The good news is that more and more offices are embracing a casual dress code. Employees are no longer expected to turn up in stiff suits and shirt collars, and workers are given an opportunity to be comfortable in the workplace while expressing their personal sense of style. Whatever you like wearing, a casual dress style allows you to go to work wearing whatever you feel most comfortable in, as long as it’s smart enough and acceptable. It’s all about finding the right balance between individuality, style and comfort with an outfit that is both fashionable and functional.
What is Casual Wear?
‘Casual’ isn’t really a specific dress code – rather, it refers to clothing that’s more suitable for everyday use, and more relaxed than formal wear in the office. It usually has a combination of personal comfort and style and gives employees the chance to choose from a wider range of fashion pieces for the workplace that works for them.
Some offices ask for smart-casual, so think dark jeans, shirts, sweaters and jackets, while others are happy to let you come in completely casual and athleisure is absolutely fine. If you’re returning to the office and need a new casual work wardrobe, here are some staples to consider.
Casual T-Shirts and Shirts
T-shirts and shirts are a casual office wear staple. Ideally, you should steer clear of wearing anything with crazy slogans and prints and go for a casual yet smart look such as the shirts available in the Balmain FW21 collection. You can find the range of Balmain clothing for men available at SSENSE. The new collection offers a stunning range of shirts, t-shirts and other smart-casual essentials that are perfect for your return to the office.
Dark Jeans
Jeans are a casual outfit staple, and since you can dress them up or down, they are essential for your casual office wardrobe. You can pair them with a t-shirt or sweatshirt on a more casual day in the office, or a shirt and blazer if you need to look a little smarter.
Go for a few different pairs of jeans in different colours to make sure that you always have a pair that is suitable for the upcoming day. When it comes to fit and style, go for something that is comfortable and flattering. Light blue jeans are perfect for a casual look, while darker jeans can be your go-to for those days where you have to look a little bit smarter at work.
Sweatshirts
Sweatshirts are a great addition to your casual work wardrobe since they can be thrown on to finish off any outfit. A plain sweatshirt with dark jeans can look smarter than a t-shirt or you can pair one with a shirt underneath for a smarter, more preppy look for the office. As with shirts and t-shirts, it’s best to go for plain sweaters and avoid anything with loud logos, slogans and patterns. A few sweatshirts in different colours that can be easily paired with anything else you’re wearing makes it easier to layer up for your office outfits.
Footwear
When it comes to choosing footwear, the options for what you can pair with your casual work outfits are endless. Uncomfortable dress shoes are certainly not a necessity in an office with a casual dress code, and most of the time, sneakers are going to be perfectly acceptable. With the sneaker market growing at a huge rate, you shouldn’t have any issues finding the ideal pair for your work outfits. Try to stay away from anything too bright and loud as, ideally, you will want some sneakers that you can easily match up with any of your work outfits. Neutral colours like white, grey, black, beige and brown tend to work well.
Plain sneakers rather than sneakers with loud patterns are a better option. Stay away from sneakers that are designed for exercising in, and go for a pair that is suitable for everyday use instead of for a perfect smart-casual look.
Accessories
Finally, how you accessorize your outfit is usually totally up to you. Most guys like to keep this simple at work. A watch is a good staple accessory to have, especially for meetings where checking the time on your phone can appear rude. You might want to wear a simple chain necklace or cufflinks.
With people beginning to return to the office, you can make a great impression going back with a range of smart-casual, fashion-forward work outfits.
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