02 Is there ever a place for the T- shirt when conducting business?
There is and there has been since the ’80s – that is, if your line of business consists of working for the Miami vice squad or playing keyboards for Genesis. In the 2017 workplace, however, you might want to develop the look somewhat.
“Fine- gauged, beautifully constructed knitwear now bridges that space between the casual T-shirt and the formal, woven shirt,” says Joe Casely-hayford. “If the cut is well-proportioned and flattering, a short-sleeved knit made from a quality, lightweight fabric can comfortably be worn under a tailored jacket or coat.”
Knits are more substantial and textured than cotton tees, however weightless, so they stand up to other materials and make for a more cohesive, dressed-up, albeit casual, look. In short, they can make making an effort look effortless.
“Relaxing the cut of your tailored clothes doesn’t necessarily make them any less formal,” says Grant. “It just makes them feel a little more contemporary.”
But don’t take this as a licence to forget or dismiss everything you know about fit, form and proportion. Relaxed might mean looser but it certainly shouldn’t mean sloppy. If you’re after a roomier, more casual look, the trousers still need to fit at the waist and finish at your ankles, while a jacket should always sit on your shoulders properly, however generous the cut.
“Lighter fabrics suit more relaxed styles because they hang better in volume,” Grant points out. “Up top, a straighter-cut, soft-shouldered jacket will give you more room to move.”
You may not be as smart in the traditional, stiff sense, but there’s no excuse for foregoing elegance.