Help me purchase "business casual" clothing!

[nick]

So, I finally got one of those real, professional jobs. I'm going to be doing something I really love (product design engineering), so I need to dress the part. My instructions are:

"Our dress code is business casual. Khaki pants are acceptable, although cargo pants (with the big side pockets that can get caught on equipment, are not acceptable)."

I'm pretty much starting from scratch here, so I need some recommendations. I'm looking for khakis and button down shirts that are wrinkle and stain resistant. I can find a lot that are one or the other, but I'd like both.

Any help that anyone can give me would be awesome! Thanks.

[saskatchewanian]

I would hit up your local salvation army, MCC cloths basket, or value village to see what they have. They may not have exactly what you want but you can walk out with 3 or 4 complete outfits for what you might pay for one pair of business causal pants at an upscale store.

Play around with different styles before going out and buying the more expensive new stuff.

[nick]

Originally Posted by saskatchewanian

I would hit up your local salvation army, MCC cloths basket, or value village to see what they have. They may not have exactly what you want but you can walk out with 3 or 4 complete outfits for what you might pay for one pair of business causal pants at an upscale store.

Play around with different styles before going out and buying the more expensive new stuff.

Good call!

I love the Salvo and Goodwill stores around here, CT is a good place for second hand stuff. I've actually gotten most of my "professional" clothes from those places already, which has been awesome.

I'm at the point where I want to step it up and get some clothes that are going to be exactly what I want, and will last me for a while. I'm trying to avoid having to iron, hah!

[maestro8]

Starting "from scratch" as you are is a good place to be. Don't get intimidated, as you don't need a lot to look good! With just a couple jackets, a couple shirts and a couple nice pants, you can look good year round without much investment.

If you can afford it, buy the nicest clothing you can find. Well-made clothing will last you a long time if you care for it... although your requirement for stain-and wrinkle-free clothing sounds as if you don't care for your clothes. Try to find a clothing consignment store if you can, as this is the best place to get well-made clothing at bargain store prices. Even if it takes a long drive to a major metropolitan area, it'll be worth the trip. I've found $1500 jackets for $50 and $250 jeans for $30 at such stores... and often times they weren't even worn!

At the very least, be sure to wash your clothing in a front-loading machine with cold water and a gentle detergent, dry the clothes as little as possible (don't dry them if your stains didn't come out in the wash!), and store them on sturdy hangers in a closet. Warped hangers can warp your clothes over time. We could start an entire thread on clothing care, now that I think about it. It's easy to care for your clothes with little effort if you know what you are doing.

I've been a big fan of sport coats lately. They allow you to look dressed up with naught but a cheap/plain button-up and some nice jeans or khakis. They usually never need ironing, and they can hide the wrinkles and/or stains in your button-up very well! Go for patternless jackets in muted colors (I have a black, a dark grey and a light grey jacket), and they'll match with most any shirt/pant combination you can pick.

Just a pet peeve of mine: FOR CHRIST'S SAKE TUCK IN YOUR SHIRT! Most button-ups have "tails" for a reason... so they stay in your pants! If you're going to make the effort to look good, go all the way. An un-tucked shirt looks slovenly IMO, unless it is designed to be worn as such. These shirts will have a level hem in front and back... they're pretty easy to spot.

While you're shopping, find a couple nice close-fitting graphic tees. You can substitute these for your button-ups when you want to "dress down" and you can still look very sharp.

As to "nice jeans", this is a narrow definition IMO. In order to get away with jeans in a business envrionment, they mustn't be torn, faded or stained in any way. They absolutely must fit you without any bulges or bagginess... this takes some hunting, but you'll only need one or two pair to last you a while. Ideally, they'll be as dark as possible, even grey or black.

Complete the look with a nice pair of dress shoes (even slip-ons can look sharp) and you'll get compliments everywhere you go. It's amazing how little it takes to look good!

Good luck, young Jedi.

[johnfoss]

Remember, you can always ask questions in a "real" clothing store, even if you don't end up buying anything there. Asking the right questions will help you get an idea of the type of stuff to look for.

[BillyTheMountain]

no jeans qualify as business casual.

biz casual shirts need collars, so tee shirts are out, but they need not be button down. Izod-style (Polo-Lacoste) shirts have collars and are the epitome of business casual. They also look nice with a sports coat, if you want to overdo it and still be biz casual.