The Definitive Guide to Business Casual for Men

Jacob Osborn , | Guide

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As the workplace norms of previous generations continue to adapt to modern times, so too do the dress codes. For proof, consider our guide to the business casual dress code for men, a broader and thereby more liberating take on the kind of formal attire once worn by Don Draper and his ilk. Picture a cotton blazer with a dress shirt and no tie and you’re heading in the right direction.

That said, the business casual dress code remains a somewhat elusive concept lacking clearly defined rules and principles. For example, it’s hard to know what’s acceptable when it comes to business casual pants, jackets, slacks, and corporate office wear. Given such loose parameters, it’s no wonder that so many professional men out there are still wondering what exactly constitutes the men’s business casual dress code. For the answer, look no further than our Business Casual Guide for Men below.

Related: Looking for more dress codes for men? Check out Man of Many’s guides to all dress codes right here.

Chris pine blue suit

What is Business Casual for Men?

By definition, business casual attire is a style that’s not quite as formal as traditional office wear, but nevertheless still designed to render a professional or business-like impression. Naturally, that leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Not helping is the inclusion of the word “casual”, which historically imparts visions of men in Hawaiian t-shirts, shorts and sandals. To that we would say: just go ahead and try wearing a truly casual wardrobe to the office on a regular workday and see how far it gets you. In other words, business casual is still far more “business” than it is “casual”, and that’s definitely a good thing.

Hence, when wearing business casual attire, you’re still expected to abide by the customary principles of style and sophistication. However, where business professional dress once constituted oxford shirts and stuffy suit jackets, it’s now morphed into a slightly more nuanced office styling. A (preferably tailored) blazer or sports coat is always a safe bet, as is a dress shirt. Ties are optional, but what you lack in neckwear you should make up for in fashion sense. And while some business casual-friendly offices permit a nice pair of jeans, make sure it’s a really nice pair of jeans. Otherwise, stick with quality trousers like cotton chinos to have an ensemble that’s safe for your work environment. In the shoe department, comfortable dress shoes like loafers, oxfords, monk straps and derbies are an easy way to abide. And don’t forget to make sure all colours ‘match’.

J crew fall autumn 22 chinos and woolen jacket

History of the Business Casual Dress Code

It wasn’t too long ago that most professionals would have considered the term “business casual” to be an outright oxymoron. Casual slacks? What are those? Nevertheless, times change and so do dress codes. As for the history of business casual attire, it can, in fact, be linked to the concept of “casual Fridays,” which reportedly have origins in Hawaii during the 1960s. That was when the Hawaiian garment industry helped push for the idea of “Aloha Fridays,” where men were encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts to work at the end of the week.

Jump ahead to the early 90s, and the concept had finally reached the mainland USA in the form “casual Fridays.” Since then, men’s business casual office wear has continued to explode. However, what some men considered to be casual Friday work clothes were a little too casual in the eyes of their bosses. To fill the void, Dockers – which specialised in weekend wear and had been acquired by Levi’s – made a crucial pivot into the business casual sphere.

To boost awareness during the transition, the Dockers marketing team sent an eight-page brochure entitled “A Guide to Casual Businesswear” to over 25,000 human resource departments across the United States. Naturally, Dockers khakis were absolutely central to the new business casual dress code.

Like something out of Dockers’ wildest dreams, more and more offices began to embrace khaki pants as being allowable workplace attire, five days a week. As such, a new precedent spread like wildfire throughout the late 90s and early 2000s. However, along the way, the Dockers style get-up became synonymous with cubicle workers and low-level employees, prompting a revision of sorts. The new business casual dress code–which presented a somewhat looser approach to formal attire–was thus born. The way men dress in their office environment would never be the same.

Drakes business casual

Dos and Don’ts of Business Casual Attire

To help solidify your grip on the men’s business casual dress code, let’s get started with the basics. Specifically, here are some general “dos” and “don’ts” to help send you down the right path.

STAFF WRITER

Jacob Osborn

Jacob Osborn is an accomplished author and journalist with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and co-authored a Young Adult novel through Simon & Schuster. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Jacob specialises in entertainment, technology and alcohol reporting. You might find him crate-digging at the nearest record store or sampling whisky at the nearest bar. He daydreams of travelling around the world, but for now, the world will have to come to him by way of lifestyle products, gear, gadgetry, and entertainment. Let’s call it a happy compromise while he saves up for the next big trip.