Balancing formality, leisure key for business-casual togs

Q. I read your column about casual dressing for an interview; luckily, I didn’t have that problem and was able to wear a suit and still get the job. That said, my new office is casual and I should dress for it. My closet has suits and jeans, so I still am going to have to buy a whole new “wardrobe.” Any thoughts on what — beyond khakis and polos — that means? Also, can I keep it nice but under $1,000 (at least for the short term)?

A. If you shop carefully in discount stores and in upscale stores “on sale,” — you should be able to put together a good-looking business-casual wardrobe for close to $1,000. And you don’t have to buy it all at once.

While most men know how to amass business and dress clothes, they’re often at a loss when it comes to collecting a good-looking casual wardrobe, especially one that is informal enough to be called “casual” and still professional enough to be acceptable for business.

As well as dressing for the new normal — the business-casual office — they are essential for all manner of occasions: Weekend dressing, dining out, going to a movie (people do see you, you know, you are not in the dark all night), for travel, work-related conferences, and vacation days when you may be at a class-act resort and your old shooting-baskets-athome clothes just won’t do. Even a company picnic or an invitation to the boss’ house for a barbecue fits the category. With so many options, it is reassuring to know you have the right clothes.

As distinguished from suits and formal dressing, your basic needs for casual-business dressing can be split into two sets, and these elements include:

Above the waist (starting with the most formal)

A single breasted navy blazer Two sports jackets (lightweight wool tweed in brown or gray, perhaps a solid-color cotton)

Oxford-cloth button-down shirts (white, light blue, striped)

Casual neckties (solid knits, stripes, foulards, wools, linens, nonshiny silks)

Various colored cotton knit polo shirts

Patterned cotton sport shirts (a small check or bold plaid)

Sweaters (sleeveless vest, a long-sleeve V-neck, and a colorful crew neck)

Outer jacket (windbreaker or leather from a “gently-used” store)

Two leather belts (black for gray and blue clothes, brown for brown and beige tones

Below the waist (again, from the most formal to the least)

Quality lightweight wool dress trousers (gray, taupe, and/or olive) Well-pressed khakis White summer pants (not essential, but a nice addition) can be white jeans

Jeans in good condition (optional — the jeans, not the good condition)

Loafers (first choice, brown; second choice, black)

Deck shoes, moccasins, or boots in shades of brown

Perhaps a pair of the new hybrid dark leather dress-sneakers

Another, more traditional “perhaps,” a pair of white bucks

Socks, (mostly dark, perhaps a few colorful pairs)

Besides a navy blazer, the color emphasis in a business-casual wardrobe is on shades of brown: Brown tweed/plaid sports coats, khaki and olive trousers, tan/beige sweaters, brown shoes and belt. That doesn’t mean you have to keep everything neutral. Pastels and bright items can liven up a casual look. And, as always, when dressing for any form of business, impeccable grooming is essential.