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Bonobos
Dress code standards for corporate America are becoming less formal.
Business casual work environments will eliminate the stress of having to wear a full suit every day, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't put effort into your outfits.
We rounded up 12 of our favorite brands to help you build your business casual wardrobe, including staples like Bonobos and Cole Haan and newcomers like Twillory and Mott & Bow.
While our grand- and great-grandfathers probably wore three-piece suits for some of the most insignificant occasions, younger generations today are perfectly fine with navigating most aspects of life — including work — in casual clothes.
As Millennials and Gen-Z become the majority of today's workforce, their values are slowly but surely changing workplace norms. And for many working-class folks, that means the days of having to wear super formal attire to work are coming to an end, even in some of the most suit-and-tie industries.
Last year, investment banking firm Goldman Sachs announced that it would be implementing a "firm-wide flexible dress code," allowing its employees to wear more relaxed and casual clothes — and the announcement shook up corporate America.
But now, with plenty of people working from home or very limited hours in the office, more casual attire has become the industry standard. So, to point you in the right direction on where to shop, we rounded up 12 of our favorite brands to shop for business casual attire. You'll find essentials like chinos, polos, button-up, sweaters, jeans, and more.
Keep reading to find out our favorite places to buy business casual clothes.
Key products available: Chinos, jeans, sweaters, button-up shirts, t-shirts, polos
With humble beginnings as a brand that only sold pants, Bonobos has grown into a full-fledged premium menswear brand in the last decade. The company sells wardrobe staples that can suit all parts of men's lives, whether you're a business executive who has to wear a suit or a fitness fanatic in need of workout gear.
In terms of business casual looks, you'll find chinos, button-ups, sweaters, and other essentials in a huge variety of colors. The best part is Bonobos offers almost everything in multiple fits (i.e. tailored, slim, and standard), so guys of most sizes can wear the clothing.
Khakis are a cornerstone in every business casual wardrobe, and Dockers has made it a point to perfect them. The brand sells classic pleated khakis, Smart 360 Flex khakis, and everything else in between. Whether you're going for a skinny fit or relaxed fit, Dockers will have it. You'll also find a decent number of polos and casual button-ups.
Everlane is an emerging brand that specializes in minimalist basics that conscious consumers can appreciate. You won't find crazy all-over prints or radical designs here — just timeless, well-put-together pieces that will look good inside or outside of an office. The brand uses sustainable production methods and materials like recycled water bottles in the ReNew Collection. Everlane also makes its denim in a facility that recycles 98% of the water.
Frank And Oak was founded in 2012 with the purpose of making it easier for people to dress better (in terms of affordability and finding a sense of style). After selling more than 80,000 Oxford dress shirts and expanding to a women's line, the brand is continuing to grow with its wide range of minimalistic products.
While you can pick and choose which items you want to buy, the brand's Style Plan subscription box makes it super easy to fill your closet with premium basics. Last year, I reviewed the Frank And Oak Style Plan and it was the first time I ever wanted to keep and everything included inside of a clothing subscription box.
Indochino is one of our favorite places to buy made-to-measure suits, but for days when you can be less formal, the brand also has chinos. I reviewed them, and they're a lot better than some off-the-shelf options that cost about the same or more.
The most accurate way to describe Gap is as an apparel brand for everyone. Nothing is too fancy or expensive, but everything is made at a level of quality that's worth owning. There, you'll find denim, chinos, tops of all sorts, and outerwear. The prices are already affordable, and there's almost always sale running to sweeten the deal.
Jeans absolutely have a place in business casual work environments — it really just comes down to how you style them. When shopping for jeans, you should be looking for comfort, fit, and quality, and Mott & Bow will allow you to check off all three requirements. They're available in a variety of washes and are made with the perfect amount of stretch, so you can be comfortable in any fit (skinny, slim, or straight).
When you buy your first pair of jeans, you'll also be able to choose a second waist size for free. Mott & Bow will send you both pairs, you can pick which one fits best, and send the other back for free using a pre-paid label.
Key products available: Polos, sweaters, sweatshirts, pants, and accessories
Ralph Lauren can be described in three words: iconic, timeless, and omnipresent. Transcending the entire apparel industry, the brand is equally relevant on high-fashion runways, in the streetwear scene — and in your office.
While Ralph Lauren sells literally every apparel item you can think of, its polo shirts are easily the most recognizable. Whether you want to go for classic colors like white, black, and navy or a bolder red, green, or pastel pink, you'll find it here.
Key products available: Dress shoes and casual sneakers
Your footwear selection can be the trickiest part of putting together a business casual look. If you feel like you can't quite pull off a sweater, button-up, or blazer with a pair of classic Air Jordan or you're worried that sneakers are a bit too formal for your specific work environment, Cole Haan is easily the best footwear brand.
Its dress shoe styles use comfort technology that is reminiscent of sneakers, while still looking formal. And if you are shopping for sneakers, but want to give sportswear brands a break, Cole Haan has a great variety of casual sneakers. My personal favorite is the GrandPro Runner with Stitchlite.
New York menswear brand Todd Snyder walks the line between high fashion and streetwear and in turn, it's a great fit for business casual looks. In addition to its own original designs, Todd Snyder has collaborated with brands like Champion, New Balance, New Era, and Timex.
Founded in New York City, O.N.S Clothing is an emerging direct-to-consumer menswear brand that caters to the ethos of big cities. Its designs are minimal and contemporary, while still appealing to creatives and adventurers.
Whether you're looking for an eye-catching coat, simple premium tops, or joggers that you comfortable enough to bike in and good looking enough wear around the office, the brand probably has it. Right now, you can find a small sale section of O.N.S Clothing's apparel on Huckberry.
Keep products available: untuck(able) shirts and casual Friday dress shirts
While dress shirts can be found at just about any menswear brand or department store, button-up shirts that are casual are much harder to come by. Some might say that what makes a button-up casual is how you style it, but Twillory's untuck(able) shirts prove otherwise.
The popular men's dress shirt brand redesigned button-ups to fit better when wearing them untucked. The shirts have an at the hip shirt length, so you won't have to deal with those awkward flaps traditional dress shirts have.
Twillory is also really great for guys who like to stock up and save money in the process. Shirts are originally $99 each, but you can get two for $125, three for $180 or four or more for $56.99 each.