Business Casual is in Style this Winter

by Samantha Cerezo

In an era dominated by e-girl/boy, hypebeast, and sportswear fashion, it’s difficult to acquire styles outside these tastes. I used to never explore beyond mainstream fashion because it seemed like everyone was dressing in more or less similar styles. Thanks to quarantine, I had the opportunity to venture outside the popular fashion realm and develop my taste for business casual attire. If you’re curious about this style, then keep on reading to discover its winter wardrobe essentials!

First up are the shoes: a pair of Oxfords or Mary Janes are simple in design, yet hold so much character in them. These shoes come in glossy or matte and heeled or flat. They also come in a variety of colors such as neutrals, green, blue, etc. Personally, I like the matte and flat shoes that aren’t chunky; otherwise, the design brings too much attention to the shoes, clashing with the rest of the outfit. If you’re trying to make a fashion statement with your shoes, then disregard what I just said, but for me, I tend to make my fashion statements with coats and cardigans. If the latter sounds like you, go easy on the shoes. As for color, I’d stick to black or brown. I think that most people are quick to go with black shoes because they’re “safe” and match with practically any outfit, but if you’d like to step out of your comfort zone, consider brown shoes as well! This unconventional shoe color in teenage fashion today really stands out, which adds more character to the shoe. And personally, black Oxfords and Mary Janes make me look short (I’m five foot two for reference), and I felt like brown shoes suit my wardrobe better since it’s mostly made up of brown or white clothing articles.

Next are the trousers/suit pants. Now I know what you’re thinking: you can wear pants that aren’t jeans or sportswear?! And yes—you can. I’ve always felt that jeans had too much of a carefree vibe to them, plus I have never found a wash or a fit of jeans that was just right for me. Sweatpants and joggers are godsends, yet they’re too casual to be versatile. Finding the right pair of trousers wasn’t hard for me; the first time I fit one, it was a match made in heaven! Like jeans, trousers can be fitted or baggy, but unlike jeans, they’re uniform in color throughout, which makes it easier to find a matching top. Trousers are also not as restricting as jeans, and I even find most of them as comfortable as sweatpants. If you have baggy trousers, try wearing it with a black fitted turtleneck for that clean-cut look. If the trousers’ pant legs are long, consider pairing it with shoes that have some elevation to them. Otherwise, the pants go all the way down to the floor, and if you’re short like me, it makes you look awkwardly shorter.

Last up—and I purposely saved my favorite for last—are the overcoats! They are essential to unifying the outfit because they take up most of your appearance. These coats are structured and end from anywhere above your knees to the ground. I advise you to look into ones that have loose sleeves and keep the length to anything in between just above the knee to the ankles. As I mentioned earlier, I make my coats the accent piece; I have coats with non-neutral colors and patterns—a stark (and stylish) contrast to the plain pants and shoes. The way that these coats are sharply cut at the bottom helps achieve that sophisticated, clean-cut look. When wearing these coats, be sure to opt for more fitted pants, otherwise the outfit just looks too flowy. Also consider looking into plaid overcoats! In public, simple overcoats coats are worn more often than patterned ones, so wearing plaid coats are different and eye-catching. Beware though, having patterns increases the chances of the different pieces of your outfit to clash, so make sure to carefully consider the rest of your wardrobe when buying a patterned coat. In addition, don’t expect to spend less than thirty bucks for these, and make sure to layer when you wear them as they tend to go thin.

I hope you received some inspiration to change up your wardrobe, whether it be the whole wardrobe or just bits and pieces of it. Clothing is expensive, so my final tip is that when you’re venturing into a new style, make a list of what you want and also consider what you already have in your wardrobe to avoid making failed purchases. Happy exploring!