New Fashions For Casual Friday

Many of today's office environments are taking a more fashion-conscious step by giving employees one day of the week off from the usual workday dress code. Yet this allowance for personal style has cause countless fashion faux pas in the past, as in guys taking the "Casual Friday" maxim a little too literally. Shucking your silk necktie and the Monday to Thursday dress code requires a balancing act that you have to master.

A New Twist on Neckties
Just because there's "casual" in the description doesn't mean that Casual Fridays have to be completely devoid of neckties. It's all a matter of loosening up that knot and pairing it with pieces that dress it down to a more weekend-friendly level of formality.

Silk neckties are a classic example of the workday aesthetic, but you can give it a less businesslike twist by swapping out the suit jacket for a tonal v-neck sweater. A little pop of color from a subtly striped Oxford shirt doesn't hurt either. Gray or navy slacks, rolled up sleeves and a tie that's not so tightly knotted should balance this look's preppy roots.

Knit neckties are an equally stylish alternative to the traditional silk, with their interesting texture yet classic colors. Pick one up in solid black or navy and then wear it over a plain white but crisply ironed shirt. You could don your everyday suit jacket over this combo, but a light-colored yet structured blazer with contrasting pants will do you one better.

No-Necktie Style
Few things say, Weekend, more clearly than a look that's free of the tie, that ubiquitous symbol of corporate employment. You might think that outfits without one of the most businesslike accessories in men's fashion would look too casual, but you can dress up your look by putting in other more formal pieces in place of the tie.

Shirts need not always be so plain, and you can swap out your favorite solid or pinstripe with a madras print or a bold check pattern. Your top would be interesting enough as it is, making the addition of a necktie unnecessary. See to it that you pair this bolder, more colorful choice with a more formal but equally light pair of pants, like your favorite flat-front chinos. With rolled up sleeves, it makes for a vibe that's laid-back but not sloppy.

Blazers need not become superfluous just because Saturday is nigh; it's all in how you style your look. Leave the long-sleeved shirts on their hangers and reach for your short-sleeved polo shirts instead, if you have them in bright, bold colors, that is. As long as you buy high quality cotton polo shirts, this look can be pulled off at the office. Wear one under the blazer, and then finish off with suede or nubuck shoes, worn sans socks.

The Finer Details for Fridays
It's not just your main style pieces, the polos, pants and all the rest of them, that should be pulling their weight when you go casual. A "good" look in men's fashion is one with a clear and consistent message. That means your accessories should be in jive with the rest of your outfit and be as casual as the other pieces to make the look come together.

For starters, you may want to leave the oversized I'll-be-boss-someday metal watch you wear for the rest of the week in favor of a more understated one with a leather strap. Your stuffy leather briefcase has also got to go; you might want to replace it with a leather-trim canvas bag or a nice leather satchel. And canvas boat shoes or neutral tone bucks make the best casual day stand-ins for your black leather wingtips and brogues.

Remember that everyone judges your office outfit, including the boss. Make sure that your style is as sharp as your performance at work. You never know when your fashion sense might just give you that crucial leg up you need to climb the corporate ladder.