What is office casual? The difference from business casual and smart casual with examples of men’s coordination!

Points to keep in mind when creating men’s style office casual clothing and examples of what not to wear

When creating an office casual style, you should keep in mind whether or not the attire is in line with company regulations and whether or not it will not cause discomfort to those around you. The following is a list of points that should be kept in mind as minimum manners for working people, along with NG examples!

Point 1: “Cleanliness is the most important item! Wrinkles, in particular, should be taken care of frequently.”

Although it is not limited to office casual wear, cleanliness is the minimum etiquette for working adults and adult men. Wrinkled shirts and slacks and excessive skin exposure due to over-buttoning are also not acceptable. Also, items with damage that would look cool in casual fashion on off-duty days are often avoided in business settings. It is an ironclad rule that clothes worn to the workplace should always be ironed and cleaned to keep them clean.

Examples of NG

Pants are especially prone to wear wrinkles, so it is recommended to maintain them every time they are used. If they are wrinkled at the gutter like this, no matter how cool the outfit is, it will all be ruined. Since this is a typical example of a cause of a loss of cleanliness, one should always pay attention to the care of one’s clothes.

Point 2: “Be aware of calming colors and patterns” for office casual wear

Even if it is acceptable to come to work in a casual style that is similar to daily wear, it is a prerequisite to dress in a relaxed manner. Items in highly saturated primary colors or loudly colored patterns are not appropriate for business situations. Basically, it is recommended to use standard business colors such as navy and gray, and achromatic colors such as black and white as main colors. Beige, brown, and green can also be used if you want to maintain a calm impression while adding a stylish atmosphere. Patterns should be limited to plaid and stripe patterns that are not too flashy.

Find office casual items

NG examples

Here is an example of NG styling with a jacket that is not suitable for office casual wear. Not only is the striped pattern of the jacket itself gaudy, but the red logo T-shirt layered as an inner layer gives an overly casual impression. This kind of coordination is generally enjoyed on holidays, not in business situations.

Office Casual 3) “Pants should be just the right length, not too long and not too short.

The length of pants is also important. Of course, shorts should not be worn in business situations just because it is summer, and long slacks that are too long and have a cushion at the hem can look sloppy and detract from the cleanliness of the office. Cropped pants that expose the ankles can also give the impression of being too rough. Whether it is slacks, chinos, or jeans, it is better to adjust the length to a perfect fit.

Find pants for casual office wear

NG Example

Wearing an oversized set-up suit as an off-duty style is fashionable and good, but it is not suitable for business use because of the rough image that cannot be wiped out. The cushion at the hem of pants, which looks fashionable off-duty, can also look sloppy, so it is advisable to adjust the length of the pants to be just right.

Point 4: “The difference in the casualness of different materials can also be used as a reference when selecting items.

Whether it is a jacket or pants, the degree of casualness varies depending on the material used for the item chosen. In business casual wear, which is intended for meeting with clients, it is basic to choose wool materials that give a formal impression, but in office casual wear, in addition to natural materials such as rough cotton and linen, it is also possible to choose synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon. When in doubt about the choice of material, one way is to consider the functionality and merits and demerits of each material. For example, while cotton has the advantage of being a resilient and durable fabric, it is prone to wrinkling, so care after wearing is essential. Polyester is wrinkle-resistant and is often used in jackets with washable or packable features. It also has advantages such as quick-drying properties, but on the other hand, its moisture absorbency is inferior to that of cotton, so it is necessary to take care of the smell of the fabric after wearing. The use of materials such as linen for coolness in summer and tweed jackets for a seasonal feel in winter can create the right mood for each season.

Point 5: “Is it acceptable to wear jeans and T-shirts? No?”

As business styles have become more casual in recent years, we have more opportunities to see tailored jackets with T-shirts layered over them and beautiful jeans as bottoms on the street. As lightly mentioned in the previous section, nowadays, rough items such as jeans and T-shirts can be worn as office casual depending on how they are worn. When using these casual items, it is a royal rule to combine them with jackets, cardigans, and knit sweaters for a classy styling. However, overly casual designs such as damaged jeans, flared jeans, and wide denim are not acceptable, and plain crew-neck T-shirts in basic colors such as white, black, navy, and gray are safe. Necklines that increase exposure, such as deep V-necks and boat necks, should be avoided.