Foundations: Back to the Office

I had a GREAT question come across a recent AMA:

“My husband is going back into the office after a 6-year hiatus.  Business dress. What should he wear?”

There are plenty of obvious answers, but I thought about this question a lot.  Probably way too much.  It’s actually not as simple as it sounds.

First off, a lot of workers are home or heavy-hybrid.  Meaning they spend a LOT of time in their home office, which usually means they are wearing some sort of nice shirt and Umbros.  As more and more companies start to require more time in the office, a wardrobe can be somewhat daunting.

My suggestion is this: Do it right.  Round up your dress code.  Invest in what needs investing.  Replace what doesn’t serve your ambitions.

I know this isn’t for everyone, but that’s fine – Red Clay Soul isn’t for everyone.  The demographics of our crew are aspirational.  Good dressers.  Higher-end pieces.  I’d guess we take a little longer to get ready to leave the house than most…

With that said, I think this is a great time to re-do the foundations of your wardrobe.  Some of these pieces you may have.  Maybe they need tailoring (worth it!).  Some you may need to add.  What I like about the pieces below is that they are a fantastic foundation for a XX business dress code.  While this rounds up in a few places (wool pants, tassel loafers, etc.), that’s on purpose.  I want you to set your target high.  These are pieces that are all versatile – they coordinate with almost every piece in the different categories.

Let’s start at the top:

Shirts:

For the business world, you’ll need a dress shirt, a sport shirt, and a professional polo.  The dress shirt (Ledbury) is a workhorse that works in just about any situation.  Whether dressed up in wool pants or down in 5-pocket jeans, this is a must-have.  Second, a sport shirt.  Plaids are fine here, but I like U-stripe OCBDs (J.Press). They tend to hold up a little better and have a little more versatility than a plaid.  Lastly: a professional polo (Gresham Reed).  I highly recommend having a top-shelf cotton polo with a structured collar.  This way it works with any jacket or vest and exudes professionalism.

Jackets:

For the most part, this is what separates the men from the boys.  Invest in a KILLER blue blazer (Sid Mashburn’s Ghost Blazer).  You’ll wear this quite a bit, so it needs to be able to stand up to the wear and tear.  This jacket will be your armor at a client dinner, a big meeting, or as a layer of warmth on dressier days.  This may be controversial, but I love a Chore Coat (Epaulet).  They are a mix between an overshirt and a light sweater (depending on the fabric), but they provide a cool, put-together look on low- to medium-dressy days.  Lastly – the vest (B.Draddy).  Gotta have one of these.  I’m not big on logos at the office, as it can give off the wrong vibe, but that’s your call.  Go with something Navy or Grey and enjoy.

Pants:

In a business setting, pants say a LOT about your approach.   I believe that every business wardrobe should have a perfect pair of grey wool dress pants (Sid Mashburn – or any respectable Men’s Store).  Tailored to perfection, with a 1.75″ cuff and an ever-so-slight break.  These are your ‘dress pants’ – for those days when you have to impress.  Show that you know what you are doing.  Second, a great pair of chinos (Pennbilt – Plaindsman).  These become extremely versatile, especially when tailored correctly (7.5″ opening with a whisper break).  They work with every shirt, every jacket, and 2/3 shoes.  They are easy to care for and will last forever as long as you take care of them.  Finally, I think we’ve moved to a world where a pair of well-cut 5-pocket pants (Duck Head) is appropriate.  These are your ‘Thursday’ or ‘Friday’ pants.  Essentially a substitute for jeans, these fit right in.

Shoes:

When it comes to shoes, I do not recommend going cheap here.  Especially when starting at the foundation.  In my opinion, there are three that you need.  First: dress shoes.  I’m recommending the iconic Alden Tassel Loafers in #8 Shell Cordovan, as these work in any dressed-up situation.  And they’ll last forever.  The investment is high, but the return is pretty solid.  Second, a pair of everyday loafers (Alden Snuff Suede LHS).  These are your workhorses, and they only get better with age.  Lastly, a pair of well-to-do Camp Mocs (Oak Street Bootmakers).  These are your ‘Friday’ shoes, or the shoes for those days you are stuck in a spreadsheet all day.

Some other considerations:

• Grey Cashmere Sweater (Holderness & Bourne, or J. Crew)
• Navy Socks (Boardroom)
• Belts – Leather and Dress (Jacob Hill)

Overall, these suggestions in each category are pretty wide, but should cover ~90% of situations in and around an office.  Again, I know that most of these are investment pieces, but quite frankly, they should be.  These are the workhorses of your wardrobe, and you’ll build a vast majority of your looks off of these pieces.  Once you have something similar to this in place, then start adding some pieces – more polos, more dress shirts, different pants (Navy!), maybe a pair of Brogues or some bit loafers.  It will be easy to add once you have the foundation on which to expand.

And as important: take care of your stuff!  Don’t throw it around.  Hang it up.  Get shoe trees.  Properly clean your garments.  It’s amazing how long they’ll last if they are properly cared for.

I’d love to hear your thoughts below.