Last week I wrote about FIDE dress code and its confused wording. It was clear that it would be necessary for me to write about the general dress codes in today’s society but I decide to move up that article to maintain cohesion and since the world championship match is next week, I did not want to wait too long to publish the article.
Up to the early 20th century fashion was dictated by the upper classes; People who could not afford to buy their clothing from bespoke tailors had to make their own or receive them as hand-me-downs from their employers. It was in the 1930’s that advancements in technology allowed more people to buy their clothes first hand and in a way democratized fashion and since then the formality of dress codes has been on the decline. Nowadays a suit is as formal as most men will ever go . This means however that more and more new dress codes are being introduced; Gone are the days of full-dress and half-dress events, now you have to navigate dress codes like smart casual, business attire and ever elusive business causal. So let’s take a look at what the definition of some of these dress codes and what they entail:
Casual
The casual dress code is- not surprisingly- the least formal dress code there is and is as such hardly seen in most offices except some IT companies and perhaps the Silicon Valley. It is basically wear what-ever you want. People who dress casually risk being overdressed more than being under dressed.
If you work in an environment that allows the casual dress code you can wear henleys, polo shirts and maybe an oxford cloth button down shirt-or OCBD shirt-with a pair of dark denim or khaki pants and leather sneakers or casual boots.
The casual dress code allows almost all materials but the finer material such as worsted wool, silk or mohair are generally avoided because they are too formal. As for colors and patterns, you can wear anything as there is no inherit limitation to the dress code but do exercise caution and try not to overdo it.
Do not wear Graphic T-shirts, Athleisure, ripped jeans and running shoes as they are simply unprofessional.
Smart-Casual
Smart-casual is the next step from the casual dress code and is one of the most broad,read vaguely defined, dress codes.The general consent is that smart casual means a professional but relaxed approach which is very hard to define since “professional” depends heavily on the environment, both in the geographical sense and the job.
At this level of dress you should start looking at sports jackets, blazers or odd jackets since you are sometimes required to wear one, if you are not, you can try to incorporate casual outerwear such as a bomber or leather jackets into you wardrobe. You can wear dress shirts, denim shirts and OCBD shirts during the warmer seasons and simple sweaters during the colder months. As for trousers, wool, cotton and linen are all good choices depending on the weather, none-distressed dark denim is also a fantastic option if the workplace is relaxed enough. You can round off the look by wearing a pair of brogue leather shoes or casual leather boots.
Concerning fabrics, you can start to introduce some softer ones like linen or even cashmere into your wardrobe. All patterns are acceptable and colors are a good way to personalize your wardrobe, do wear lighter colors to keep everything casual.
Some don’ts include: Wearing a suit as it is simply too formal. Wearing unprofessional outfits such as shorts, sandals or in some cases T-shirts. Wearing clothing that are either too baggy or to tight.
This dress code is heavily dependent on the culture and the location of the workplace so understanding the formality of pieces is essential but generally, the more structured a piece of clothing is, the more formal it becomes.. So if you want to choose a school of tailoring, the Neapolitan style- with its unstructured jackets and light colors- is your best friend.
Business Casual
The textbook definition of confusing, business casual hangs in limbo between the youthful nature of smart casual and the formal and mature elegance of business attire. The simplified version is : don’t wear a suit, but look put together.
If your workplace requires you to wear a business casual ensemble, a classic blazer is an absolute must have- A classic blazer is a navy-blue, double breasted jacket with peak lapels and contrasting buttons- An acceptable substitute would be an odd jacket- or a sports jacket- that way you have the option to customize your jacket to your preference. Long sleeve dress shirts are appropriate but you need to look around the office to see whether french cuffs or contrasting collars are too formal. In colder times of the year layering a V-neck sweater over your shirt or an odd waistcoat is a very good way to stand out in the best way possible. As for the pants, you have many options including cotton, corduroy, cashmere and more. Pleats are appropriate -if you have large thighs- as are flat trousers and cuffs. You can round the outfit with brogues or casual dress boots in more adventurous colors like bordeaux, tan and even some greens.