The 6 looks run from a grooming habit that costs a trim every few weeks to a classic black suit, and what separates them is how formal your office still expects you to be.
If the suit is gone but you still want structure, button-down and chinos with a tie is the answer; if the day is long and serious, the navy pinstripe or the classic black suit does the work.
Navy trousers with black loafers sit in the middle, and a quarter-zip sweater over a shirt and tie covers the cold office.
1. Clean Hair and Well-Groomed Facial Hair
Hair and beard get seen before the suit does. A navy pinstripe reads sharper when the hair has shape and the facial hair has clean lines.
Keep the neckline and cheek lines trimmed, and let the beard hold one length rather than a patchy mix. Style the hair with a small amount of product so it stays put through a full day.
I would book a trim every few weeks before letting it go shaggy. An expensive suit and an untidy beard cancel each other out.
2. Button-Down and Chinos with a Tie
A navy blazer over a button-down, with a tie and light grey chinos, is business casual with the formality dialed up one notch. It works for offices that have dropped the suit but still expect some structure.
A pale shirt works best here, paired with a tie a shade or two darker so the contrast reads as a choice and not an accident.
Chinos in a light shade like grey look best pressed, with a crease that holds.
Brown suede loafers suit this outfit well, though they fear rain. I’d pick them for dry days and keep a leather pair for wet ones.
3. Navy Pinstripe Suit with Tie
Pinstripes have a built-in rule: the suit carries the pattern, so everything else stays quiet.
A white dress shirt does that job better than any other color, and a striped tie works if its stripes are wider and bolder than the suit’s.
Fit matters more than the fabric here. Oversized cuts look relaxed, but I’d still check that the shoulder seam sits at your shoulder’s edge, since stripes make a sloppy fit obvious.
A black leather bag finishes the look without adding noise.
4. Navy Trousers with Black Loafers
Navy trousers with black loafers is the easiest swap for a full suit. Pair them with a white shirt and a silver watch and you have a complete look with nothing to fuss over.
Polish the loafers before wearing them; scuffed black leather undercuts good tailoring fast. Match the socks to the trousers or go darker, so the line from hem to shoe stays unbroken.
Let the shirt cuff peek out just past the sleeve. Small details like that carry this outfit, because there is so little else in it.
5. Quarter-Zip Sweater Over Shirt and Tie
Layering a cream ribbed quarter-zip over a white collared shirt and tie gives you warmth without losing the tie. Zip it up high enough that the collar sits flat and the knot shows.
Choose a fine-gauge knit so the sweater doesn’t bunch at the neck or add bulk at the waist. Cream against black trousers and a black tie gives strong contrast, which keeps the outfit crisp rather than cozy.
I like this for cold offices, and it costs far less than a second jacket.
6. Classic Black Suit and Tie
A black suit is the most formal everyday option, and it suits long, serious days at a desk.
Pair it with a white dress shirt and a blue tie so the look has some color and doesn’t feel like funeral wear.
Tailoring decides whether it looks sharp or stiff. Black shows lint and fading quickly, so brush it and give it time between wears.
For business, I’d choose navy or charcoal first. Black earns its place when you want the most formal option in the closet.
Getting dressed should be fun, even when you’re on the 9-5 grind. To spark some joy on the job, pick your favorite color—practicality be damned—and spring for a well-made staple in that shade.
— GQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What does business casual attire mean for a man?
Business casual sits between a full suit and weekend wear: clean, structured and comfortable. Chinos or khakis, a button-down shirt, and a sport coat you can add or leave off: that covers most offices.
Dress codes shift from one workplace to the next, so a new hire does best to ask a manager or a coworker what people actually wear.
How does a businessman dress?
It depends on the office. Navy or charcoal beats black for a suit, worn with a white shirt and a tie.
Where the suit has been dropped, I’d go with a navy blazer, a button-down, a tie and pressed light chinos, plus polished shoes and neat hair and facial hair.
How to dress business casual in summer?
Keep the same base: chinos or khakis with a button-down, and a jacket only if the office wants one.
Light colors like pale grey chinos work well, pressed so the crease holds. Suede loafers in brown work on a dry summer day, but one rainstorm can stain them for good.
What should men avoid in business casual outfits?
Skip athletic shorts, graphic tees, ripped denim, sandals and overly casual sneakers.
Pairing jeans, a graphic tee, and sneakers in a single outfit is another misstep I see often. Pair one relaxed piece with more formal ones so the outfit still looks put together.
Can men wear jeans in business casual offices?
Only where the company policy says they are allowed. If the dress code is unclear, navy trousers with black loafers are a safer swap.
