Business casual attire is necessary at most workplaces, but it can be quite challenging to figure out. Find out how to dress business casual in winter through this article.
In winter, the temperature drops in many places around the world. And it seems like everyone pulls out all their oversized coats and boots.
If you’re one of the people who still want to dress in business casual then read on!
Table of Contents
How to Dess Business Casual in Winter? Basics
Business casual wear in Winter
While dressing for work, many people think that wearing a suit is the only way to go. Yet, this isn’t always necessary or advisable.
Several other options are as professional and stylish as in the winter.
You could opt for a business casual dress code. This means you should dress in comfortable and professional clothes. This dress code is a blend of casual yet formal and professional.
You can wear khakis or slacks, a sport coat or blazer, and a collared shirt. This outfit is appropriate for any occasion, from a regular day at work to a conference meeting.
Another option is to enhance the outfits by adding some accessories. You can wear a necktie or scarf, for example, to give your outfit a bit of flair.
Or you can choose some comfortable shoes and add a hat or gloves for warmth. Either way, you’ll look professional and stylish without having to wear a suit all the time.
How to Look the Part in Winter
Winter shirt and tie for men
Regarding the winter dress code, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First, make sure you have something that will keep you warm.
You can wear layers of clothing or invest in a coat or suit jacket.
Second, it’s important to look your best. Business casual outfits can be as stylish and comfortable as traditional workplace attire in cold weather.
When dressing for business events in the winter, keep things simple. Try something like a collared shirt and tie with formal pants.
Add a belt if necessary, and accessorize with a scarf or hat for extra warmth and style.
Appropriate Business Casual Attire
Business casual attire is the perfect choice for men in cold weather. This type of clothing is comfortable and allows you to stay warm. Not to forget, while still looking professional.
When it comes to business attire, the usual considerations would be to avoid anything too tight or too revealing. As said, for men a good option is to wear a collared shirt and formal pants.
As far as shoes go, choose a pair of boots that are not too loud or flashy. Instead, look for something that will provide good warmth against the cold.
Business Casual Outfit Options
Business casual in winter outfits for men
Wondering how to dress business casual in winter? Men no longer have to sacrifice style for comfort and warmth. You can have both.
V-neck Sweater With a Formal Shirt and Tie
This is a great business casual winter look for men. Wearing a V-neck sweater with a button-up shirt and tie. This will give you a business casual look that is both warm and stylish.
You can wear this outfit during the daytime or evening. Add a tie to your outfit to look all things business casual.
Try Turtlenecks
Wearing a turtleneck can give you a more formal look for a winter business casual outfit.
If you’re looking for a business casual winter outfit, wearing a turtleneck can be a great choice. A turtleneck is a versatile piece of clothing that you can wear with many types of outfits.
It gives you the look of having dressed up without having to dress up too much.
Wearing a turtleneck with your trousers and boots will give you a stylish yet comfortable feel. You can also wear a turtleneck with a blazer to make it more formal.
Sport Coats Look Suave
Want to look and feel professional and comfortable in casual settings? Sport coats can be a great way to go.
A sport coat looks more polished and sophisticated. But it can also help you to stay warm in colder weather.
This look will prepare you for work without having to go all out with a full suit.
Overcoats Look Outstanding
Wearing an overcoat can give you a business casual look in winter. Pair it with a scarf, and you’ve got the combo spot on.
This is excellent if you want to stay warm, yet look stylish. To make sure that your overcoat looks good, choose a color that matches your outfit.
These were some options to look at when you want to dress business casual in winter.
Accessorize Your Business Casual Look
Cufflinks for men
Still, figuring out how to dress business casual in winter? One way is to accessorize your outfits. This enhances your look and makes the outfit look that much more fashionable.
So, let’s look at some of the accessories you can opt for along with that suave outfit.
1. Scarf
By adding a scarf to your business casual outfit, you will set yourself apart from the rest and look amazing in the process.
Wearing a scarf can add warmth and style to any outfit. It can also help to protect you from the cold air. When selecting a scarf, make sure it is sized correctly.
2. Ties
A tie is often a classic business casual accessory. A tie can make any outfit look more polished and sophisticated.
To pull off a tie in winter, make sure you don’t choose colors or patterns that make you look too over the top. Stick to neutral colors, and avoid bright or shiny materials as much as possible.
3. Watches
When looking professional in winter, watches are a great accessory. A watch not only tells time but can also give your outfit that much-needed edge you need.
4. Cufflinks
Cufflinks are a modern and stylish way to dress up any outfit. If you are someone who likes to keep things simple, cufflinks are a great way to add some extra flair. Also, it’s perfect for a business casual look.
5. Socks
They might not be very evident in the outfit for the day. But, they can do great for your business casual look.
Wearing socks with your shoes will keep your feet warmer. Second, socks help to keep the lines of your trousers from becoming too pronounced.
Footwear to Look Business Casual
Shoes for men
The question is, “How to dress business casual in winter? Men need footwear that will both keep them warm and look professional. Men’s footwear for a business casual look comes in several different styles and types.
Some of the options you could look at considering would be:
Chelsea Boots
If you’re looking for footwear to match your business casual look, try wearing Chelsea boots. They’ll give you the look of a polished professional without having to wear a suit all the time.
You could pair them with a blazer or overcoat. They’re easy to wear.
Loafers
Wearing loafers with a business casual outfit will give you the look you want. These are slip-on laceless shoes. They make you look professional and stylish yet not too formal.
If you try pairing them with chinos and bottom-up shirts, you might see great results.
Monk Straps
This is another excellent option to have on your shoe rack for winter. It will fit well for your office hours and casual parties. And, you could even try it for office parties if the dress code allows.
Derbys
Here’s another great pair of shoes to try on if you want to go business casual. They look elegant and minimalist. You could pair them with overcoats or suits. They’ll look great both ways.
Oxford Shoes
These pairs of shoes can match well with a variety of occasions. They go well for business casual occasions. Wear it with your overcoats, blazers, or overcoats layered over sweaters, and it’ll still look fine.
You could choose any of these footwear. Always remember that keeping your feet warm is key in any winter weather situation.
Oxford shoes
Business Casual vs. Smart Casual
Here we’re talking about how to dress business casual in winter. But it’s important to address the difference between this and smart casual.
Business casual is a dress code suited better for your formal office environment. At the same time, smart casual is best suited more to casual occasions.
Business casual is generally accepted as a norm in most offices. But smart casual suits a start-up environment.
The definition of business casual varies from one industry to another. Hence will the ways how to dress business casual in winter.
In simple words, it is less formal compared to traditional workplace attire.
Let’s check out how business casual standards vary from industry to industry.
Start-Ups
In a start-up environment, environment, you would look over the top with blazers on.
You could go for a button-up or button-down shirt here. Sweaters, cardigans, and turtlenecks would work fine here too.
Some might allow you to wear denim or a sports jacket.
For the footwear, you could choose loafers or sneakers depending on what’s suitable.
White-Collar
Go for formal attire when considering a white-collar job. Formal shirts tucked in with formal pants and blazers would be part of this staple.
Dark colors would do well in such an environment. You could wear a tie along with the outfit, but it’s fine if you don’t too.
The acceptable footwear here should fit the criteria of quality and style. Chelsea boots, Oxfords, and Derbys would be fine.
White collar
Mistakes to Avoid
Another aspect when we talk about how to dress business casual in winter is the mistakes to stay away from.
Wearing the perfect outfit for a dress code needs careful consideration. Only then should you finalize the outfit.
Let’s check out some of the things you should avoid while going business casual:
1. Being too flashy – As mentioned, go for neutral and simple sober colors to have the best experience with your business casual attire.
2. Being too casual – The casual in business casual doesn’t need you to wear t-shirts, shorts, and such outfits. Wear something comfortable but looks professional and suits a workplace environment.
3. Not paying attention to detail – Always accessorize your outfit well. You should try to make your outfit look even better than it already might be. Also, choose the suitable layers to wear.
Casual business outfits
FAQs
You can refer to the frequently asked questions below if you have any more questions.
What is business casual in cold weather for men?
To pair with dark slacks and a sport coat, you can choose from a variety of colorful shirts. In chilly weather, a wool vest with a V-neck goes well with the standard business outfit. When worn with suede shoes and a thicker sock during really cold weather, heavy, lined wool pants look great.
What kind of jacket is business casual?
An essential component of a business casual wardrobe is the blazer or a sports coat. Keep to dark colors and stay away from gold buttons. The most traditional color and one of your finest bets is navy. Standard blue blazers are single-breasted, but a double-breasted version might look more intimidating.
Are sweaters business casual?
Make sure your sweaters offer enough coverage to be appropriate for the workplace. Let’s move on to the good news, which is that most sweater types make excellent choices for business casual office environments, now that the restrictions are out of the way.
Can business casual have patterns?
Business casual attire can be worn with both plain and patterned shirts as long as the remainder of the ensemble is fairly understated. Wear patterns with confidence, but always in moderation for the best overall result. When choosing a shirt, don’t overlook the buttons.
What colors are business casual?
Consider your ideal business casual outfit as a cross between casual and business attire. Whenever possible, stick with neutral hues like tan, gray, black, navy, white, brown, and beige. Bold colors can add interest to an ensemble, but use them sparingly and avoid wearing complete outfits in them.
Conclusion
It’s very essential to follow dress codes wherever you may be. This holds especially at the workplace. And, business casual is one such dress code you could follow if your office allows it.
This is a good blend of comfortable clothing with a professional look attached to it. If followed correctly, it can look pretty stylish and sophisticated as well.
How to dress business casual in winter? Hope you have got some options to consider when you get ready to head to work.
This post was written by Kosha team member – Shawn Mathias