Men’s Business Casual Dress
Business casual dress codes have come a long way since its introduction to the Western culture in the early nineteenth century. Its definition has undergone multiple changes over time and its meaning has been corrupted by popular usage. Today business casual dress codes are used mostly in business settings and as a result it has come to refer loosely to any casual attire worn by people at work. The term business casual has a generic meaning in the United States and in many other countries in the world. It normally refers to office or business clothing that is well suited to business use rather than worn on a regular basis for leisure dressing.
Historically business casual dress codes have evolved from simple, functional clothing items that were designed to be easily put on and taken off as the circumstances required. During the later stages of industrialization business casual dress took on a more formal form. A dress code developed for the specific industry in which the business was operating. It usually encompassed a uniform dress code for men and women both; for all personnel who would be interacting with customers, such as salesmen, service persons, etc.
During the twentieth century business casual dress developed into more standard wear that consisting of trousers, jacket and a well-tailored shirt. Shirt dress blazers, especially those featuring a V neck, had become very popular. V necks are considered to be more casual than other neck styles and were in fact the attire of choice for men at the time. Dress shirts were usually short in nature and reached to the mid-thigh or below the belt. Trousers, in business casual dress codes were always dark in color. As for shoes, normally worn with a pair of dress shoes was a simple black, white or neutral-colored sneaker.
Since most business casual attire was very dressy in nature, it tended to get dirtier from sweat, oil and other substances on the shoes. This is why shoes and jeans have been given a denim weave, like the boots and pants. Jeans give you a slimming appearance and allow you to move freely without worrying about your sneakers getting dirty or muddy. One can find jeans in various fits, such as baggy or boot cut. One can choose from plain skinny jeans, to flared and twisted jeans. The jeans that come in darker shades such as blue and gray are also very stylish and can make the outfit complete.
An alternative to wearing slacks and a business casual blazer is wearing a dress shoe with slacks instead of a shirt. Dress shoes are generally made of leather, but nowadays they can be found in various materials such as canvas, suede and even vinyl. One can choose from a wide variety of dress shoe colors such as brown, red, black and white. Shoes are never out of fashion and are a must-have in every wardrobe. One can find them in all sorts of brands such as Adidas, Chanel, Nike, Prada and Vera Bradley.
These are some ideas for dressing up your casual outfit. Women can pull off business attire while men can pull off casual attire with ease. With the right mix, you can look great anytime, anywhere. Just remember not to overdo it and stick to what you think will work best for you.
