The lines between Business Dress - Business Casual - Casual

[williamson]

Originally Posted by lasbar

I love the look smart fitted suit with a pristine open neck shirt...
My thoughts run on these lines:
1. A tie gives a much better visual balance than does a gaping open-necked shirt.
2. Suit = formal. Open-necked shirt = casual.
Therefore, suit +open-necked shirt = incongruous mixture,
The result is mixed message, mixed metaphor, mixed modes.
The reductio ad absurdum of this is suit + trainers (sneakers) or even suit + hoodie!
Heaven preserve us from such incongruities! Formal and casual inhabit different worlds.
Everyone has known this for many decades, and I don't believe that we are such busy or important people that we can't be expected to do what other people do, (or, for that matter, what our predecessors did).

In a semi-professional or more casual setting, the tie combo can appear conceited or out-of-place...

This is utter nonsense, though there is an element of over-dressing. Simple solutions are wearing a sports jacket or blazer, with tie, but without pocket square, or not wearing a jacket at at all.

I suspect that neither of us is likely to change his opinion on this matter.

 

[Zenny]

Originally Posted by williamson

My thoughts run on these lines:
1. A tie gives a much better visual balance than does a gaping open-necked shirt.
2. Suit = formal. Open-necked shirt = casual.
Therefore, suit +open-necked shirt = incongruous mixture,

I beg to differ, a casual cotton suit looks great with an open necked shirt.

 

[Nicola]

We haven't fallen so far that a suit is considered formal? Yikes the end is near.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Originally Posted by mkarim

I had a hard time with this myself, but am now getting over those insecurities. Also, the people in my circle are beginning (or have begun) to accept my dress code.

People you see regularly, or people you don't? For occasional gatherings and such among old acquaintances, it might be prudent for the man who has upgraded his style to tone things down, unless many there thought he looked terrible before. Otherwise, attention for a drastic change probably is distracting and unwelcome.

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by mensimageconsultant

People you see regularly, or people you don't? For occasional gatherings and such among old acquaintances, it might be prudent for the man who has upgraded his style to tone things down, unless many there thought he looked terrible before. Otherwise, attention for a drastic change probably is distracting and unwelcome.

It's with both people I see regularly and those I don't. When I upgraded my style with people I saw regularly, there were some who made comments about why I "dress up" (all I was wearing was collared shirts and pants other than jeans). So I did tone it down with them. I started to wear nice clothes (again, just collared shirts and pants other than jeans) around them once a week, then twice a week and so on. Now some are surprised when I wear a t-shirt...

 

[jhcam8]

Originally Posted by Zenny

I beg to differ, a casual cotton suit looks great with an open necked shirt.

+1 Open collar is very common here in the 21st.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

That's a reminder. One of the guidelines for casual wear (meant here going out in public for non-exercise purposes) is no tee shirts on unfit figures or people over, say, age 35. Many people do it anyway, but many people are unstylish.

 

[furo]

Originally Posted by mensimageconsultant

That's a reminder. One of the guidelines for casual wear (meant here going out in public for non-exercise purposes) is no tee shirts on unfit figures or people over, say, age 35. Many people do it anyway, but many people are unstylish.

As in, wearing a t-shirt underneath a sportscoat or blazer? Because I think it looks okay if you can pull it off (youngish in age and the shirt fits well + shirt not longer than coat!)

 

[rexthedestroyer]

Originally Posted by furo

As in, wearing a t-shirt underneath a sportscoat or blazer? Because I think it looks okay if you can pull it off (youngish in age and the shirt fits well + shirt not longer than coat!)

Oh no you didn't.......

 

[Prime_Water]

There seems to be two definitions of Business Casual, at least in places I've been to in New York. At work, the designated dress code for business casual is everything except for the jacket, and you can even get away with wearing khakis instead of dress pants. When I go to dinners though, it appears that business casual is everything but the tie. When I show up to a business casual restaurant for dinner in "office business casual," people often give me weird glances.

 

[Cocophone]

Out here in the Pacific Northwest, summer casual wear is what I call the "Male Mumu." The "Male Mumu" is a T-shirt that is 3 sizes too big, to cover the protruding stomach bulge, baggy shorts or jeans, and flip flops or sandals.

 

[mkarim]

Originally Posted by Cocophone

Out here in the Pacific Northwest, summer casual wear is what I call the "Male Mumu." The "Male Mumu" is a T-shirt that is 3 sizes too big, to cover the protruding stomach bulge, baggy shorts or jeans, and flip flops or sandals.

People there wear sandals? That's a step up from the beat-up sneakers...

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Sandals and athletic sneakers also generally are inappropriate, probably even for relatively young adults. Boat shoes usually can be substituted without the wearer looking overdressed, and there are dressier options that can be subtle.

Tee shirt with tailored jacket? Maybe not verboten on older guys, but it seldom looks good, regardless of age.

 

[prehop]

i'll wear an open collar (or even a polo) with a cotton suit and vans or jack purcells... this is obviously a casual look, but a suit is not inherently formal

 

[mensimageconsultant]

That's casual, but it also shows you care much about style. Sometimes, among certain people, that can lead to basically the same reaction that overdressing prompts. With more formal shoes (maybe non-descript suede) and chinos instead of the matching pants, it might be easier to pull off.