First "business casual" job, have nothing to wear. Help!

[avatar]

Hi there SF,

I'm a third year in college, and I now have my first real off-campus job (outside of high school era food service and retail.) I'm going to work at Skadden's downtown Chicago office during the evening. The recruiter told me that it's a "business casual" workplace - specifically saying no jacket, no tie, and no denim.

My wardrobe thus far has consisted of my interviewing clothes(ties, navy suit, white BB shirt, AE Park Avenues) and my everyday streetwear stuff (polos, the ubiquitous striped button downs, t-shirts, jeans, boots/sneakers/top-siders).

Needless to say, I'll need to do some purchasing. I also don't have that terribly much money to spend. I'm only going to be working (initially) two nights a week, so I don't need a ton of stuff.

The only thing that I own that can be thrown into the "business casual" outfit is my one pair of BR Gavin Dress Chinos ($19 on the clearance rack = win.)

I know I'll need at least one more pair of pants, and a few shirts, and a pair of shoes.

I assume striped shirts (think clubwear, say what you will - a la Lacoste's striped button downs) are out.

So shirts, where can I get a few decent solid shirts for a low price - I don't really have money to hop over to NM or Brooks Brothers or any of those places and drop 75+ on shirts for work. Also, color suggestions are cool.

Pants - BR's chinos have served me well, anything else I should do?

Shoes - Here's the tough one for me. Loafers? I know the AE Park Aves are too formal for anything but a suit. I was thinking some lighter brown loafers, am I too off base? Brands would help here (think cheaply - AE is out).

Thanks SF.

 

[SuitingStyle]

check out the Buy and Sell section on the forum daily, you will start to fill out your casual woredrobe nicely

 

[bucephalus]

Tan chinos and a light blue shirt will never be wrong.
One of the few times a button collar is appropriate.

An inexpensive light wool navy blazer will give you a
complete look. One of the few times cotton pants and
a wool jacket work.

Shoes are critical. Women will look at your shoes then your face
then your butt.

Shoes should be leather with leather soles and should be a
darker shade of your pants.

Your belt should be more or less the same colour as your shoes.
Don't be too exact as you may be taken to be a budding fop or worse.

 

[drizzt3117]

Originally Posted by avatar

Hi there SF,

I'm a third year in college, and I now have my first real off-campus job (outside of high school era food service and retail.) I'm going to work at Skadden's downtown Chicago office during the evening. The recruiter told me that it's a "business casual" workplace - specifically saying no jacket, no tie, and no denim.

My wardrobe thus far has consisted of my interviewing clothes(ties, navy suit, white BB shirt, AE Park Avenues) and my everyday streetwear stuff (polos, the ubiquitous striped button downs, t-shirts, jeans, boots/sneakers/top-siders).

Needless to say, I'll need to do some purchasing. I also don't have that terribly much money to spend. I'm only going to be working (initially) two nights a week, so I don't need a ton of stuff.

The only thing that I own that can be thrown into the "business casual" outfit is my one pair of BR Gavin Dress Chinos ($19 on the clearance rack = win.)

I know I'll need at least one more pair of pants, and a few shirts, and a pair of shoes.

I assume striped shirts (think clubwear, say what you will - a la Lacoste's striped button downs) are out.

So shirts, where can I get a few decent solid shirts for a low price - I don't really have money to hop over to NM or Brooks Brothers or any of those places and drop 75+ on shirts for work. Also, color suggestions are cool.

Pants - BR's chinos have served me well, anything else I should do?

Shoes - Here's the tough one for me. Loafers? I know the AE Park Aves are too formal for anything but a suit. I was thinking some lighter brown loafers, am I too off base? Brands would help here (think cheaply - AE is out).

Thanks SF.


H&M shirts, and maybe trousers if they fit you. Polo trousers are often sold in the B&S forum and are nice.

Buy some bluchers for shoes, don't go with loafers IMO.

 

[Jared]

Originally Posted by avatar

I assume striped shirts (think clubwear, say what you will - a la Lacoste's striped button downs) are out.
Nobody else here would approve, but I wear borderline AmJack shirts in business casual all the time. Most of my coworkers and superordinates wear polos or t-shirts, and jeans or chinos. I strongly prefer wool trousers, and obviously I spend more on my shoes, so I need something that says I'm dressing up for fun, not to upstage them... Anyway, my point is: why don't you post pics of your shirts? Maybe some of them are passable - allowing you to increase your shoe budget!

(Which must purchase 2 non-loafers, BTW.)

 

[Holstein Bilter]

You can do the usual Gap, Banana Republic, route.

Or do what I do and mix in some BenDavis' pants once in awhile to
scare the normal corporate folk.

 

[dtmt]

Check out Paul Frederick for shirts. At sale prices it's a good budget option for basics.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Jos. A. Bank, Land's End, L.L. Bean, and Eddie Bauer are some options for low-priced, "busisness casual" items. For shirts, polos, dress shirts, sport shirts, and sweaters (if it's cold enough at night for the next few months) are acceptable. Add a pair of corduroys or moleskins to your collection of pants. Solid shirt colors probably shouldn't be bolder than pink or maroon, and the first day should feature a conservative color. Avoid black pants and black button-downs. While not recommended, it's okay to have duplicates of white dress shirts and light blue dress shirts. Don't buy other kinds of duplicates.

 

[avatar]

Avoid black pants? Why is that?

 

[Toiletduck]

should be simple shouldn't it? Just wear your normal interview outfit sans jacket and tie!

..if its cold, throw on a sweater!