The good news is the pieces that do make the cut are insanely versatile, making any investment well worth it. You’ll want to take stock of your trousers, chinos and immaculate denim — all of them will fit the bill. Next up, inventory your button-ups, whether they be oxfords, poplin shirts, or dress shirts. (Some people might be able to get away with a polo depending on the office, but that’s not a guarantee.) Everything can be wrapped up with a classic blazer or a handsome sweater, too — just keep it clean and simple. Last but not least, don’t forget a well-crafted loafer or perhaps a minimalist sneaker. (And please, steer clear of the “fun” socks for work.)

Blazers for Anywhere but the Boardroom

Do you need a jacket to meet the business casual bar? No. Is it an extra style flex you can easily incorporate into your rotation? Absolutely. The ideal business casual jackets could never be mistaken for being the top half of a suit. Instead they’re made from more relaxed fabrics like tweed, corduroy, and cotton, which means they’ll harmonize with almost any kind of chinos, jeans, or professorial pleated pants.

One thing doesn’t change when you migrate from business to business casual: Shirts are still the anchoring hero of your work wardrobe. In an often waist-up, hybrid working world, they get the most airtime, and they’re a quick signifier that you take yourself seriously.

What you’re looking for here is something that shows off a little personality, but isn’t shouting it from the rooftops. Have some fun with colors and more relaxed fits, but if you take a trip to paisley town, you’ve probably gone way too far.

Read More: The Best Oxford Shirts for Men

The sweet spot with business casual pants is to be obviously less formal, but still kind of tailored. The best ones today skip the gimmicks—we’re looking at you, moisture-wicking—and achieve comfort the old-school way, with the types of looser cuts, softly-slouching fabrics, and retro-inflected pleats that dominated corner offices for the majority of the 20th century.

If your outfit ever skews too relaxed for some colleagues, a solid pair of shoes pulls everything together, and communicates you’re still here to work. (Rules to keep in mind: Single color leathers, minimal adornment and no soles that might be confused with all-terrain boots.) If you’ve got choice paralysis, know that a pair of simple black derbies is more versatile than Daniel Day Lewis—except maybe tux trousers, there’s no pair of pants they can’t elevate.

Read More: The best loafers for men

There’s something inherently business casual about a sweater. Natural fibers sourced from far-flung regions gives them sophistication, but the knit construction makes staring at a screen all day as comfortable as possible.

Offices are also notoriously nice to escape from, especially when you can convince a colleague to take your meeting en plein air. This time of year, that requires a sweater—so feel free to also keep one of these over your chair for good measure.

Of all the elements we’re talking about here, denim deserves the most consideration. Not because it’s an overly complicated thing, but because when done well, it transmits laid-back confidence. But when done poorly—think brightly-colored jeans, or denim pooling at the ankles—everything starts to look a bit, well, summer camp. Here’s a selection that should make the right impression.

Whether you tell your boss or not, a workday in 2025 can include more movement than your old school 9-5. You might be working from the gym in the morning, taking a lunch meeting in the afternoon, then heading to the office after that. That’s a pretty full day—bring your things along for the ride in one of these versatile styles.

Read more: The Best Briefcases for Men

If your office is Air Jordan-amenable Monday through Friday, you don’t need this guide. If you’re surrounded by those monsters that look like dress shoes on top and running sneakers on the bottom, you absolutely need this guide.