What to Wear on Casual Friday – $372.00 Total (including shoes and a watch)

I don’t know who decided that pleated khakis and billowing sport shirts should be standard issue for American men on casual Fridays, but it looks pretty bad.  There’s a difference between casual and sloppy, and that which most guys wear to the office on casual Friday looks much more like the latter.  These suggestions should hopefully tighten up your look, without killing your paycheck. 

Old Navy Gray Twill Blazer – $40.00

Not Navy, not black… Gray.  Inexpensive but decent quality, this blazer can be worn around the house or with a decent shirt and chinos to a nice event.  It comes out of the store slightly boxy, but once you get it tailored it’ll look dead on perfect with a pair of dark jeans.  It’s 100% cotton and the tag says you can machine wash it, but don’t.  Dry clean it instead.  It’ll start to lose it’s shape if you throw it in with your other laundry.  If you’ve got a credit card with Gap or Banana Republic, their rewards coupons they send work at Old Navy too.  I got a similar blazer for $15.00.

Levi’s 501s Dimensional Rigid wash –  $44.99

Wearing a pair of jeans that are lighter than medium blue is a risk… anytime.  Wearing anything other than dark wash jeans to work shouldn’t ever happen.  The darker the more formal.  Unless they’re black.  501s are inexpensive, on the fitted but not too slim side, and the classic stitching on the back pockets is unmistakable. Wear them with a standard jeans belt.

Calvin Klein White Oxford – $48.00

Crisp but still casual.  Not a standard dress shirt that comes in exact sizes, but instead a more casual cousin available in S, M, L, and XL.  What you want here, is a shirt that’s got a little more movement in it, but still has collar stays.  This has both.

Alfani RED Stripe | Alfani RED Solid | or Clubroom Wider Knit tie – $17.99

Wearing a tie with jeans isn’t the easiest move to pull off.  Unless it’s a knit tie.  Stripes if you like to stand out and the plain old black if you don’t.  The Club Room tie has a more traditional wider-knit.

Florsheim Colfax Dress Boots – $87.96

Perfect toe, elastic gore siding that blends in, no distracting stitching.  Plus under $90.00  What’s not to like?

Swiss Military Hanowa Men’s Sealander – $132.75

Here’s where some color comes in.  It has a white dial but the green (or red, or… yellow, plenty of options with this watch) bezel keeps you from looking too mono-chromatic.  It’s a casual Friday so feel free to leave your slim dress watches at home in favor of this one.

Any other suggestions?  They’re always welcome.  Comment below…