[Lazer Tron]

I work in a fun/casual entertainment-type environment (in staffing and development). I'm often outside walking around in the summer for hours at a time. Once a week I even have to change out of my suit and put on a regular staff uniform halfway through the day. I'm the only man who wears a suit. Even my boss...and his boss...and his boss...wear polo shirts or just a shirt and tie.

With summer coming again...I just can't with the jackets anymore.

Also...semi-related...I've been losing weight recently (after an injury that limited my movement, resulting in a massive weight gain)...so...on my limited budget, I'm not really wanting to replace my wardrobe with expensive suits when I'm clearly overdressed AND will likely have to get them altered again fairly soon anyway.

My thought was to just get some chinos in fun colors and wear them with a button up shirt. But I feel like I should still wear a tie. Mostly because I like wearing ties...but also because the people above me wear them on "business attire" days...so, I'd still be slightly more formal on most days. And then on "business attire" days I could break out a jacket and still be a notch more formal than everyone else.

Anyone want to set me straight on my insanity?

 

[SG_67]

Just because you like wearing a tie doesn’t mean you should.

Colored chinos aren’t something I’d consider wearing a tie with. On those occasions when you need a more business formal outfit, then do so.

The workplace can be tricky. What’s the culture like? If you wore a tie with colorful chinos would you stand out or blend in?

 

[Lazer Tron]

It's a very youthful environment (almost everyone I interact with is under 30...I'd say the plurality being teenagers)...so on the rare occasions when people do dress up, it's often in FAR more "fun" colors than I, as an older person, would dare try. I'm talking not just the standard navy pants/white shirt or Khaki pants/blue shirt get ups that the other people my age are wearing. I'm not walking in with periwinkle pants on....that's too fun for me.

And I get that I shouldnt just wear a tie just because I want to...but like I said...the people above me generally wear a shirt and tie, no jacket. I know that this is frowned upon for an office...but again...we're all mostly back and forth outside and often never go back to an office after we leave...so, I think it's just a matter of convenience at a very casual place.

 

[215339]

In that environment, I'd go sports coats and odd trousers and ditch the tie period.

 

[cosmotoast]

It's funny how workplaces are. You say you're the most formal dresser and the tie is more formal. Well, think about this. In most workplaces people have a style they dress in. If you wear a tie every single day everyone will just get used to it because that's how you always look.

 

[Kyle76]

Just don't ever wear a tie with a short-sleeve shirt. In fact, don't wear a short-sleeve cut-and-sewn shirt at all.

 

[Matt S]

Just don't ever wear a tie with a short-sleeve shirt. In fact, don't wear a short-sleeve cut-and-sewn shirt at all.

No camp shirts?

 

[215339]

Just don't ever wear a tie with a short-sleeve shirt. In fact, don't wear a short-sleeve cut-and-sewn shirt at all.

Never fully understood the aversion to short sleeve shirts, aside from the apparent association with being a dork.

I wear them untucked all the time, even the ones with a curved hem.

 

[Charles Dana]

I work in a fun/casual entertainment-type environment....I'm often outside walking around in the summer for hours at a time.

You're "often outside walking around in the summer for hours at a time"?

Punchline #1:

Good Lord, man! Tell your doctor; there's medication that can put a stop to that.

Punchline #2:

Well stop with the liquid lunches; then you won't have such a hard time finding your way back to your office.

Take your pick. It's Punchline Monday.

Once a week I even have to change out of my suit and put on a regular staff uniform halfway through the day.

What's a "regular staff uniform"? And why do you need to wear it only once a week for half a day?

My thought was to just get some chinos in fun colors and wear them with a button up shirt.

No "fun" colors. As I told someone else in this forum a couple of weeks ago, men should not try to dress "fun;" they usually screw up when they do that. Stick with understated clothing. Use a pleasant demeanor to fit in and a superb work ethic to stand out. Your clothes should be an unremarkable backdrop as you go about your job.

But I feel like I should still wear a tie. Mostly because I like wearing ties...but also because the people above me wear them on "business attire" days...so, I'd still be slightly more formal on most days. And then on "business attire" days I could break out a jacket and still be a notch more formal than everyone else.

What determines if a day is going to be a "business attire" day? Other than wearing "business attire," what happens on those days that doesn't happen on the other days?

It's a very youthful environment (almost everyone I interact with is under 30...I'd say the plurality being teenagers)...

Ahh....you test video games! You make sure they depict plenty of gore and violence. Excellent.

so on the rare occasions when people do dress up, it's often in FAR more "fun" colors than I, as an older person, would dare try.

Good. Leave the "fun" colors to everyone else. You don't need them. Not at work, anyway. Maybe when you are vacationing at some resort.

And I get that I shouldnt just wear a tie just because I want to

Smart insight. Good.

but like I said...the people above me generally wear a shirt and tie, no jacket.

Compromise. Don't walk around all the time wearing a necktie with no jacket, but keep a tie handy--in your desk or backpack or wherever. Then put it on whenever you think you should be wearing a tie. Make the tie a solid burgundy grenadine because it will harmonize with almost all of your clothes. For variety, also get a solid navy and perhaps a solid black grenadine. (But it's advisable to wear them one at a time.)

 

[Kyle76]

Never fully understood the aversion to short sleeve shirts, aside from the apparent association with being a dork.

I wear them untucked all the time, even the ones with a curved hem.

With or without pocket protectors?

 

[SG_67]

Never fully understood the aversion to short sleeve shirts, aside from the apparent association with being a dork.

"All things being equal, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

 

[215339]

With or without pocket protectors?

I'll let your imagination decide! I admit I am a dork though.

I love printed, short sleeve button down shirts.

"All things being equal, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"

I had to look this one up, as it completely went over my head.

I'll take it to be similiar to this clip of Spongebob.

 

[richard warren]

I mostly approve of your idea. As I understand it, you’re working outside in a tourist environment where it’s hot.

Red, white, blue, yellow cotton trousers do not seem out of order.

Add blue seersucker jacket, bright gingham or similar (long sleeve) shirts and knit ties and saddle shoes or bucks.

Of course, all subject to whether you think your bosses would approve.

 

[Lazer Tron]

In that environment, I'd go sports coats and odd trousers and ditch the tie period.

I will be outside for most of the day during the summer months. The jacket is what I'm trying to get away from. And I'm literally the only employee wearing one even now.

 

[Lazer Tron]

What's a "regular staff uniform"? And why do you need to wear it only once a week for half a day?

What determines if a day is going to be a "business attire" day? Other than wearing "business attire," what happens on those days that doesn't happen on the other days?

Good. Leave the "fun" colors to everyone else. You don't need them. Not at work, anyway. Maybe when you are vacationing at some resort.

Compromise. Don't walk around all the time wearing a necktie with no jacket, but keep a tie handy--in your desk or backpack or wherever. Then put it on whenever you think you should be wearing a tie. Make the tie a solid burgundy grenadine because it will harmonize with almost all of your clothes. For variety, also get a solid navy and perhaps a solid black grenadine. (But it's advisable to wear them one at a time.)

A regular staff uniform is a branded polo and khakis...and I have to wear one whenever I am training people...to "look the part" that they will be playing. So, on those days I wear a suit to work, then change clothes a few hours later.

Business attire day is generally when there's an important meeting with all the "top" employees. That's not even a weekly event. And again...everyone at those meetings (except for me) wears a shirt and tie, no jacket. I would absolutely wear a jacket for those, even though I'm the only one who does, because...frankly...I feel like if its a serious thing, we should be dressed seriously. But everyone else, including the people who make 4 times my salary, wear a tie...no jacket.

And as I clarified above...maybe "fun" colors is a bad way of saying it. I'm not talking about crazy stuff...not neon colors or whatever. My suits that I wear currently are the standard colors...navy, charcoal etc, with standard color shirts and pretty standard ties. And honestly...I have heard many times that I'm OVER dressed. I tend to think that you should dress above your pay grade...but this is such a casual environment that I kind of understand their point.

Maybe I'll just buy some new suits (since, as I mentioned...as my mobility has improved I've lost enough weight to where it's beyond just alterations)...but man...I HATED life last summer, walking around in a jacket in the blazing sun. A repeat of that is not at the top of my to-do list. Or, like was mentioned...maybe I'll just keep a jacket and tie somewhere and grab as needed.

 

[Chip39]

A thinner tie and rolled up sleeves are a good compromise. I wear a tie with no coat all the time as a teacher. I know it’s not right but It’s way too hot most of the time for the coat and I feel like I should be just 8% more dressed up than I am without a tie. It’s a dilemma for sure.

 

[JBierly]

I have never found someone wearing a tie with a decent shirt to look that out of place. More like he had a jacket on and got a bit warm and took it off. I suppose it's a bit incongruous to have the relative formality of a tie in the absence of a jacket. Kind of like the trend to wear a suit without tie. So which is the greater faux pas?

As an aside, as a young man I worked in government offices and wore a tie without a jacket and never thought that I looked terrible. My youngest son still wears a tie to school without a jacket. The tie is just about dead and I like ties - so I refuse to help the assault on the tie. Better to wear one than not!

 

[215339]

I will be outside for most of the day during the summer months. The jacket is what I'm trying to get away from. And I'm literally the only employee wearing one even now.

In that situation I'd probably end up wearing linen trousers and a linen shirt, untucked. I assume it gets quite hot where you live?

If I recall right in Andys encyclopedia it states " Never wear a tie with a short sleeve shirt unless you aspire to be a Manager at a fast food restaurant "

Oh I agree. To clarify, I was strictly speaking on short sleeve shirts, not ties.

 

[Peak and Pine]

If I recall right in Andys encyclopedia it states " Never wear a tie with a short sleeve shirt unless you aspire to be a Manager at a fast food restaurant "

I know a farmer, has his heart set on being a CEO. And a college buddy now a CEO who really wants to be a farmer. Aspiration is subjective. A fast food manager can be a calling, can be a step or an end. Up to the individual. Not for us to decry ambition no matter the trade. I'm hoping Andy's book doesn't say what you say it does.

 

[Charles Dana]

...maybe I'll just keep a jacket and tie somewhere and grab as needed.

Do that.