How To Wear Business Casual Apparel
Business casual is a term used interchangeably with business attire, yet it has a distinctly different meaning in the US than it does in many parts of Europe. Business casual is an ambiguous term that is usually regarded as professional wear, but with certain smart aspects of a formal lounge suit borrowed for more casual white-collar workplaces such as in corporate environments. It can be used by anyone to describe any kind of workplace dress, regardless of gender or qualification. For men it describes business attire with smart cuts and tailored slacks, for women it might be feminine skirts with flirty blouses or tops, or business casual might just mean jeans and a t-shirt.
Business casual has come to describe many different kinds of clothing. Office wear blue Jean jackets, dress shoes with polished suede or nubuck rubberised heels, khakis, casual shirts with a t-shirt or blazer over them all make up the basic business casual ensemble. There are variations on this theme however, including sportswear such as cricket shirts, footballs, tennis racquets, basketball jerseys and tracksuits. Shoes are also an important feature of business casual attire, consisting of sneakers, loafers or even flip-flops for office environments where the wearer might be expected to be physically active. Accessories like belts, jewellery and hats are all business casual essentials, and whilst they may not necessarily be casual in content they are most definitely dressier than your run-of-the-mill loafers.
If you are looking to get into the business casual dress code then you will need to make sure that the clothing you choose has some basis in reality. It is not advisable to wear your office wear just because it looks good. Your clothing needs to have a certain degree of functionality so that you do not have to keep adjusting your clothes every time you step out into the working world. You can pick out colour-coordinated and durable clothing so that you do not need to worry about having to put your socks on in the morning.
Although business casual dress codes are less formal than traditional business wear outfits, they are not as casual either. In fact, many of the criteria you will be using to judge the cut, fit, design and structure of your outfit will be the same. The main difference is that instead of working within a set dress code you can be a little more adventurous with the style and structure of your outfit.
The key to making your business casual outfit work for you is to start off smart and on trend. Look for good quality, smart tailoring and sensible footwear. When you are picking out your socks or shoes for a business casual environment stay away from anything too loud or edgy. Stick to solid colours and if you are going to wear socks then opt for a pair that goes with the overall design of your outfit. Shoes that are too big or small can distract from your appearance and instead opt for something that is a good size and that is comfortable to wear.
There are a number of different types of business casual attire to choose from including jeans, cardigans, jackets, skirts and leggings. Most business owners will opt for a jacket over a shirt or blouse because it allows the wearer to look professional without sacrificing their personality. Some great business casual attire options include leather jackets, cardigans, jeans, dress loafers and skirts. If you need some inspiration about what types of clothing items you should consider buy one of the many trendy online men’s magazines or browse through photos of men who are looking their best in the latest business casual attire.
