After receiving plenty of positive feedback for “Corporate Style featuring Gabe Schulman” and “Business Casual featuring Marwan Helal“, I figured I would keep up with the “series” by featuring another one of my good (and stylish) friends, Clark Shaw.

As I mentioned in Marwan’s post, the term “business casual” is thrown around a lot and wardrobe expectations can vary greatly from one office to the next.

In a creative/artistic atmosphere – think advertising agency, art gallery, clothing showroom, or design studio like Clark – employees generally have more freedom to express themselves within the dress code.

“On paper we are ‘business casual’ – whatever that means. In reality we tread a line between being stylish & expressive while remaining presentable & appropriate. I guess you could call it  ’business expressive’”

Here, we visited Clark for a work week to document a “business casual” wardrobe in a design studio.

1. The Daily Grind

“This look is a workhorse. It’s casual yet sophisticated, and above all it’s comfortable. When I’m looking for an outfit for work I like to have all those elements in play. As a creative professional you don’t have to worry as much about what is appropriate in the workplace. Keep yourself clothed (no one wants to see that), but you can forget about the conservative ideals of classic ‘work attire’ and add a touch of whimsy.

Here I paired the heavily structured pattern of the vest with the far more subtle pattern of the herringbone pant and the organic lines of the chunky hoodie. The reason all of this can work together is that the color scheme remains simple: shades of grey and cream. Add finishing touches like a classic white button-down and a cool pair of kicks, and it’s a work appropriate look that sheds the stuffy confines of traditional ‘business attire.”

Bonus Tip: for those who’ve asked how to wear tailored clothing in a casual look – this is a great example. White shirt, waistcoat from one suit, trousers from another and still an comfortable casual look.

Bonus Tip II: boat shoes can work with suit trousers, if the suit trousers are slim, flat front, low-rise and textured (and jean pockets help too).  It also helps if the boat shoes are structured and made of wool, making them appear slightly dressier (and winter appropriate).

Shirt vest and pants by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Sweater by Michael Bastian for Gant. Shoes by Sperry Topsider.

2. The Snow Day

“When the weather is your enemy (and it’s been mine lately) there is only one thing to do: arm yourself. Being comfy and warm while still looking like you’re going to work isn’t as hard as you might think, and luckily in the design world there is a good amount of wiggle room. The key for me is to be comfortable and worry free. I don’t want to be thinking about what the salt on the sidewalks is doing to my nice shoes, or what the rain and snow are doing to the rest of my clothes.”

Here Clark straps on some classic Bean Boots and layers a couple knits under a poly trench, “this way I don’t need a bulky coat and I can put layers on or take them off as the weather changes throughout the day.”

Bonus Tip: Pairing a chunky knit over a fine one is not only soft and comfortable, it also adds layers of insulation that can be added or removed, which is especially important in this bipolar weather when temperatures can vary 30 degrees in 24 hours.

Shirt by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Striped Sweater and cable knit sweater both by Vince. Jeans by Nudie. Boots by L.L. Bean. Trench by Barney’s New York.

3. The Meeting

“Whenever we have a meeting scheduled I usually go with a slightly more dressed-up look. It’s a tailored suit (a bad-ass peak-lapel flannel) but I’m a designer so I like to do something a little creative, so I traded in my silk windsor knot for a silk scarf knot instead.”

Bonus Tip: a great way to wear a suit without the stuffiness – loose the shirt and tie. Try it with just a t-shirt and a sweater (cardigan, crew, v-neck, turtleneck, etc) and, if you’re feeling swagger-full, a scarf accent too.

“What I like about this look is that it’s a little on the edge of too much, but because the elements are so simple, it works. For a meeting in the fashion world this would be a perfectly acceptable way to suit yourself, and just a little dandy and contrary to the crowd”.

Flannel suit by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Sweater by Brooks Brothers Black Fleece. Scarf by McQ by Alexander McQueen. Shoes by Prada.

4. The Luncheon

“When you’re meeting over lunch, you can generally assume the attire will be slightly more relaxed than a traditional business setting, but you should still look professional. In my opinion, a man doesn’t quite look ‘professional’ without a jacket and a collared shirt – but that doesn’t mean you are limited – there are so many ways to play with that basic concept.

I have a hard time taking myself too seriously, so I like to add a dose of humor to my looks to keep them youthful and vibrant. When Im wearing tailored stuff, for example, I like to add some pop with pattern mixing. Here I’ve paired a very classic blue check shirt with a much more irreverent scarf. The rest of the look is basically two pieces of a three-piece suit on top of a pair of jeans, which feels much more casual than a suit to me, but remains a “buttoned up” look.

Bonus Tip: half casual, half formal look? Sharp shoes.

Bonus Tip II: “invest in some good socks – nothing says ‘my girlfriend picked this outfit’ more than the sight of sweat socks under an otherwise well-styled look.”

On Clark: Jacket, Shirt and Vest all by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Scarf by Zara. Jeans by Nudie. Shoes by To Boot New York. Socks by J. Crew. On Dan: vintage patchwork scarf. Boots by L.L. Bean. Jeans by APC. Corduroy bomber jacket by Onasis.

5. The Weekend Work Trip

“A weekend setting up for shows or running errands to suppliers and manufacturers can produce any number of situations. Generally I find that a man looks stylish in almost any setting when he’s in a Neapolitan inspired look. This one is simple and all the pieces are versatile and easy to to mix-and-match: corduroy jacket, chinos, gingham button-down, simple brown boots, and neutral scarf. With a cardigan sweater and a simple sharp tie, you can pack light and be ready for just about anything.”

Bonus Tip: scarves are one of the few things that you can steal from your girlfriends closet. Odds are that she has a couple good neutral ones that you can fit into your rotation.

Bonus Tip II: check out a couple awesome scarf ties in this post that weren’t featured inF/W Scarves & Knots Part I.

Shirt and Jacket both by Michael Andrews Bespoke. Chinos by Brunello Cucinelli. Boots by Fiorentini + Baker.  Scarf by Zara (stolen from girlfriend’s closet). Pocket Square by Seigo New York.

Thanks for reading, and special thanks to Clark for participating.

Yours in style,

SB

Photography by Alex Crawford.