Business Casual For Dummies

Over the last few years, the face of corporate America has changed drastically. Casual Fridays have become casual everyday & sometimes it's tough for a guy to know exactly what's acceptable & what makes him look like it must be laundry day. Here are a few tips on how to pull off a business casual wardrobe that's easy & works.

-When in doubt?-
Starting a new job or a new position in the same company? First things first, you never want to under dress for the 1st day of any new job, so, err on the side of the conservative. (Same goes for a job interview!) White dress shirt, dark slacks, tie and LACED black shoes are a must.

-Consistency is key-
There may be those people in your office that show up to work like they just rolled out of bed & walked into work. DO NOT become one of these people. If your business casual between Monday & Thursday, why then, would you dress down even further on Friday? Instead of pulling on that pair of jeans & a T-shirt, why not just khakis & a polo shirt? The way you dress influences the way people view you on the job. Stay consistent, you never know who you may run into even on a Friday.

-No-No's-
This category is short & sweet. No Jeans. No T-shirts. No sweats. No baseball caps. No sneakers.

-K.I.S.S.-
Keep It Simple Stupid! No need to pick up that mustard yellow plaid suit set that you saw at the discount store. All that would say is, "I'm trying way too hard." Odds are you have at least most of the things you need for a basic business casual wardrobe already. & if not I'm sure I can steer you toward some basic essentials.

-Men's Essentials:
-Long sleeve dress shirts or button down Oxford style shirts. Avoid loud prints & plaids & stick with either white or blue solids or pinstripes. (Ties are optional.)

-Dress slacks, khaki pants or Dockers, corduroy & wool or linen slacks are all acceptable. Start with black, brown, charcoal grey & khaki. If your starting from scratch pick up at least 3 different colors & change the look up from day to day with different shirt/tie combinations. Again NO jeans!

-Socks MUST match your pants not your shoes. Black socks may be paired with navy blue pants in a pinch. But pick up enough pairs of socks to get you through an entire week of work.

-Shoes pull together an outfit like you cannot believe. Laced dress shoes or oxfords for a more conservative look or loafers for a more casual feel. (Black or brown only guys.)Wing tips are acceptable & add a certain flair to your look. Keep your shoes clean & polished, tattered shoes will spoil your whole look.

-An optional piece that pulls an outfit together really well is a sport coat. if you go this route, stick with a pretty conservative coat. Stay with black, navy or charcoal grey. You can pair any of these with dark colored pants to really complete a look.

~Stay Sharp~