Dressing in a relaxed working environment

There is a popular trend towards dropping the jacket and tie from the dress code in the workplace, and whilst personally I think this is a bad idea, there are some simple ways to ensure that you can still look professional whilst others around you are making do with a pair of jeans and polo shirt.

If a jacket and tie are not to be worn, and a tie should not be worn without a jacket, then the fit and cut of the shirt and trousers becomes more important as they are the articles of clothing that are projecting your personal image.

A popular phrase for 'dressing down' at work is 'business casual' (which traditionally meant wearing a sportcoat rather than a suit) but I feel many emphasise the word 'casual' with little regard to 'business'. To balance this out why not, rather than wear a polo shitrt and jeans/chinos to work wear a nice shirt and a well tailored pair of woollen trousers? If you are no longer wearing (and therefore buying) suits then the cost of a made to measure of bespoke shirt and a pair of tailored trousers is going to be a more modest cost than previously required.

The Shirt

If you are wearing a shirt open neck then a spread collar tends to work better than a cutaway or point collar (a button down is another option but may look too casual when paired with tailored trousers). Cufflinks should not be worn without a jacket, so a buttoned cuff with 2 or 3 button fastening would be a good choice.

The fabric used is really a personal thing, but I would suggest cream, blue or pale plain plains. Stripes and checks can be worn also as the shirt colour has to do the job that is traditionally left to the tie, but these should be chosen carefully to suit the business environment being worked in.If you are going for made to measure of bespoke shirts it is best to keep to fabrics of no more than 120 yarn count else the shirt will tend to look wrinkled during the second half of the day. Alumo Supraluxe or Thomas Mason Silverline would be suitable.

Trousers

For trousers we would suggest a 100% wool flannel of about 9oz weight in the summer and 12 to 13oz in the winter. Sticking to Navy and Charcoal shades will be safe whether plain, herringbone or pinstripe are chosen. We would recommend the Holland & Sherry Perennial bunch HS507 for these.

Looking professional is always important in a business environment, especially in these harsh economic times. First impressions do count and the first thing anyone sees of you is the way you present yourself. Make sure that others first impressions of you are positive even in a 'casual dressing' environment.

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