After years of immersing myself in men’s fashion, I can confidently say if the dress code is business casual, you’ll never look out of place wearing a button-down shirt, dress pants or chinos, and dress shoes or loafers. Stick to neutral color schemes, and if it’s a more formal event or the weather is cool, a suit jacket or sports coat is acceptable. A tie is always optional.
Boom.
You’ve done it. You’ve landed the new dream job.
Your first day is Friday and your new boss has casually flicked you the text:
“Just wear business casual.”
Or, you’ve finally schmoozed your way to an invite for that big ticket industry event. And as you’re scanning the details you see the dress code.
Yep, you guessed it.
And like any occasion that has a set attire, you want to make the right impression.
The good news? You’re in the right place to learn how.
“Business casual” as a dress code has divided opinion for decades. It’s also the most common.
And as workplace dress codes become less formal, our research suggests it will become even more popular.
This article will define business casual attire, explore its key elements, and feature a complete style guide for each clothing type and for different industries of work.
We’ll also fill you in on some optional pieces, what not to wear, and some emerging business casual trends.
What Is Business Casual Attire?
Put simply:
Business casual for men = a button-down shirt, dress pants or khakis/chinos, and dress shoes.
As a general rule, business casual is less formal than business professional, but more formal than smart casual.
Like any dress code, there are exceptions when it comes to men’s business casual attire.
For one, you should always conform to company culture. If it’s an industry event, consider the dress culture of the industry as a whole.
As an example, if you’re in Silicon Valley, business casual is the same as formal: a black t-shirt, jeans, and a zip hoodie.
But if you’re a banker, you’ll obviously lean more formal. You can’t go wrong with pairing chinos and loafers with a tucked in button-down shirt and a quality leather belt.
We're fans of these chinos for business casual attire for a few reasons. They're regular cut, so they fit similar to most slacks, and they come in 34" to accommodate all leg lengths after tailoring. They also come in all of the core color staples---navy, green, and beige.
And the older you are, the more you should err on the side of formality. Timelessness never goes out of style, but risking trendy fashion choices could leave you sticking out like a sore thumb.
That said, millennial business casual isn’t all beanbags and hackie-sacks. Guys in their late 20’s to their early 40’s are ditching sneakers in favor of a more classy look like loafers, though the trend is still toward more slim and fitted clothes.
Business Casual Outfits for Men
This is a classic business casual outfit example for a more casual white collar environment.
The lilac dress shirt contrasts well with the check patterned charcoal dress pants and drives home the creative flair that business casual allows. The loafers and matching belt round out the outfit in traditional business casual style.
With light grey dress pants, a white dress shirt, a brown belt, and Chelsea boots as the base, the style is made more formal with the addition of a blue blazer.
A suede belt can add just the right amount of texture to an otherwise bland outfit. This example brings a lot to the table for its sub $60 price point---the suede is high quality to the eye and to the touch, and it comes in a solid range of sizes.
As a general rule, you’ll be fine with a collared shirt and slacks. So long as your clothes are ironed or steamed, you’ll look neat and put together, which in my opinion is the most important consideration.
Vests are fair game, but stick with either a quilted zip vest or a nylon puffer vest to keep it on the casual end of the spectrum.
Of course, you don’t have to ditch the jacket entirely—you can still rock it with a few modifications.
Above, I’m wearing a classic navy blazer, but my shirt is a bright floral piece that really keeps things casual. I’m also sporting a tool-watch, which is on the relaxed, weekender side of the spectrum. In hindsight, I’d ditch the beaded bracelet. It looks a bit off, but I’m glad it’s there so you can see what works and what doesn’t.
Business Casual Dress Code: Rundown by Attire
These are the key guidelines for each individual clothing type that make up a standard business casual outfit. Keep reading for the full rundown by clothing type on honing business casual essentials like shirts, pants, and footwear.
Shirts
The shirt is at the heart of any business casual outfit.
One major benefit to business casual is that it allows some leeway in terms of shirt styles. Again, your company culture will weigh in here.
Since you probably won’t be wearing a tie (more on this below), opt for a shirt with a nicely fitted collar that hugs your neckline on its own.
Slim fit is still in trend, but if slim doesn’t fit your body type, stick to a classic fit.
A few of my favorite brands for comfortable, flexible shirts suited to an office environment are Mizzen + Main, and State & Liberty.
Mizzen + Main is a fantastic choice if you want to go classic all the way. I recommend them if you want a more fitted look than what your dad wore, but you still want that timeless, iconic businesswear feel.
The Spinnaker is our favorite dress shirt built for comfort first. This has the highest stretch factor of any Mizzen+Main shirt, but the dual darts in the back keep it trim and classy looking.
State & Liberty is another top brand for me, but their shirts are much more slim. The brand advertises to athletes and bodybuilders, but I think they work really well for skinny guys who are really looking to cut out the tailor. If you’ve got more of a dad-bod, check out Mizzen + Main, which is more flattering. but if you’ve been chiseling down, State & Liberty will better showcase your physique.
The fit on State & Liberty's dress shirt is excellent, even for guys who aren’t jacked. The two darts placed in the back tapers the waist significantly and creates a flattering silhouette. And the way the sleeves are cut help emphasize your shoulders. Yep, you're looking good.
Your business casual shirt should always be tucked in. Depending on your workplace (or the weather), chances are you won’t be wearing a jacket or additional layer at all times.
Because your shirt will be more prominently on display, it’s important that it’s not only tucked in, but tucked in properly (learn how here).
Industry Guidelines
- Traditional white collar. Stick to long sleeved dress shirts (like the Oxford) and classic colors such as light blue or white. Opt for conservative patterns like thin stripes or plain.
- Tech startups and creative roles. Trendier and casual is a lot more acceptable here. Casual fabrics and more flamboyant patterns will usually fly, as will rolling up your shirt sleeves. If it’s a startup and it’s your first day, a trim cut polo shirt is a smart choice.
- Sales and service roles. As a general rule, the more customer contact you have, the more formal your business casual attire should be. The button-down collar shirt is a widely acceptable go-to across sales, trade, or other customer service focused roles.
Pants
Dress pants and khakis are casual businesswear staples, and in my view I don’t see this changing any time soon.
For khakis, you can go for any brand that’s within your budget. It’s more important that they fit right. As a general rule, opt for slim fit (not skinny).
There are a lot of “stretch” khakis made with technical fabrics out on the market today, but for business casual, at least 98% cotton is the way to go.
Chinos are rapidly growing in popularity as a business casual go-to. If your workplace allows them, they’re an accessible and comfortable alternative. Stick to slim fit and classic colors like navy, stone, or khaki.
My favorite chinos pick for business casual are the CEO Five Pocket Chinos by Collars & Co pictured above. They’re very well made and have a nice tapered fit with a bit of stretch to them without looking tacky. They also offer a shorter 30″ inseam which will suit guys of modest height.
We've shopped around tirelessly for the perfect business casual chinos, and we think these may just be it. They're super comfortable and their 4-way stretch spandex/cotton blend gives which gives them a wide range of movement and a lightweight feel. I'm a big fan of the stone color, I think it offers the most versatility.
For dress pants, stick to navy, grey, light blue, or charcoal with a pleated or flat front.
If you ever worry about bending over and having the seat of your pants completely explode, we highly recommend a technical fabric dress pant. If not for your style, at least for your peace of mind.
While twill pants have a similar look as chinos, the five-pocket construction is a bit too similar to jeans to really pull off in a business casual setting. Twill is casual-casual, so save them for Saturday.
When you’re wearing slacks casually, your dress shirt shouldn’t be too formal. The best way to avoid a heavy hand of formality to to skip the jacket and definitely steer away from a tie.
Industry Guidelines:
- Traditional white collar. Dress pants or khakis should be your go-to. Chinos are acceptable if your work environment is more on the casual side.
- Tech startups and creative roles. Dark denim is fine for most startups, but chinos will also work well as a slightly more formal option. More obscure chino colors are O.K., provided you match well with your shirt and the rest of your outfit.
- Sales and service roles. You can more readily opt for chinos and khakis and be a little bolder in your color choices. Olive works really well in a more casual setting and pairs beautifully with a navy or white button-down. Avoid anything with a prominently visible logo.
Shoes
Your wheels round out any outfit and business casual is no exception.
And one of our favorite things about this dress code is just how creative you can be with shoes.
The classic oxford and derby dress shoes are obvious choices, but you can also mix in brogues, as well as casual dress shoes such as loafers and monk straps.
MYRQVIST's classy quarter brogue punch cap oxford punches well above its weight with its goodyear welt construction, French full grain calf upper, and leather board heel caps and cork filling. Oh, and you can choose between a classic leather sole (dressier) or a half-rubber sole (more versatile).
Boots are also in play. Opt for chukka/desert boots or Chelsea boots.
Featuring Kudu suede from C.F Stead tannery, these are some of the best Desert Boots on the market.
A snuff suede Chelsea is a sophisticated add to any well-rounded man's closet, and if you want to get it right the first time then you can do a lot worse than Bridlen. What I love about these is they have a unique elastic closure system which means you can get in and out of them more easily than other Chelseas.
For colors? Brown is always a strong business casual choice. You can also mix in bolder colors like Oxblood and burgundy for a stronger statement.
By pure accident, most of my business casual footwear comes from the Italian-inspired brand, M.Gemi. Their loafers, oxfords, and monk-strap shoes all have a really sleek look to them that doesn’t carry any of that old-school workwear baggage. While they’re totally professional, M.Gemi’s range is still trendy and fashionable, so they’re perfect for the weekend, too.
You can't go wrong with a quality, stylish penny loafer. And that's exactly what M.Gemi have created with the Volo Due. With their streamlined and sleek design, Blake stitching, and long penny strap, we're big fans of these as more dressed up counterparts to our Saccas.
Important: Your belt must match the color of your shoes. And if you’re wearing a watch, it needs to match both too. Learn more about matching your leathers. It may seem obsessive, but consistency across leather accessories pulls a business casual look together.
Industry Guidelines For Business Casual Shoes
- Traditional white collar. Get creative with the classic and casual dress shoes mentioned above, as well as boots if your office culture allows it.
- Tech startups and creative roles. Sneakers, boots, and dress shoes are all fine, as are suade fabrics and driving shoes. And there’s no need to stick with brown either. Reds, greens and blues will all work well in a more casual startup environment.
- Sales and service roles. All the classic and casual shoes mentioned above will work, minus the sneakers.
Optional Extras
Jackets And Blazers
A jacket or blazer adds an element of class to any standard business casual outfit.
The shape, color, and details of this jacket from Milan menswear staple Pini Parma simply oozes class.
They’re well suited as a versatile extra for more traditional white collar environments such as banking, law, or accounting. Particularly if you need to attend an unexpected last-minute meeting. Simply add a blazer or jacket for an instant touch of formality to your business casual get-up.
If you only have one in your closet, make it a single breasted navy blazer. A corduroy jacket or tweed sport coat will also work well. Stick to dark colors and subtle patterns.
If it’s chilly outside and you think another layer will help, you can wear a vest, but don’t match the vest to the jacket. That will push the needle too far formal. Instead, try something with a completely different texture and vibe, like a zip up quilted vest.
With its body heat absorbing quilting, wind resistance, and super soft fabric, Mizzen+Main's new performance vest, The Rockwell is our new staple for breezy fall days.
Sweaters And Cardigans
In colder climates, sweaters and cardigans are acceptable additions to business casual style. Keep in mind that they will always add an air of informality to your look.
Made with 100% Shetland lambswool, this slim fit sweater looks all kind of cozy, but dispenses with the added bulk.
Stick to slim fit and swerve away from loud patterns. You don’t want to emulate the “Ugly Christmas sweater” look.
Neutral solid colors like beige, brown, navy, or black are your best bet, provided they tone well with your choice of pants or denim. Avoid clashing by learning how to match colors.
Accessories
Yes, we’re going for casual here but you’re still in a work environment.
Less is more.
If you stare at a computer screen all day like I do, you should seriously consider investing in a pair of quality blue light blocking glasses.
The Tomahawk Neuralyzers have been a game-changer for reducing eye strain for me and I always sleep better at night when I wear them through the day.
Get down to business without hurting your eyes with blue light blocking lenses on the usual high quality Tomahawk Shades frames. Crafted from a sturdy injection molded polycarbonate, these classy specs will reduce eye strain, dryness, and even back pain by proxy.
Use accessories as a way of shifting the formality of your overall outfit. Soften a more formal business casual look by pairing it with a casual watch, or class up a casual outfit with the addition of a dress watch.
One of my favorite brands for both dress and casual watches is Nordgreen. The Danish brand’s chronograph, the Pioneer, is a standout casual pick for me at nearly 12mm case thickness—especially in gun metal with the green sunray dial option.
The Nordgreen Pioneer is an innovative take on the chronograph watch. Built like a classic aviator, but with modern Scandinavian design principles, this timepiece looks natural and elegant—and it pairs well in a casual and smart-casual wardrobe.
Another is Baltic. They offer an excellent balance between quality, versatility, and price. The MR01 pretty much blew up the watch world upon its release in 2021 and is a fantastic all-rounder. The blue strap / salmon dial contrast especially works really well in today’s office environments, including on casual Friday.
Ah, the watch that effectively broke the internet upon its release in January 2022. Yes, it's dressy. But the font, dial texture, and seconds hand placement gives it enough character to wear casually with ease as well. It's elegant and as is the case for most of Baltic's offerings, it packs a lot of punch for its price point.
Unique additions like a simple metal cuff are also a nice add-on without steering too far casual, though you should generally avoid leather or beaded bracelets in business casual.
If you're a guy who's into jewelry but you prefer to keep it cool and understated, the OC line of bracelets may be up your alley. Crafted by expert silversmiths, the lightweight "Michael" cable bracelet has a high quality feel and will fit up to a 7.5 inch wrist.
Business Casual Carry
For the business casual look, the choice of bag you carry walks a fine line between carrying capacity and sophisticated style. Functionality is important, but design still matters too – so choose thoughtfully.
A sleek leather messenger or minimal briefcase nicely complements the aesthetic. Backpacks can work, but steer clear of loud logos and bold colors. Think of materials like canvas or leather in neutral colors, free of unnecessary embellishments.
Can You Wear A Tie With Business Casual?
The tie is a universally accepted beacon of formality. And for this reason it generally doesn’t find it’s way into the business casual conversation.
But as you’ve learned today, business casual is all about balance and interpretation.
So can business casual include a tie? The answer is yes. With some exceptions.
It should be a knit tie. A knit tie is accepted as being less formal than its regular tie cousin. Stick to solid colors like navy, burgundy, or emerald green.
Another accepted use of the tie in business casual is when you’re wearing a cardigan. A knit tie underneath elevates the formality of the look slightly.
What About Wearing These?
Jeans
Guys, hold onto your hats. Because this one stirs up sartorial controversy the globe over.
And we can understand why, because strictly speaking, business casual is defined as an outfit that is more formal than jeans.
But the truth is, a growing number of businesses are following Silicon Valley’s lead and relaxing their dress codes in an attempt to win back the war on talented employees.
And generally, denim is fine in most startup environments, if not for everyday attire, then certainly for business casual.
So, the big question. Can you wear jeans as business casual attire?
Well, like most advice in this article, it depends.
If you know it’s unacceptable as part of your workplace culture, then the answer is obviously no.
But overall, we’re now leaning toward a yes. But they need to be the right pair of jeans.
Fabric is what sets The Perfect Jean apart. True denim is 100% cotton. Most jeans on the market today have one or two per cent spandex added for additional stretch and comfort. The Perfect Jean, however, is a nice, lightweight 10.5oz denim with 30% polyester, 3.5% viscose, and 2% spandex added, which makes for a wildly comfortable jean.
Your business casual jeans should be dark wash and slim. In terms of length, opt for no break (or a very slight break).
You can pair them with a blazer as long as they show no signs of fade or wear.
But guys, be smart about it. If it’s your first day at a new job, or you’re unsure on culture, play it safe and stick to dress pants or khakis/chinos.
Sneakers
Yes, we’re coming around to the idea of jeans for business casual.
But with sneakers we’re putting up the stop sign. This is verging into smart casual territory.
That said, if you work in a startup culture, or your HR department is open minded about footwear, then sneakers are perfectly acceptable for casual Fridays.
But as was the case with denim, they should be the right kind of sneakers. Your best bet is to aim for a pair of dress sneakers, as it’ll fly on Friday, and still have the kind of style you’re happy to wear on Saturday and Sunday.
The Low 1 is Oliver Cabell's most popular shoe, and once you have it in your hands you'll know why. Made in Italy from full grain calfskin Italian leather, it boasts a handsome low-profile silhouette and punches well above its weight for its price point.
If you weren’t a fan of those options, opt for soft suede sneakers that offer up a retro feel, and for color, stick to the same classic colors we advocated for other types of casual footwear (brown, navy, gray, and black). Avoid crazy color mix-and-matches.
No Socks
As a general rule, unless you’re wearing loafers, you should always wear socks with business casual attire. And specifically, solid, dark colored socks, like these from London Sock Co.:
Quality, comfortable dress socks are often the final frontier of any stylish guy. But once you wear socks that fit and feel as great as these from London Sock Co., it's pretty tough to go back to those GAP socks with a hole in the toe.
Reserve the rolled up chinos and sock-less/nude-sock look for outside the office, or in more casual environments.
But again, this one is also going to be workplace dependent.
The good news? There’s a really easy way to find out.
Simply ask your HR department or boss how they feel about ankles.
Grooming for Business Casual
OK, I’ve talked about business casual dress codes, accessories, and what you should wear on your feet, pretty much all bases covered, right?
But there’s one element still missing. Gentlemen, we need to talk about grooming. To nail the business casual look, grooming shouldn’t be just an afterthought.
Let’s cut to the chase – beards are in, and they’re perfectly acceptable in a business casual environment. But (and this is a big ‘but’), the scruffy, just-rolled-out-of-bed look doesn’t cut it. If you’re sporting facial hair, keep it trimmed, clean, and tidy. Think of your beard as part of your outfit – it should complement, not distract.
You might think no one notices your nails or skin, but they do – especially in a business setting where handshakes are the norm. Keep your nails short and clean. And for the love of your skin, invest in a good skincare routine. A simple cleanser and moisturizer can do wonders. Remember, flaky, dry skin or ragged cuticles don’t exactly scream ‘put-together.’
Let’s finish with fragrance, your cologne should be subtle, not something that enters the room before you do. Opt for a light, fresh scent that doesn’t overpower.
There you go. Grooming brings the entire business casual package together. Don’t skip these seemingly small steps and undo your hard work in putting together the perfect men’s business casual attire. As they say, the devil is in the details.
The History of Business Casual Dress
Think about the show Mad Men for a minute.
If you haven’t seen it (I guess we’ll forgive you), just think about the men who worked in offices in the 1960s.
What’s notably different about them compared to today?
O.K., we’ll put the incessant drinking, cigarette-smoking, and workplace misogyny aside for a second.
It’s the suits. And the ties.
From a dress code perspective, workplaces like the fictional Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce were stuffy churches of formality.
Nowadays, employers are commonly more relaxed with their dress requirements.
And it all started with the rise of business casual.
But how did the modern Friday office uniform of button down shirts and khakis come to be?
Alongside Beatlemania and the birth of Andy Warhol’s pop art genre, it began in the 1960s. Here’s the timeline:
1966: Aloha Friday
You’re the Hawaiian garment industry in 1966 and you want to sell more shirts. What do you do? You invent “Aloha Friday”, of course. A day where employees of Hawaiian businesses can wear Hawaiian shirts to the office every Friday.
What began as a marketing ploy quickly caught on as a cultural statement. Aloha Friday fast became a symbol of rat-race resistance in 1960s Hawaii.
Early 1990s: Dawn of the Dockers
Image credit: Cullen328 photo by Jim Heaphy [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], from Wikimedia Commons
By the recession hit 1990s, Aloha Fridays had made its way to the mainland under a new name—Casual Fridays. But there was a problem.
As Rick Miller, PR for Levi’s “Dockers” put it at the time, “People were showing up in Hawaiian print shirts or sandals and shorts. Frankly, there were concerns on the part of management that work might become too much fun.”
Levis saw a shrewd opportunity to rescue its stagnating brand. Enter, the khaki slacks. Under the brand name of Dockers, Levi’s planned to move the khaki slacks from the golf-course to the office and revolutionize business casual attire.
1992: A New Dress Code Is Born
Image credit: Levi Strauss & Co
Of course, you can’t start a business casual revolution in the 1990s without sending an eight-page brochure to over 25,000 HR managers. So that’s exactly what Levi Strauss & Co did.
The name of the brochure was “A Guide to Casual Businesswear”. And the key feature throughout? You guessed it.
Dockers.
As the brand envisaged, HR Managers passed the brochure around at water coolers across corporate America.
Soon enough, Dockers became a staple. And the stage was set for business casual as we know it today.
Conclusion
Self-expression is great up to a point, but when you join a workplace, you’re expected to conform to its culture. That’s just how workplaces are.
Observe what others are wearing and mimic it with your own style. Ask your HR Manager or other appropriate leader about your business casual dress code. If you have casual Fridays, ask about that too.
If dress code is a deal breaker for you, ask the question at interview stage.
Once you’ve got the culture and dress code down, you can get away with experimenting a little within those constructs.
It’s all about making those slight tweaks until you get the balance right.
That blend between formal and casual that is appropriate for your environment.
Now that’s business casual.
FAQs
What does the future look like for business casual?
Some believe that the dress code of the future is no dress code at all.
As the labor market grows tighter, employers are more commonly offering relaxed dress codes as a way of enticing young talent to join their ranks.
They understand that the millennial generation doesn’t have the same affinity for dress codes as generations before them.
The likely result for business casual attire? In my view, the most likely result is that workplace dress codes will continue to lessen in formality until business casual becomes the new standard.
In effect, business casual will become the new corporate dress code.
And when you think about workplace dress codes historically, this makes sense. Even at the most formal end of the spectrum, the average 25 year old lawyer in NYC today is not dressing the same as the average NYC lawyer of the same age in 1922.
It’s simply the evolution of fashion. And you can’t deny that the train is heading away from the formal and toward the casual.
Can I wear shorts with a business casual dress code?
While shorts may seem more casual, tailored shorts hitting just above the knee can potentially work in warm climates or casual office cultures where it’s acceptable to wear shorts.
Stick to flat-front chino shorts in solid colors. My guidelines would be to avoid cargo shorts or athletic shorts, even for casual Fridays.
