Difference between dress shirts and business casual shirts?

So I sometimes hear people refer to dress shirts and then business casual shirts separately. Can't you wear dress shirts for business casual, just unbutton the top button and don't wear a tie?

Also are button down collars acceptable for business casual?

dress shirt vs casual shirt

The distinction here is being drawn between two different types of button down shirts. The sports shirt and the dress shirt. Here's an excerpt from

It is most commonly part of a man’s business attire, and may have a variety of different collar styles, as well. Most dress shirts are long-sleeved and they have buttons down the full length. A dress shirt with a tie and suit jacket is semi-formal; a dress shirt without a tie, whether or not it is paired with a suit jacket, is considered semi-formal.

Sport Shirt or Casual Button Down

The differences between dress shirts and sport shirts certainly have some blurred lines, but there are a few simple ways to tell them apart. For example, a dress shirt is typically styled more conservatively, with stiffer collars and neutral colors. On the other hand, a sport shirt may contain bigger and bolder patterns, collars that are less stiff, and even epaulets and pockets. Some sport shirts are made from materials generally deemed “comfortable” such as denim, and still others contain blends of cotton, polyester, and other materials. Sport shirts pair well with jeans or slacks and are perfect for everyday casual wear.

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Best Response

Yes dress shirts are actually preferred for business casual (top button unbuttoned). The distinction you're hearing about is dress shirt vs. sport shirt. Sport shirts technically aren't supposed to be worn in business casual (they're just regular casual) but these days people get away with it. If your office dress code is business casual though you should 100% stick to dress shirts. With regards to button down collars - it depends. They do make button down dress shirts (they're not very stylish) but most button down shirts are sport shirts.

Here's an example of a sport shirt that you could probably get away with (I don't recommend it) in a non-strict business casual setting: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Supima%C2%AE-Cotton-Non-Iron-Slim-Fit-Gin…

Here's an example of a very sporty sport shirt that should only be worn in casual settings: http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Supima%C2%AE-Cotton-Non-Iron-Slim-Fit-Mul…

Here's an example of a button down dress shirt (perfectly acceptable but I think it makes you look goofy): http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Supima%C2%AE-Cotton-Non-Iron-Traditional-…

I'm not going to link a regular dress shirt because I assume you know what those look like.

 

Better find out what your company likes. You dont want to make a blunder in front of your boss. Again, there are some casual shirts that can get away with formal. But choose with care.

In Time I wander
 

Button-down collars are inherently less formal than a point or spread collar. They originated in England when the aristocracy grew tired of their shirt collars flapping up into their face as they enjoyed their matches of polo. As you can imagine, jouncing around on horseback isn't very conducive to keeping your collar flat against your neck. The original 'polo' shirt was coined when some practical soul first had the genius idea to affix buttons to keep the collar in place.

Sartorialists will tell you that the button-down collar therefore has no place in gentlemanly settings, as a gentleman in any kind of formal environment would be engaging in no activity so strenuous as to necessitate his collar being kept down with the aid of buttons. Today, it has become (unfortunately) acceptable, even common, to see men heading into and out of offices with button-down collars and ties. I think it's become the quintessentially professorial look, actually; think of every prep school or collegiate teacher you've seen in film or in person. Chances are, they wore an oxford with buttoned collar and bow tie or repp stripe.

Personally, I absolutely loathe the 'business casual' look most men today espouse; a dress shirt with the uppermost button undone and no tie. Most of the time this leads to a truly sloppy look, as the points of the collar rise up very far from the chest (or shoulders, if it's a spread collar) and flap around out of control. In my case, broader shoulders, a muscular chest, and developed traps (come at me, bro) accentuate this problem even further. If I am not wearing a tie, I will only wear a button-down collar. If I am wearing a tie, I will wear a spread collar.

Today, 'sport wso/">shirt' typically refers to pattern alone. Since people don't know their history, the concept of sport vs. dress has nothing to do with design and everything to do with fabric pattern. Historically, it was a matter of function. A sport wso/">shirt was one in which you engaged in sport: hunting, fishing, shooting, riding, etc. (and therefore probably had breast pockets, a sturdier fabric, or perhaps even epaulettes). A dress shirt was one in which you conducted matters of business or society. Today, the difference in two seems to be solely one of gaudiness.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Dress shirts = spread or widespread collar, higher-end fabrics, looks more expensive, could have french cuffs (don't necessarily have to be), usually more traditional colors and patterns

Casual shirts = button-down collar, rougher/stiffer oxford-type clothes (don't necessarily have to be), more patterns (checks, stripes, etc), more variation of colors available. Google Brooks Brothers "sport shirt" and you'll see what I mean.

Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis - when I was dead broke man I couldn't picture this
 
Gulf Coast Finance:

Button down collars are very popular in the south.. my two cents.

This is true I'm working in a major southern city and many people wear them..along with short sleeve dress shirts

The answer to your question is 1) network 2) get involved 3) beef up your resume 4) repeat -happypantsmcgee WSO is not your personal search function.
 
meekrab:
bfin:
Gulf Coast Finance:

Button down collars are very popular in the south.. my two cents.

This is true I'm working in a major southern city and many people wear them..along with short sleeve dress shirts

That's just for practical reasons, it's **** hot. Hell my VP here in Chicago wears a short sleeve dress shirt when it gets over 80.

Completely agree. Golf shirts are acceptable, even common, in AZ in the summer in most offices. Still like to get the dress shirts out for meetings with clients.

 

I don't see any real problem with button down collars, even when wearing a tie, I think they work fine.

The main issue I'd have with the shirts listed by Rapto.45 isn't so much the style of collar, but the stupidly flamboyant colors and designs.

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 

Dress shirts are usually made of thinner fabric than your typical sport shirt. Sport shirts often have logos embroidered on the chest.

Also, just because a shirt has button-downs doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't a wso/">dress shirt. I have several dress shirts with button-downs that I wear with my wso/">suits, and they are perfectly acceptable. Then again, I'm from the South, so my opionion might be biased.

 
OU812:

Dress shirts are usually made of thinner fabric than your typical sport shirt. Sport shirts often have logos embroidered on the chest.

Also, just because a shirt has button-downs doesn't necessarily mean that it isn't a wso/">dress shirt. I have several dress shirts with button-downs that I wear with my wso/">suits, and they are perfectly acceptable. Then again, I'm from the South, so my opionion might be biased.

I have no idea how button-down dress collars still exist. Didn't those die out during the 80s-90s?

 
APAE:

Button-down collars are inherently less formal than a point or spread collar. They originated in England when the aristocracy grew tired of their shirt collars flapping up into their face as they enjoyed their matches of polo. As you can imagine, jouncing around on horseback isn't very conducive to keeping your collar flat against your neck. The original 'polo' shirt was coined when some practical soul first had the genius idea to affix buttons to keep the collar in place.

Sartorialists will tell you that the button-down collar therefore has no place in gentlemanly settings, as a gentleman in any kind of formal environment would be engaging in no activity so strenuous as to necessitate his collar being kept down with the aid of buttons. Today, it has become (unfortunately) acceptable, even common, to see men heading into and out of offices with button-down collars and ties. I think it's become the quintessentially professorial look, actually; think of every prep school or collegiate teacher you've seen in film or in person. Chances are, they wore an oxford with buttoned collar and bow tie or repp stripe.

Personally, I absolutely loathe the 'business casual' look most men today espouse; a dress shirt with the uppermost button undone and no tie. Most of the time this leads to a truly sloppy look, as the points of the collar rise up very far from the chest (or shoulders, if it's a spread collar) and flap around out of control. In my case, broader shoulders, a muscular chest, and developed traps (come at me, bro) accentuate this problem even further. If I am not wearing a tie, I will only wear a button-down collar. If I am wearing a tie, I will wear a spread collar.

Today, 'sport wso/">shirt' typically refers to pattern alone. Since people don't know their history, the concept of sport vs. dress has nothing to do with design and everything to do with fabric pattern. Historically, it was a matter of function. A sport wso/">shirt was one in which you engaged in sport: hunting, fishing, shooting, riding, etc. (and therefore probably had breast pockets, a sturdier fabric, or perhaps even epaulettes). A dress shirt was one in which you conducted matters of business or society. Today, the difference in two seems to be solely one of gaudiness.

I am permanently behind on PMs, it's not personal.
 

Grain of salt: I've got no experience, though I will be a SA (officially) in 8 days. I also don't know from what background you ask the question.

Maybe on the weekend if you want to look semi-sharp, but I'm pretty sure Wall St. business casual means suit without the jacket. That's what I'm taking it to mean - you can always take off the tie, but you can't run home and change if you feel underdressed.

And, regardless of whether that's a bunch of BS or not (I'm sure I'll be told) it's always smart to dress up better than you need to be while testing the water; if it's bus. cas., go in a suit your first day. Then you can reevaluate and dress accordingly thereafter. If not having the gear is the problem, then commit the (apparently, from reading this board) faux pas of going to Macy's and picking up a white shirt or two. Better to be cheap but appropriately-attired than to stick out like a sore thumb.

 

I've only been an SA for 2 weeks now, but at my business-casual bank about half the people wear ties and half don't--no one ever wears a polo or khakis.

That being said, on the weekends it's much more lax and a polo and khakis would actually be close to overdressed.

 

long sleeve dress shirt, no tie, no jacket.

Don't wear a suit the first day. Seriously, don't be that guy.

I know its a little different, but imagine someone walking in with a suit on the first day of class.

 

Is it true that in business casual attire, you would wear a button-down collar, and if you are in business formal (i.e. coat and tie) you would have a pinpoint collar? I have a business casual internship this summer, and I want to get the right kind of shirts. I always feel weird wearing slacks with a dress shirt that doesn't have a button-down collar.

 

i don't think so that it depends on seasons, you always need to be properly and decently dressed when going to your office, better stick to dress shirt, dress pants!

 

Just take one of your suits, subtract the jacket and tie and BAM, you have business casual. Wearing the khakis is more of a Friday business casual setup, not everyday attire. Keep the jacket at the office in case you have an impromptu meeting.

Good day.

"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant, it's just that they know so much that isn't so." - Ronald Reagan
 

Honestly, I have tried all of the ones you mentioned and I constantly go back to BB. I have a few VVs as well but BB is pretty much the gold standard for Bcash

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

I really like the slim fit shirts by Thomas Pink- especially the heavy twill. After getting a few of these I don't see how I could go back to BB. Though Thomas Pink is pretty expensive- I think they are well worth it.

The Thomas Pink ties on the other hand have great patterns but I just don't like the material and how they tie. I really like Brioni ties, but once again pretty expensive- I find alot of them on sale at Off Saks for under $100 though.

My $0.02

 
jdrdeer:
I really like the slim fit shirts by Thomas Pink- especially the heavy twill. After getting a few of these I don't see how I could go back to BB. Though Thomas Pink is pretty expensive- I think they are well worth it.

The Thomas Pink ties on the other hand have great patterns but I just don't like the material and how they tie. I really like Brioni ties, but once again pretty expensive- I find alot of them on sale at Off Saks for under $100 though.

My $0.02

Interesting, I have not tried the heavy twill so Ill have to give it a shot, thanks.
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

BTW I strongly recommend getting some of those "Wurkin stiffs" collar stays (about $40 for a 3 pack including magnets), you know the metal ones with the magnets they sell at almost every department store. They are awesome when you aren't wearing a tie, I don't think I would wear a dress shirt sans tie without them. Also the metal is great from keeping your collar points from curling after you've been working for 12 hours and you suddenly get pulled in to a meeting by your MD so you don't look like a slob.

 

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