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Best Men's Business Casual Brands
Andrew Veglas- Mar 17, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Mar 24, 2021
Business casual is one of the largest and yet least talked about markets in men's clothing. Business casual is defined as clothing which is appropriate for the work environment yet comfortable and casual enough to wear around the house.
Business casual is NOT a type of brand. What business casual is, is a collection of clothing pieces which can instantaneously elect you as being relatively formal or casual at the same time. They are not custom suits nor designer brands. I find that the best brands for this category typically specialize in a specific activity; i.e. golf, hunting, boating, etc.
Below are the top 5 brands which I find to emulate business casual the best. They are in no particular order.
Peter Millar
Peter Millar is in my opinion the best business casual brand. First and foremost, the brand's heritage is in golf. Much of the Peter Millar line-up is golf oriented. The Crown Sport collection as it is known, consists of performance clothing. This brand is premium yet isn't ostentatious. My favorite part of the brand is its subtly. Some of the pieces are hundreds to thousands of dollars. However, no one would ever know. Peter Millar is premium because they use high quality materials and the fit and finish is excellent. The service is great, you can easily reach customer service if you have any issues. All orders come with a paid for return shipping label. If you are worried something doesn't fit, fret not, just throw it back in the box and slap on the label. Easy as pie.
For those who are not familiar with the brand, here is why I believe it is so good:
Subtly- No one knows that you shelled out a lot of money for a vest or sport shirt. You feel confident in knowing that you're wearing high quality, expensive clothing, that emphasize your physique in a positive way.
Ease and comfort- You can wear the same clothes to work and don't have to change when you get to the golf course. Many of the pieces can double between work and golf. They are equally acceptable at either location and fit perfectly for both occasions.
Return label included- Nothing is worse than purchasing expensive clothes on the internet, only to find out that they don't fit or you don't like them. It is such a hassle to pay for return shipping or going back to the store. Peter Millar includes free shipping returns with each order.
Packaging- This might be overlooked by others or other brands, but when you spend a few hundred bucks on clothing, I find it to be a differentiating factor. Packaging is a touchpoint between the brand and its customer. It needs to emulate the feel of the brand. Peter Millar does exactly that. I'll let you order something and figure it out on your own.
The mints. Just order something and you will see.
Vineyard Vines
In my opinion Vineyard Vines is a more preppy-nautically inspired version of the business Casual category. In part to the colors and material, the brand is synonymous with New England summers.
Launched in 1998 in Martha's Vineyard, the brand has seen explosive growth over the past decade. The growth has caused the brand to be far more affordable than ever before. The clothing is fun, comfortable and high quality. In part to the explosive growth, prices and exclusivity have dropped. However, the brand still holds high value. You can now get high quality goods for a lesser price.
Things I like about the brand:
Preppy- Preppy establishes class. Class dictates formality. Vineyard Vines is more casual than the other brands on this list. The clothing is high quality with styles and colors which stipulate 'preppiness'.
The sport shirts are very light and comfortable. If you're expecting a tight fit shirt this is not for you. The sport shirts are light and airy-perfect for a day out on the boat, or in the office during the heat of the summer.
Best value for your money. Vineyard Vines is expensive by traditional standards. However, for the business casual market, it is more affordable. You can get the majority of the clothes at or under the $100 threshold.
They always have incredible sales. Due to the ever changing designs and patterns put out by Vineyard Vines' designers, amazing sales are always being run.
New England based company...New Englanders support each other.
Barbour
Barbour is formally known as J. Barbour & Sons Ltd. The company is based out of the UK. The brand was initially founded in 1894 providing waxed cotton outerwear, ready-to-wear clothing and accessories. They are infamous for their waxed and quilted jackets. Today, Barbour is considered a luxury brand. The brand is quintessential British outdoor gear. The gear is carried in many high-end department stores such as Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom, along with Orvis.
Things I like about Barbour:
High quality products with decades of success. Many wax jacket customers keep their jackets for years and therefore get them eventually 'serviced'. These jackets are made to last.
Investment clothing. As previously stated, A lot of the products offered by Barbour are made to last. They might be a little pricy (few hundred bucks), but over the course of your ownership, it pays for itself.
The fact that a clothing brand has an entire division dedicated to reinvigorating the life of a piece of clothing, says a lot. Customers could easily replace the piece of clothing, instead, they want Barbour to service it. Talk about brand loyalty and quality manufacturing!
They don't try to reinvent the wheel. Their designs are timeless and appropriate for any age. Their main selling points (waxed and quilted jackets seldom change.
5. Barbour isn't a luxury brand where the clothes sit in closet with the tags on them. Just like a car collector who drives their cars, Barbour is meant to be worn and meant to get used appropriately.
Brooks Brothers
Now it is true, Brooks Brothers is also a formal wear boutique. However, the other half of their business is business casual. Don't let the picture to the right fool you, there is much more than just beautiful suits and ties. Out of all of the brands in this list, Brooks Brothers is by far the most formal. It is also by far the oldest. The brand was established in New York City in 1818.
Brooks Brothers is special because they are optimizing their own clothing based on the what the wearer is doing. What I mean by this is that Brooks takes their flagship products (suits, ties, shoes, shirts), which are all formal, and they make them more casual. They aren't reinventing their brand or feel, or even losing perceived value. They are essentially taking their clients who purchase their formal goods, and are selling them the casual goods because they are so similar in quality and fit.
What I like about the brand:
The stores. Brooks Brothers stores are just like the ideal men's closet. (see picture 1 below)
The clothes are the same excellent fit and finish, whether they are formal or casual.
Brooks Brothers prides itself in tradition. They have been around for 203 years (at the time of this writing). That means the have perfected the markets for which they serve.
aside from custom fit clothing, Brooks Brothers fit and quality is second to none.
Similar to that of Peter Millar, Brooks Brothers clothing is high-quality and expensive. However, the clothes are respectful-meaning that you can wear them and not feel pretentious.
Bonobos
Bonobos is a brand which many people seem to be unfamiliar with. The company is relatively young (b.2007) and was started like most great businesses, during the college years of two roommates. I was only recently introduced to the brand when I needed new chino pants. As most women will attest to, men's pants are not typically flattering (nor need be). The founders of Bonobos were trying to create pants which eliminated the "khaki diaper butt". I don't think that most men care about the way their backside looks, however they do care about how the pants feel. I can vouch for the pants. They are some of the best fitting and most comfortable pants that I own. The brand also carries plenty of other pieces of clothing. The brand has a contemporary feel to it and it becomes apparent when you see the styles, colors and store design.
Things I like about Bonobos:
Their pants are the best fitting and most comfortable pants you can buy off of the shelf.
The style and colors are something completely different compared to similar brands. Instead of the same old plain designs and color pallets, Bonobos offers wild colors and new patterns.
The materials which the clothes are made of is also a desirable point. The clothes seems to feel invisible, almost like a custom suit does. You forget you're wearing them.
This brand isn't afraid to get attention. The clothes are mildly expensive, and by no means are pretentious. However, the styles and patterns are completely out there.
Although the majority of men don't truly care how their clothes look on them, Bonobos' magic fit makes the wearer look and feel good.
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