20-30-40-50-60 Etiquette-The Men Answer: "Business Casual"

Editor’s Note: The 20-40-60 etiquette women first answered this question in print in last Thursday’s Mood section. Find their answers online at Mood.NewsOK.com. Here is the men’s take:

QUESTION: I was recently invited to a wedding reception in Oklahoma City. Attire for the event said “Business Casual.”

What does that mean? For men: Slacks or jeans? And silk shirt and jacket, no tie? Golf shirt and jacket, no tie? Casual shirt and tie, jacket? Golf shirt, no tie, no jacket?

For women: Slacks and pretty blouse? Slacks or skirt with a jacket? Church dress? Tunic top and jeans?

What would you wear?

Nick Tankersley. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).

20s: Nick Tankersley, Web Editor, Newsok: The trick with business casual is dressing in a way that is comfortable but not to lead others to believe that you don’t have anything else clean to wear.

The goal is to be able to transition from fast-paced office to some sort of outdoor recreational activity without much of an issue. That’s what the Dockers’ commercials would have me believe.

The way I decide business casual is a two-fold process.

First, I think, what would I wear if I were going to a formal business meeting? Then I think, how would that choice be affected by a couple of whiskeys?

Tie? Nope, that’s getting wrenched free first shot I get. Any shirt requiring cuff links? Hardly, it’s like wearing cotton handcuffs. Pressed slacks can stay. If I feel like annoying myself every time I look in the mirror I’ll go with a polo shirt (just not for me); otherwise it’s a button up. The jacket is a toss-up. I do enjoy a good jacket but it really is the first article of clothing to come off as soon as I get in the door. It’s like you’re just taking it to your workplace to hang up until it’s time to go.