Up until recently I’ve only has jobs that were casual, workshop based, or completely isolated from anyone else. Now I find myself back in the office casual environment again. The bad part is, I have let my business casual attire get dingy, outdated, and old. I resorted to wearing my very best, the clothes only meant for special occasions, as a stop gap solution. However, the fear of salad dressing, from lunch at the desk, has me on the quest to quickly replace my very best.
I have a few universal requirements for the work outfit.
1. I must look like the best dressed in the company. In most offices, this usually isn’t a difficult task to obtain. Plus, always dress for the job you want, not the one you are in.
2. Most everything I wear must be black, or dark colors. I don’t want to be the neon colored/hyper pattern shirt guy. And, wearing the baby blue shirt on a hot, sweaty, day shows only one thing, you sweat a lot.
3. I don’t want to spend much on these clothing items. The job shouldn’t cost you an arm & leg to be at. Commute time and money is already being wasted to just be at the location, why add to it. Plus, the potential to get the clothes destroyed at work is always a concern. (ie: salad dressing on a $150 shirt doesn’t make anyone happy.)
4. Clothes must be low maintenance, like wrinkle free shirts, etc. Again, a single minute preparing for a day job is robbing you of precious life, keep it to a minimum.
With the requirements solidly etched in my mind, I went out to search for what I need. Taking a walk through a local premier clothing store, I found some fitted dress shirts and that looked great, but they were $80 dollars each, unacceptable. A little on the fitted shirt first: A man looks his best in a tailored, fitted, dress shirt. Big, billowy, ill-shapen shirts say nothing more than that you are slovenly. Never wear them. Don’t even wear them to hide a neglected office physique. Fitted shirts say you take pride in at least one aspect of yourself, if it is only the external layer.
I then resorted to our friend, the internet. I typed in the requirements verbatim, and found my shirts. The Van Heusen Men's Fitted Wrinkle Free Poplin Solid Shirt, in black of course, $25 dollars each. So, I bought five. On wearing the same thing everyday: I personally think that just being consistent at work is a good thing. You come in at the same time everyday, wear the same thing, do the same things at work, you show that you are dependable. So, when you sleep in late one day by accident, you will still show your consistency in the office with your same outfit.
Moving on, I think ties are buffoonish, but they complete an outfit. But much like the shirt, consistency is key. The same tie is important, and I recommend a black tie. The black tie is hidden in your black shirt, so from a distance you don’t appear to be wearing one, but up close you impress them with the subtlety. However, the more tie material you have, the more clownlike you appear. I can not recommend anything above a 2” wide tie. And the skinny tie is in abundance everywhere, and for as low as $1 dollar each. So, get a few. Skinnier than 2”, you might as well be juggling on the street.
I’m going to address the shoes now. This is an important and simple part of the outfit. You want to look good, but retain the option of doing to hardcore work. A man should not wear anything else but boots on the job. Black 10” combat boots are the perfect choice. They look like dress shoes, but could also be priceless in an emergency, or if you have a disagreement with a co-worker. I prefer the flat soled, side-zip boot, but this option is left open for you. The only thing to avoid, is a lot going on in your show design. Simple is key.
This brings us to where I need your help, the pants. I want black pants that are boot cut, flat front, and simple. Pleats are hideous, taper legged make you look misshapen, and other color begs for stains. I want something cheap, of course, but rugged. Currently, I am wearing the exact thing I described, from H&M Clothing, but I only have a few pair. And unfortunately, they no longer carry the style. My search is nearing exhaustion without an option found. If you have an idea where I can find something equivalent, let me know.
Having 5 sets of the same outfit solved many issues. Deciding what to wear on any given day, is the obvious benefit. Displaying consistency, dependability is another. And if wear the outfit, you will be visually dominating and intimidating. Ask yourself, who commands more respect; the guy wearing a pink and checkered shirt with tan pants that don’t fit him right, or the guy in all black who looks like he spent hundreds on tailoring?
If you disagree with any of my suggestions, or want to add to the respectable hapless-salaryman wardrobe list, feel free to do so.
Cabe
A week of dignified work clothing has cost me $326 USD. More than I want to pay to work a day job, but accaptable enough to dominate style wise.
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