How Casual Is Business Casual?

I guess I qualify as a dinosaur these days. The last time I worked in a proper office setting it was the early 90s. We even had a couple of Mad Men sorts in senior accounts positions. So my view of business dress, even working in the creative department, was of the traditional corporate variety. (Albeit, creatives were granted artistic license with the dress code, and we did have “casual Friday” lobbed into the scene my first year.)

So my idea of business casual might even be considered formal these days, involving a sportscoat or blazer and oftentimes a tie. What would our new generation of working adults think if they knew that the “lounge suit” — our modern day business suit — was what we changed into after formal day wear?

I think about this as I volunteer with Boots to Suits and try to teach our veterans what constitutes traditional men’s business wear. Many of them balk at the idea of a checked sportscoat, or a pinstriped suit even.

My suspicions, based on what I hear from those few who have already started internships, are that business casual means a pair of trousers, or at least long pants (flat front, of course), and a golf/polo or “button up” shirt. Shoes are likely to be the sneaker/dress shoe hybrid variety. I guess that when most meetings are via Slack channel or Zoom, it’s more comfortable to be dressed in athleisure for long hours in the cubicle or at the kitchen table.

I guess the casualization of the workplace is a result of blurring the line between work life and personal life. One seems to bleed into the other. Especially if we’re reachable 24/7/365.

There is no putting the genie back into the bottle.

The goal of workplace dressing really hasn’t changed. Look professional and neat. I would rather see a man in well-fitting dark denim and a “dress” shirt than in a suit a size too big and a dreadful tie. The key here is well-fitting. Not sprayed on tight. Not oversized and puddling at the ankles or hanging off of his shoulders. I prefer both to be in decent leather (or suede!) shoes, but you can’t have everything.

One of the newer business casual looks I’ve seen most often is the uniform worn by the West End crowd here in Richmond. It takes one of two forms and probably originated with the FinTech bunch. Polo shirt with Patagucci fleece vest, golf trousers, and driving shoes. Frequently accessorized with a baseball cap (or tennis visor) and sunglasses on a strap. The look is “meeting at the golf course.” The other variation substitutes an open collar “dress” shirt, flat front, slim cut chinos, and colorful socks. Very, hopping into the Macan after our meeting to go have lunch. But everything is well cut and fits nicely. This is the difference between being appropriately well-dressed and being stylish.

With the casualization of our lives, you might think that the coat and tie is reserved for weddings and funerals only. But, since you can wear whatever you want, whenever you want, why not have some fun? Consider putting on a suit and tie for an evening out. Or a sportscoat, trousers and loafers for lunch with a friend. Choosing to “dress up” then becomes part of your style. A choice rather than an obligation.