Hey,
I’m hoping some people can guide me in what I can wear that’s smart casual for work.
My boss has dropped some big hints regarding my current dress sense; runners, jeans and tshirt.
So I’m looking to get some more smart clothing, my next promotion would involve alot of meetings face to face, so I presume that’s what he wants me to fix.
I know I’m going to get alot of strange pictures, but any help would be greatly appreciated as always.
Kind Regards
Stephen
My only rule for work clothes is no t-shirts with stains on them (usually moved to the gym shirt drawer) and any shirts that would offend the boss or co-workers, only had 1 complaint about 5 years ago when I wore a hustler shirt and my office manager said something to me about it.
Business casual is a good way to go if you are not required to wear a full suit. In my job, I can wear pretty much whatever I want as long as I throw on a lab coat over it. Just look at the way other people are dressed who have the same/similar position you want and dress similar to them.
I think if you are not making sales calls you should be fine with Polo shirts, casual slacks, a decent belt and casual dress shoes. If you’re making sales calls wear a suit unless you look like a male model, then you can get away with really nice slacks, button up shirt and stylish shoes. A high end watch is a nice accessory if you’re in sales.
No I don’t work in sales…
I work for Transportation team in Amazon - so I deal with carriers.
At the moment, I’m not high enough level for face to face meetings - but I would guess the hints may be sort it out and we’ll talk sort of thing.
Does anyone have any links to clothes that I can select ?
Thanks for the responses thus far.
Get some button down shirts from Banana Republic or Express. Some solid, some striped. Wear darker jeans that fit well from Buckle or J Crew. Your current jeans might be fine. For shoes, get some black or brown shoes from Cole Haan or Johnston and Murphy. DSW sometimes have these on clearance too. Shoes will probably cost the most, but good shoes last. Black dress socks. Have a belt that matches your shoes. You can tuck in your shirt if you need a bit more formality. Roll up the sleeves if you’re hot, etc.
Eventually you’ll learn what colors work best for your skin/hair/eyes. A girl friend can help with that.
If and when you need to dress more formally, you can swap the jeans for some nice pants, and everything else should still work.
You’ll probably feel weird dressing like this for awhile, but eventually it’ll feel normal. You can swap stuff around to dress up or down, experiment with colors and patterns, etc.
I personally wear handmade Italian shoes with jeans to the office, but decent American made shoes are fine. Florsheim is NOT a decent brand. Good luck.
[quote]LoRez wrote:
Get some button down shirts from Banana Republic or Express. Some solid, some striped. Wear darker jeans that fit well from Buckle or J Crew. Your current jeans might be fine. For shoes, get some black or brown shoes from Cole Haan or Johnston and Murphy. DSW sometimes have these on clearance too. Shoes will probably cost the most, but good shoes last. Black dress socks. Have a belt that matches your shoes. You can tuck in your shirt if you need a bit more formality. Roll up the sleeves if you’re hot, etc.
Eventually you’ll learn what colors work best for your skin/hair/eyes. A girl friend can help with that.
If and when you need to dress more formally, you can swap the jeans for some nice pants, and everything else should still work.
You’ll probably feel weird dressing like this for awhile, but eventually it’ll feel normal. You can swap stuff around to dress up or down, experiment with colors and patterns, etc.
I personally wear handmade Italian shoes with jeans to the office, but decent American made shoes are fine. Florsheim is NOT a decent brand. Good luck.[/quote]
Don’t buy express, their quality is shit.
@ Lorez - thanks !
Like others have said, some not overly-dressy button up shirts and polos. They should be long sleeved. A nice pair of Levi’s and some casual dress shoes. Maybe like some Sketchers or something.
CS
[quote]on edge wrote:
I think if you are not making sales calls you should be fine with Polo shirts, casual slacks, a decent belt and casual dress shoes. [/quote]
Just what I was going to suggest.
But what do I know? I held a presentation for a group of doctors wearing shorts and socks that didn’t match 
Hey,
I have picked out some shirts, can anyone with some sense of fashion help me out ?
Can order from Amazon today for delivery tomorrow.
Many Thanks for your help.
Use a bit of common sense man. You say yourself that you’re wearing runners. What kind of firm, of any description, wants people representing the firm in meeting wearing runners and a tshirt? Get a decent pair of brown loafers, a nice pair of jeans and some polo shirts/casual button up shirts. T shirts are no good. Get rid of the runners and tshirts asap or you’re not going to be sitting in any meetings.
[quote]wigsa wrote:
Use a bit of common sense man. You say yourself that you’re wearing runners. What kind of firm, of any description, wants people representing the firm in meeting wearing runners and a tshirt? Get a decent pair of brown loafers, a nice pair of jeans and some polo shirts/casual button up shirts. T shirts are no good. Get rid of the runners and tshirts asap or you’re not going to be sitting in any meetings.[/quote]
Ye I know now…
I was (am) pretty anti social (foster family issues), as a result I’m still very immature emotionally and socially for a 29 year old, hanging out with people was (sort of still is) a chore for me… slowly but surely have to change that mindset.
BBB will hopefully help me with the anti socialness / inability to relate to people via products similar to nootropics, managed to find him on a different forum, he doesn’t seem to post here anymore.
The fact I can admit it online probably is a good indication I’m ready to address it.
This book if you scroll down to “How an Exasperated Professional Woman Discovered the Answer That Wiped Out Her 12-Year-Old SonÃ???Ã???Ã???Ã??Ã?¢??s ADHD” pretty much describes me to a “t” except I’m 17 years older.
I’ve been looking at the “Brain Candy” here to, seems to offer exactly what I need to solve.
Working with Amazon has been the making of me really, I’ve had some fantastic managers and advice from other people - I’m an insanely hard worker. My last review was pretty much;
“You show tremendous ability and willingness to help, however you say 1 stupid thing without thinking and people will go away with that opinion of you… need to learn to think more before saying something and think wider impact that just thinking of the immediate right now solution to the statement I want to say”
Cheers
Stephen
[quote]on edge wrote:
I think if you are not making sales calls you should be fine with Polo shirts, casual slacks, a decent belt and casual dress shoes. If you’re making sales calls wear a suit unless you look like a male model, then you can get away with really nice slacks, button up shirt and stylish shoes. A high end watch is a nice accessory if you’re in sales.[/quote]
This. Also, make sure you tuck in your damn shirt.
buy some shirts that are properly fitted(not overly baggy or tight…sleeve length is correct, etc)…please go to store to try it on and figure out what your true size is…fitting is actually the most important thing as properly fitted casual clothes can look very sharp…
then stick with light colored shirts mainly light blues, white with various lightly colored designs(vertical strips, checkered)…i wouldn’t buy pure white or dark colors…
buy casual slacks that are also properly fitted(various grays, various lightly colored khaki/browns)…there are different types of styles like pleated(there are creasing lines in the front of the pant) or cuffed(bottom hem is cuffed)…if you are lean, you could go with flat front non cuffed…if you are very big, you may want to consider pleated…
buy both a casual brown belt and black belt(belt should match with shoes) that are properly fitted and do not have weird designs or extraordinarily large buckle
buy both brown and black casual looking loafers or boat shoes…not too extravagant looking
tuck your shirt in
shave your face or wear facial hair that looks properly styled everyday
wear your hair in a style that is either very short or looks clean whilst retaining its length
I would look into a Dale Carnegie type course to help you with speaking effectively in front of people if you can afford it…it may be best to deal with these issues with other human beings…
Thanks D Public for that.
Now I’m committed to self improvement costing quite a bit … signed up to learn to drive finally.
I may buy 1 shirt from Amazon so, till I can get to a shop.
I hope you have a pleasant Sunday.
Thanks
If I have a 16.2 inch neck for a proper fit do I get a 16.5, 17.0 or 17.5 ?
Not worn a shirt since I left school …
My measurements are;
Waist 38.5
Neck 16
Chest 41
Shoulder 54
Shirts I’m looking at;
Measurements in inch (CW = collar width, CC = chest circumference, WC = waist circumference, SL = sleeve length from shoulder, SLB = sleeve length approx. from center back, TL = total length)
Size 15.00: CW:15.00, CC:42.50, WC:37.00, SL:25.60, SLB:35.00, TL:30.70
Size 15.75: CW:15.75, CC:44.90, WC:39.35, SL:26.00, SLB:35.40, TL:31.50
Size 16.50: CW:16.50, CC:48.00, WC:42.50, SL:26.00, SLB:35.80, TL:32.30
Size 17.50: CW:17.50, CC:50.50, WC:44.90, SL:26.00, SLB:36.20, TL:33.10
[quote]D Public wrote:
then stick with light colored shirts mainly light blues, white with various lightly colored designs(vertical strips, checkered)…i wouldn’t buy pure white or dark colors…
[/quote]
I disagree with this if you are a sweaty bastard. If you sweat a lot and wear light colors, especially blue, don’t raise your arms.
Undershirts + certain dri aint got shit on this heat wave.
Dark colors and whites work best for sweaty bastards IMO.
Reading a book on how to organise your day properly book - apt quote for me ;
I am rather like a mosquito in a nudist camp; I know what I want to do, but I don?t know where to begin. ?Stephen Bayne