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What to wear at subcontractor site, how to do business casual with jeans

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi all, I am going to one of our sub-contractor sites to train some people on how to do some testing for us on a vehicle. It will likely be outside in the moderately cold weather with snow on the ground and I'm guessing most people will be pretty casual since I will just be training drivers. I thought I should try to wear jeans for this. Any thoughts on how to pull off a business casual with jeans? This is what I threw together with what was in my wardrobe. I also have the same shoes and belt in black, but the brown seemed to look better to me. Would like to hear some thoughts.

 
#2 · (Edited)
I do business casual in jeans almost every day. For me the key is dark washed jeans - faded jeans are far more difficult to dress up and they almost always ruin the look IMHO. Also, I like my jeans to fit. I'm in decent shape and wear a 32" waist, and I wear them fitted. I own lots of Gap slim fit and straight fit jeans which work well. Not loose or baggy, but not tight either. Just fitted, if that makes any sense. Japanese selvedge jeans also work extremely well, including button flys.

I wear almost exclusively Brooks Brothers button down shirts, both OCBD and shirts which might be considered dress shirts. Always button down collars. I don't wear white dress shirts with jeans, but almost anything short of that goes as far as I'm concerned. With this I'll pair either some Allen Edmonds shoes or a nice pair of Frye boots, with a nice matching belt, usually from AE or BB.

Variety is important in shoes/belts/shirts as I'm wearing jeans every day. I own every button down BB makes (well, almost every one) and I'm always looking for a new release!

I manage a luxury condominium in Tribeca, and this look works well for me.

ETA

Having a look at your photo I would substitute a BB half zip or 3 button sweater (or equivalent) for the fleece to dress it up a wee bit. Then again, fleece might be appropriate for going to visit a sub. Regardless, what you have looks sharp for a visit to the field.

ETA #2

Brown belts/shoes goes better with jeans IMHO - I agree 100%. Black works also when paired with the right stuff, but brown clicks effortlessly most of the time for me.

Good luck!
 
#6 ·
I have no thoughts on how to pull off a business casual with jeans because in my humble opinion, jeans should never be a part of business casual. I would keep the shirt and jacket, but substitute either a dark pair of khakis or corduroy pants for the jeans. That will make you look like the company rep and teacher that you are, and it will also take care of the large belt buckle that 32 pointed out above. A pair of dress AE or Alden shoes should complete the look.
 
#7 ·
blue suede shoes said:
I have no thoughts on how to pull off a business casual with jeans because in my humble opinion, jeans should never be a part of business casual. I would keep the shirt and jacket, but substitute either a dark pair of khakis or corduroy pants for the jeans. That will make you look like the company rep and teacher that you are, and it will also take care of the large belt buckle that 32 pointed out above. A pair of dress AE or Alden shoes should complete the look.
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I agree with this, but would add that I think business casual is inappropriate for outdoor labor with some sort of commercial drivers' training. You should be wearing clothing more suited to the job at hand.

As an engineer who often must do field work incorporating some level of manual labor, on those occasions I don't wear "business casual" but rather Carhartts and Timberland boots.
 
#8 · (Edited)
MaxBuck said:
I agree with this, but would add that I think business casual is inappropriate for outdoor labor with some sort of commercial drivers' training. You should be wearing clothing more suited to the job at hand.

As an engineer who often must do field work incorporating some level of manual labor, on those occasions I don't wear "business casual" but rather Carhartts and Timberland boots.
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Thing is, the OP's audience must be considered, seems to me. As I understand it, we are talking about truck drivers. If he dresses up too much, whatever message he tries to get through might well be lost amid sideways glances and snickers.

The current governor of Illinois is an excellent example of how not to do it. In an effort to come off as an Everyman, he wears Carhartt, obviously brand new Carhartt still shiny from the shelf. He's a billionaire who graduated from Dartmouth, and he looks ridiculous. Whatever he says is diminished by his appearance. The lesson is, whatever the OP chooses should look natural instead of plotted out.
 
#9 ·
In my opinion you shouldn't be trying to achieve a business casual look in this environment. You are there to train your sub on vehicle testing in the outdoors. Therefore safety and warmth are the goal. Work boots, Carhartts or something similar, layers and gloves.
 
#10 ·
JPM said:
In my opinion you shouldn't be trying to achieve a business casual look in this environment. You are there to train your sub on vehicle testing in the outdoors. Therefore safety and warmth are the goal. Work boots, Carhartts or something similar, layers and gloves.
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I agree with this. Whenever I have to do metal work, I wear whatever I don't mind getting messed up. Usually a flannel, 5.11 pants, and Merrell boots. Also, listen to 32rnr. Not trying to degrade truck drivers but that isn't the arena to try business casual.
 
#11 ·
IMHO the clothes you are wearing in the post, including the company-logo jacket, are just right for the task at hand. My only question is footwear. When I'm in the out of doors, especially in snow or mud, I wear work boots. What will the subs be wearing? But, if it is the velcro fastening low cut cloth shoes I've observed some truckers wearing, don't go there.

Gurdon
 
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