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What brands do you like for "Business Casual" workwear?

Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
I'm starting a new job tomorrow, and unfortunately it sounds like I won't be able to wear T-shirts and jeans (or shorts 😛), so I've got to dig through the back of the closet for some khakis and button down shirts. I've got a few from a job I had seven years ago, but they're all too big. I figure I can get away with ill-fitting cheap clothes until the crowds at the stores die down, but after that I'll want to pick up some higher quality stuff.

So what do you guys wear for business casual environments? I've got a big chest and a big neck, and any clothes that fit me up there are like tents around my stomach, and I plan on losing more weight. They make me look like I weigh 400 pounds. I'd also like them to be breathable, because I'm always hot even in t-shirts. These crazy people with their crazy dress codes...

Anyway, any suggestions?
 
I'm pretty thin and Express is one of the only places where the clothes seem to fit right. Granted I'm not in the big city and my selection of retailers is limited, but I'm a small in a world that starts at medium.
 
I refuse to wear khakis - I prefer wool slacks or chinos or jeans

Costco wool slacks are a bargain at $40-$50/pr

I like Calvin Klein X Fit Ultra Slim shirts. 16.5 inch neck with a 33-34" waist. About $50/shirt
 
Fmr12B said:
I refuse to wear khakis - I prefer wool slacks or chinos or jeans

Costco wool slacks are a bargain at $40-$50/pr

I like Calvin Klein X Fit Ultra Slim shirts. 16.5 inch neck with a 33-34" waist. About $50/shirt
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Is wool as stuffy as I hear it is?
 
Depends how much of a slacker you want to get away with being. I would recommend dress wool pants with nice shoes and a button up long sleeve... Which if you are a recent hire you should do as well.

In my business cas. environment I see many people with cotton pants and their short sleeve collard shirts, then again they are dead-enders..... do you want to wear cotton or wool ? Long sleeve button-up or short sleeve? Therein lies the question. Lean on the side of over-dressing.
 
noobsrevenge said:
Depends how much of a slacker you want to get away with being. I would recommend dress wool pants with nice shoes and a button up long sleeve... Which if you are a recent hire you should do as well.

In my business cas. environment I see many people with cotton pants and their short sleeve collard shirts, then again they are dead-enders..... do you want to wear cotton or wool ? Long sleeve button-up or short sleeve? Therein lies the question. Lean on the side of over-dressing.
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Whatever will keep me the coolest. I'm a big guy, I'm always hot anyway, and I live in the deep south. As for style, I think the whole business attire thing is total non-sense, but I'm not in a position to argue with them.
 
Chaotic42 said:
I'm starting a new job tomorrow, and unfortunately it sounds like I won't be able to wear T-shirts and jeans (or shorts 😛), so I've got to dig through the back of the closet for some khakis and button down shirts. I've got a few from a job I had seven years ago, but they're all too big. I figure I can get away with ill-fitting cheap clothes until the crowds at the stores die down, but after that I'll want to pick up some higher quality stuff.

So what do you guys wear for business casual environments? I've got a big chest and a big neck, and any clothes that fit me up there are like tents around my stomach, and I plan on losing more weight. They make me look like I weigh 400 pounds. I'd also like them to be breathable, because I'm always hot even in t-shirts. These crazy people with their crazy dress codes...

Anyway, any suggestions?
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Start tucking your shirts in.
 
I'm very tall with broad shoulders but I don't weigh 400 pounds, so I'm in the same boat as you when it comes to shirts.

I do one of two things, either have a tailor alter a nice store bought shirt or have a shirt custom made, it's expensive at a proper tailor but you should be able to find US companies that will do a decent quality shirt from your measurements (without breaking the bank), the one I use here in Denmark make some surprisingly good quality shirts for practically the same price as a good store bought one.

as far as heat goes: linen, tropical wool, and light cotton weaves are your fashionable friends. But beware, breathability and light weight comes at the cost of proneness to wrinkling.
 
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for my asian bones:

charles tyrwhitt (my prefererred brand over brooks bros these days)
uniqlo

+tailor to alter
 
Banana Republic.. Slim w/e.. CK shirts from outlet.. Express is ok too when its on sale but I avoid their bright colored shirts (not work appro imo)
 
If you're mentioning "khakis" in the same sentence as "business casual," then the terrorists have won.

Picture yourself wearing a suit. Take off the jacket. Now take off the tie. Voila... business casual.
 
Lands End has a good selection of products and most Sears stores have a Lands End shop in them. And for pants, they will customize the inseam for no charge (if you need it done)
 
I have always previously purchased whatever was on sale at a super event at macy's, with an occasional shirt from Express. The fit was always different. $10 button down buyers aren't choosers.

Anyways, my wife has convinced me to look better in my clothes. My last few shirt purchases have been slim fit shirts from Jos A Bank, Banana Republic, and Brooks Brothers (All on sale, I'm still a cheapo, but the shirts have been averaging 3 for $90-100 wrinkle free) I've been getting the slimmest cut because I'm skinny. A nice thing about those stores is that they have different slimness of shirts for the same neck and sleeve measurements.

Of those 3 shirt brands:
I don't like Banana Republic's shirt material. It's a little stiff, and I can't use fabric softener when I machine dry.
Brooks Brothers doesn't carry my size at the outlet store. I'm an extra slim there, but they don't carry extra slim at the outlet. I got the slim shirt, and for it to fit my chest properly, I needed to get a neck size too small (but that's okay, I'll just wear one of my other shirts when I need to wear a tie.)
Jos A Bank is good for me.
 
Leyawiin said:
Eddie Bauer, Land's End, LL Bean.
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Depending on how nice you need to be these should work well. I find Eddie Bauer stuff to be very comfortable and fairly long lasting. Currently the only place I get pants, mostly chinos in some color, because I have to wear them to work.
 
In the office I wear slacks & polo shirt (whatever I can get on sale at Kohls, Pennys, etc). On the road, I wear good jeans & company polo.
 
Go to joeseph a banks on a buy one get five free event. Their wrinkle free dress shirts are the best value in a durable shirt around. I have some that are a decade old and still look new. I have about 25 of them
 
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