Home Commentary Advice The true depths of casual Friday

The true depths of casual Friday

By

Marc A. Streisand

-

06/09/2017

Marc A. Streisand

Now that the summer weather has finally arrived, the business community turns a ready eye toward the end of the week – specifically Fridays – where attire, depending on the type of business you’re in – can be decidedly more laid-back. However, there is a fine line between looking business casual and looking like you’re

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Now that the summer weather has finally arrived, the business community turns a ready eye toward the end of the week – specifically Fridays – where attire, depending on the type of business you’re in – can be decidedly more laid-back. However, there is a fine line between looking business casual and looking like you’re heading to the beach. Often, the latter tends to win out as folks have no idea how to do business casual without crossing the “too casual” line. Here are my tips for ensuring that Friday’s looks are comfortable, business friendly and interesting. Fully Constructed Blazer and Trousers Most commonly, a jacket and trouser are of the same material and/or texture, which lends itself to look very predictable and neither interesting nor casual. However, there are ways to make a simple blazer and trouser look interesting. Incorporating texture into the jacket with fabrics like cashmere or hopsack provides a subtle but more interesting look to the outfit. The Dressed-Down Suit Out of all the different ways to dress down on casual Friday, this look is probably the most uncommon. Men often envision a suit to be something either used in a formal work setting or for a special occasion. But, there are many different options when wearing a suit – and I am not talking about taking off your tie and unbuttoning your shirt one button; wearing materials that are slightly more seasonal or against the norm will give you a more unique look. Suits made from tweed and even some cottons allow a casual look while still maintaining the overall style of the outfit. [caption id="attachment_160124" align="alignleft" width="192"]

FITTING IN: Softer, unstructured jackets match well with casual trousers for dress-down Fridays in the office. / COURTESY MARC ALLEN FINE CLOTHIERS

FITTING IN: Softer, unstructured jackets match well with casual trousers for dress-down Fridays in the office. / COURTESY MARC ALLEN FINE CLOTHIERS[/caption] Soft Jacket and Casual Trouser We’ve all seen men pairing jeans or five-pocket trousers with constructed jackets that seem more suitable for the boardroom than casual Friday. This is a big mistake. When creating this ensemble, look for softer, more-unstructured jackets that lend themselves more to a casual environment. If this type of jacket is not in your style wheelhouse, there are also a couple of slight variations to this category, including shirt jackets and sweater jackets. Guys will sometimes think that these options are too casual or too young, but they are perfect for the office on Fridays, on trend and transition perfectly to weekend plans. Sweaters/Knitwear Finally, we live in New England and sweaters and knitwear are most often associated with spring and fall. However, there are a number of different ways to incorporate knitwear into a more dressed-down setting. Most work environments will call for a dress shirt with a collar even on the “casual” Fridays. Wearing a seasonally appropriate sweater over a nice dress shirt is great for the office, and pairing it with a more-casual shirt is perfect for a weekend out. Marc A. Streisand is the owner of Marc Allen Fine Clothiers in Providence and Newport.