Getting Back to the Office in Style
As more and more guys head back to the office for one, two, three or even five days a week, we’ve seen an increasing demand for fully-refreshed wardrobes. Has your office dress code changed to become more casual? Or has it remained suit-and-tie formal? Either way, there are plenty of options for getting back to work in style in the post-COVID world.
Casual
Many office dress codes have become undeniably more casual. In many places where casual attire had previously only been acceptable on Fridays (or when you’re working extra hard in an empty office on Saturdays), many guys now find themselves reaching for jeans and chinos instead of suits for the entire work week.
Despite the connotations of the word, going casual can still be a smart, professional way to dress. The focal point of most every casual outfit should be the untucked dress shirt or polo, well-fitted and typically featuring a button-down or point collar. Darker wash jeans are ideal, and just about any chino color should do.
Solid light blues, whites and greys are easy shirt options with either jeans or chinos. Check patterns and prints are also casual go-to’s that will be more or less appropriate depending on how casual your office attire can be. As a general rule: The more floral or large the print is, the more casual the shirt. The smaller the print, the more formal the shirt can be if needed.
Smart Casual
Smart casual is a stylish step up from casual casual, and typically features the same elements (button-down dress shirts, chinos) worn a bit differently (shirt typically tucked, more muted chino colors, shoes typically dressier). Shirts can still run the gamut from solid-dressy to print-casual - the focus instead should be on achieving a clean, tapered fit to reduce the amount of excess fabric when tucking the shirt.
Layering will also come into play in the smart casual category. Pairing your patterned dress shirts with a solid sweatshirt and/or chore coat will give you an incredibly versatile fall/winter look that can be worn almost anywhere without feeling overly dressy.
Formal Office
For many, though, this newfound acceptance of casual office attire will have little effect on their professional dress code. When suit and tie are a must, there remain several classic options for keeping things business formal.
The dark navy suit is the be-all end-all of formal business suits. Appropriate for the most professional of client meetings or board meetings, the key to this suit is to forgo all stylistic bells and whistles in favor of flawless fit and a solid, muted dark navy color.
A close second to navy, the charcoal suit is likewise appropriate in just about every formal business environment. This warm neutral color will match just about every light-colored shirt in your closet, and pairs best with black shoes.
