"Business Casual" help

Hey,

I decided to pick up a different job, to better align with what makes me 'happy' and what I enjoy doing, and I start in about 3 weeks.

There are a few issues with the job, though. The largest one is pertains to the dress code. I've been told that I need to wear "business casual" attire in the job.

"Business casual", in this case, is defined as at least a short sleeve collared shirt + long pants (not jeans).

What I wear currently is..pretty much whatever I want. I generally wear a T-shirt (cotton or full polyester), shorts (even in the winter), and sneakers that are very light and breath a lot (running sneakers). I'm mostly sensitive to shoes and the shirt.

What I need the most help with are good 'business casual' shirts I can wear. The most comfortable, breathable shirts would be great. I was debating wearing a T-shirt to work, then just putting something over it. That may work. My general goal for this is that I want to have 1-2 pairs of pants, and 5 shirts which I pack into a duffle bag and keep at work. When i arrive, I change into clothes, when I leave I change out of clothes. On Friday, I take the duffle bag home, and Monday I bring the bag to work....pretty much just being uncomfortable for the least amount of time possible.

Any thoughts on brands/types of shirts I should take a look at?

Thanks.

Hmmmm. Unfortunately, typically, soft comfortable clothes that fit into "business casual" tend to be quite pricey. My husband's favorite brand is Tommy Bahama... I managed to score some of their clothes when they went on sale, and they are really comfortable!! But, their regular prices are a lot more than I would pay for clothes.
Is there a Macy's by you? They tend to have the best sales for good clothes, not always but if you're patient you can find some good deals there. I would just start looking, and trying stuff on, maybe you'll stumble on a brand or two that works for you. If you're like me (haha), you never paid attention to brands before, but now you might have to start!

Only thing is, how are you going to keep the shirts from wrinkling terribly if they're in a duffel bag? Just a little logistics question there!

the only issue i have with shirts is collar and cuffs. i tend not to do the collar up even if i'm wearing a tie. and i even put cuff links through only the outer sides of the cuffs.

slugger wrote:Hmmmm. Unfortunately, typically, soft comfortable clothes that fit into "business casual" tend to be quite pricey. My husband's favorite brand is Tommy Bahama... I managed to score some of their clothes when they went on sale, and they are really comfortable!! But, their regular prices are a lot more than I would pay for clothes.
Is there a Macy's by you?

I'm actually not sure..I'll check and visit it this weekend. I did look up full polyester collared shirts on amazon, and ... yes, they are insanely expensive in general. Some are kinda cheap, but I don't know how comfortable they may be.

They tend to have the best sales for good clothes, not always but if you're patient you can find some good deals there. I would just start looking, and trying stuff on, maybe you'll stumble on a brand or two that works for you. If you're like me (haha), you never paid attention to brands before, but now you might have to start!

*nods* I never really paid attention to brands before. I had some clothing given from my father (that are more business casual), and I found them very uncomfortable. I think you're right in that I'll have to really pay attention.

Only thing is, how are you going to keep the shirts from wrinkling terribly if they're in a duffel bag? Just a little logistics question there!

This is a good question, and not one I really thought much of. I may have to look at strategies for folding clothes to minimize wrinkles. I know, for the most part, wearing this kinda clothing on the bus is going to kinda prolong my uncomfortable feeling. Maybe if I found the right set of clothing that 'worked', then I wouldn't worry so much. Clothing, for my 2nd interview, were folded in my backpack...it came out okay, not great...but okay...I think...heh.

You know, one thing I have learned, when you really think about it, it's actually worth paying more than you think for something like this. Look at it this way, especially if you're only going to buy a few shirts: You're going to be wearing them a LOT, for a lot of hours, and hopefully they are going to last a long time, years and years. So hopefully it's a one-time purchase. Ultimately, one good, comfortable shirt is worth 20 cheap ones! So if you have to spend more on it, it's an investment that you'll be glad you paid for a year down the line when you're wearing your favorite shirt!

Oh, Shock's post made me glad I'm a girl. it's so much easier for women to dress comfortably than for men!! Fortunately business-casual means you shouldn't have to button it all the way up- That would be torture for me!

You can find cotton or polyester shirts which are almost like a t-shirt. Polo style. It possibly can work and it is the same comfortable as t-shirts.




They do not crumple!

What brands of shirts are those?

Sorry, I don't know of brands. I never pay attention on brands, I simply buy what I like.

i currently get all of my clothes from charity shops. and whilst this may not be for you, they do give a good window on what's available in the wider world, should one want to search for such merchandise as new and at full retail price. some people are pretty sniffy about charity shop merchandise, which is fine by me because much of it is brand new anyway and just unwanted and i get to buy it instead of them!!! at an enormous discount, i might add, too!!!

PS: typically a shirt will cost me between £1.50 and £3.00. and i get 28 days to return them, which is better than many full retail price outlets, which only offer a credit note and sometimes only within 7 days. and i suppose i should add that the little i do spend goes to a good cause too!!!