
Thank you
Also, if you have an article you’ve done on how to dress for travel when you have personal meetings with clients would be a big help as well.
JB says
Do colors really matter for business casual? Dark brown pants with black shoes/boots or black pants with brown shoes/boots? Does the belt always have to match the shoes/boots?
Sean says
Good article but you really need to link to all of the products in your pictures. I love the jacket right above the “What About Casual Fridays” section but can’t find it, or anything similar enough to meet my needs anywhere online after about a half-hour of searching. I know that showing several product images as examples is a trend that many articles use but it really needs to stop. If you’re going to include images of shirts, shoes, jackets, sweaters, etc. especially, please be sure to provide links to purchase them. Nothing worse than finding a style you really like only to not be able to purchase it.
Rajat says
Damn such a great article I have been following your articles for some time! Even I have interviews next week and I didn’t had any idea layering up with so many things would be required have to do my shopping and learning! and look with jacket looks this best!
Adam Berkley says
I saw a few (very few) creased pants. I guess those are a concession to older men but not the preferred choice. Too bad. They really project tasteful elegance.
Ron says
Another excellent article on this subject Brock. You have done some extensive research on this subject. I live in New Zealand and work in a menswear clothing store, this article has taught me some new things, other things confirming what I already knew and lots of new things that I can now share with my customers. Thank you for sharing your great knowledge on this subject with us
George says
Hi Brock, you mentioned it’s never ok to wear a suit jacket with Jean’s. Have you ever seen the game show “Common Knowledge” hosted by Joey Fantone of boy band fame (not sure what band)? Anyway, he wears a suit jacket with jeans almost every show. I agree it’s a no, no but wouldn’t you think his Hollywood wardrobe people would know better?
Great topic and I really liked the black and white wool chevron patterned jacket paired with the light brown corduroy pants.
Sincerely,
George
Joshua Adamson-Pickett (@JoshuaRAdamson) says
Excellent content! What are you thoughts on polos, specifically whether they should be tucked or untucked? My office dress code is somewhere between casual and business casual. I wear polos often, but I’m never sure whether I should keep them tucked or not. Maybe tucked with chinos/dress pants and untucked with business-appropriate jeans?
Simon Miles says
Great article, Brock, one of the best on the subject I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing. I’d be interested to know what you think about the pocket square in a business casual environment? Something you see a lot of on style blogs, but few men actually wear them in the real world.
gentlemanwithin says
Excellent write up, Brock! Loved the outfit inspo and the bit about casual fridays.