Style Scenario: The Company Picnic

What are you going to wear? Sometimes it’s good to look at a few suggestions then add your own tweaks and ideas. That’s what these are for. If it hasn’t already happened, your company might be on the verge of hosting it’s annual summer picnic/cookout, corporate olympics, or an outdoor organized event of some sort. Wondering how to dress to stay cool and comfortable, yet still impress the bosses and that hottie in accounting? Here’s one way, with most of the picks transitioning into a fall wardrobe. Don’t have a summertime company get together? This outfit works for any sort of casual, outdoor event where you need to impress (like meeting your significant other’s parents).

The Shirt: J. Crew Secret Wash in Burgundy Gingham – $59.50  A salute to the imminent demise of summer, that will easily transition into your fall wardrobe. Just roll the sleeves up during warmer temps. Come fall, it’ll work under a casual navy or grey blazer.

The Shorts: ON Slim-Fit Twill Shorts in Earl Gray – $22 For most of the country, time is limited for shorts season, so there’s no need to drop a lot of cash on a pair. These flat front twill shorts from Old Navy are well reviewed, and will get you by for the next couple months.

The Belt: Jomers Madaket Belt – $20 Doesn’t get better for the price. 100% cotton macrame with Italian leather trim. You should see good use out of this belt for several seasons.

The Watch: Timex Main Street Sport – $35.45 As one of the reviewers puts it, it does in fact “take a licking and keep on ticking”. So cheap, but still Timex reliable. A good timepiece for everyday wear if you’re on a budget. And even if you’re not on a budget, it’s good to have a watch in your line-up that you’re not afraid to beat up.

The Shoes: Sperry ‘Striper CVO’ Sneaker – $59.95 Just a plain sneaker, in a color that can be worn now, and will look good with casual wear come fall.

The Sunglasses: Warby Parker Madison in Whiskey Tortoise – $95 The price shown is the non-prescription price, but you can get these with a prescription lens if desired. The beauty of Warby Parker is you can order 5 frames to try for 5 days at home for free, so you can try several frames on before committing.

The Hair Product: L’Oreal Homme Mat Matte Sculpting Pomade – $10.99. Just the right amount of texture & hold, but none of the shine that could make you end up looking like a castmember from Friends. Smells great too, without being overpowering.

The Wallet: FormFunctionForm Architect’s Wallet in Veg Tan Dublin Ale Leather – $88. Brilliant design incorporates a small notebook into a card holder, and provides a holster for a Fischer Space Pen. For the types who love to jot things down. Made in the USA.

The Advice: Some coworkers, at some work functions, only want to complain about work. Don’t be the person that gets caught by the boss bad mouthing Steve in shipping. That negativity serves no purpose. Take the high road, and if you stumble into a bitch fest, see if you can shift the conversation away from work, and to something more positive. That’s the stuff good management is made of.