Now that we are returning to the office, we have to step up our wardrobe. No more working at home in our favorite gym clothes. Here are our top 10 men’s casual wear looks and brands that are ready for the office or the restaurant. Why are these our picks? You won’t lose all the comfort of those work-from-home gym clothes.
Contents
- 1. THE 365 PANT BY FLINT AND TINDER IS THE PERFECT PAIR OF PANTS
- 2. PROOF NOMAD PANTS: VERSATILITY FOR EVERY ENVIRONMENT
- Proof Nomad Pants Features
- 3. RHONE COMMUTER DRESS SHIRT
- 4. GORUCK SIMPLE PANTS: PERFECT FOR EVERYTHING
- GORUCK SIMPLE PANTS FEATURES
- 5. GOODTHREADS, AMAZON’S IN HOUSE BRAND
- 6. THE TAYLOR STITCH DEMOCRATIC CHINO
- 7. THE PROOF OXFORD SHIRT
- Proof Oxford Performance Dress Shirt Features
- 8. TODD SNYDER JAPANESE SELVEDGE OXFORD
- 9. Buck Mason No Pocket Shirt
- 10. WEAR PROOF’S 72-HOUR MERINO COLLECTION ON YOUR NEXT TRAVELS
1. THE 365 PANT BY FLINT AND TINDER IS THE PERFECT PAIR OF PANTS
We’ve highlighted Flint and Tinder before, for their durable, classically stylish, and all-around versatile clothes. Their 365 Pant, of course, continues in that tradition, a pair of pants suitable for everything from the office, to the bar, to globetrotting – and everything in between. Cut, sewn, and dyed in Southern California, the 365 pants is made from 97% cotton, for softness and durability, and 3% Lycra, for a bit of stretch and mobility. They are cut with 5 pockets, like a pair of jeans, but with the same twill as a pair of chinos, and preshrunk. A custom, Flint and Tinder metal button with nickel finish rounds out the ensemble. Flint and Tinder only use YKK zippers, as well.
The 365 Pant is cut with a slim, tailored and tapered fit, that is both comfy and totally in style. This is a pair of pants that will not only never go out of style – but might actually last long enough to say that. Pair with anything, from a t-shirt and sneakers to a dress shirt and boots. They’ll look great the whole time.
2. PROOF NOMAD PANTS: VERSATILITY FOR EVERY ENVIRONMENT
The Proof Nomad Pants are aptly named; a nomad is one who has no permanent home, and constantly finds themselves moving from one place to another. And while – even in this age of digital nomads – not all of us are constantly moving homes, many of us are constantly moving from one place to another – whether it’s from home to the office or from the office to the trails. And the Proof Nomad Pants are designed to handle of all these situations.
Designed in San Francisco, Nomad pants are cut like your favorite chino, and made from a technical, four-way stretch blend, which is water-resistant – as well, they tout, resistant to coffee, beer or any other beverage you might spill on it. There are two rear pockets – like those of chinos – with snap closures, and a hidden pocket designed for travel, letting you stash your valuables – phone, wallet, keys, passport – in safety and security. Lastly, the fabric is bluesign-approved, meeting standards for sustainable textile production.
You’ve got your choice of the Nomad pants in grey, white and Volcanic; they’re just as fly in the office as they are biking home or jetting or the around the world, making them the perfect pair of pants for the go everywhere, do-everything guy – whether or not that means your an actual nomad.
Proof Nomad Pants Features
- Four-way stretch fabric
- Water and Stain-resistant – no matter the drink
- bluesign®-approved for sustainability
- Dual rear welt pockets with black matte snap buttons
- Hidden zip pocket for stashing cash, wallet or passport
- Designed for any environment or use – from work to commuting to the world
3. RHONE COMMUTER DRESS SHIRT
One of our favorite men’s athletic wear brands, Rhone, also happens to offer one of the best athletic fit dress shirts on the market, the Commuter Dress Shirt. The days of heavily starched dress shirts that are like wearing a cardboard box are long gone. Rhone sets itself apart by using materials that often cost as much as 4x more than the fabric you’d find on the typical department store apparel. This is apparent from the moment you slip on the Commuter Dress Shirt…the stretch and comfort aren’t much different than your favorite t-shirt!
This Rhone luxury button-down is available in 7 colors and sizes from Small to XXL. If you are like us, you’ll soon have one in every color lining your closet. The naturally wrinkle-resistant, lightweight Italian fabric is touted as making the Commuter “The Most Comfortable Dress Shirt Ever Made.” Rhone backs up that statement with a money-back guarantee…not to mention over 100 5-star reviews! It features a hidden button collar, which is key for a modern athletic fit dress shirt. As nice as it looks paired with a blazer, the classic cut curved hem is the perfect length, making it stylish both tucked and untucked.
Because of their proprietary technical fabric, care could not be any easier. This dress shirt is 100% machine washable. They even say: “Do not iron! Do not dry clean!” in the care instructions. (Isn’t that music to a man’s ears?) Rhone offers free shipping, free returns, and 45 days to try out their goods, so you really can’t go wrong if you are looking to try out our top recommendation for a button-down dress shirt!
4. GORUCK SIMPLE PANTS: PERFECT FOR EVERYTHING
We love GoRuck for their high-quality, built to last bags and gear, almost completely guaranteed to last you decades of hard use and abuse. They’ve taken that same attention-to-detail and reliable craft and put it into their line of apparel – such as the GoRuck Simple Pants.
The Goruck Simple Pants are sewn from GoRuck’s signature fabric, a blend of 94% nylon and 6% spandex. They are durable and abrasion-resistant, fast-drying and breathable, as well as stretchy and comfortable. They’re also cut like a traditional pair of jeans, with the same 5-pocket design; side pockets are horizontal, to keep things from falling out, and the knees are articulated for a greater range of motion. The waistband is also curved for a comfier, more flexible fit.
These pants are perfect for a simple, good-looking but ultimately functional pair of pants, suitable and adaptable for a variety of different situations.
GORUCK SIMPLE PANTS FEATURES
- Classic Jeans Styling
- Back Pockets and finished belt loops
- Fast drying, abrasion resistant, stretch fabric
- Horizontal pockets
- Curved waistband
- Articulated knees for greater range of motion
- Made in the USA
5. GOODTHREADS, AMAZON’S IN HOUSE BRAND
Finding high-quality, good-fitting clothing shouldn’t be hard, or expensive. Amazon gets that, and that’s why they launched GoodThreads. They already have their Amazon Essentials line of clothing, and AmazonBasics makes the everyday staples available for less, so why not move into fashion? To be fair, you won’t find anything avant-garde or fashion-forward, but they’ve done a solid job with the classics – and that’s all you can really ask of them.
Every piece of clothing GoodThreads makes is meticulously designed and crafted to be just a little bit better than your average off-the-rack clothing, whether it’s the super comfortable fit and cut or the perfect placement of the buttons. The main attraction in the line is a series of slim-fit, button-down shirts, available in checkered, plaid, and solid oxford cloth. There’s a color for every occasion, casual or dress. The slim fit fits well in the chest, and tapers down for a fitted silhouette. Complementing these shirts are several varieties of chinos, both slim and dress, with 2% spandex for a comfortable stretch.
GoodThreads offers more, though – fleece joggers, crewneck t-shirts, and boxer briefs, too. Even a bomber jacket. The best part? Price. They are all very affordable, retailing for far less than their more brand-name counterparts (J Crew, Banana Republic, Gap) would. Like Amazon’s other lines, however, there just isn’t a lot available right now. We look forward to seeing GoodThreads expand and add new styles over time.
6. THE TAYLOR STITCH DEMOCRATIC CHINO
Taylor Stitch calls their Democratic Chino the “most comfortable and hardest wearing chino out there,” thanks to the ultra-thick, ultra-luxurious 9.5 oz Brushed Spanish Twill cotton fabric it’s made from – which they compare to a hardened steel frame with an air ride suspension.
Whatever they feel like, these chinos certainly look great. Classic. The fabric is a bit rough, lending them a vintage look, but the silhouette is trim and modern. The Democratic Chinos use what is called Taylor Stitch’s “Democratic Fit” – which means the thigh is roomy enough for those of us who work out, but the leg tapers down nice and neat. In other words, a fit that fits normal people. A Democratic Fit. The yarn is mercerized, which improves smoothness, softness, and durability, and is more resistant to fading, the pants have custom YKK zippers, and the inside (including pockets) is lined with a printed map of old-town San Francisco that is 100% awesome and unique.
The Democratic Chino also comes with a 36” inseam, so you can get them hemmed perfectly to your height. With 5 classic colors and some heavy-duty fabric made to last, these pants are another excellent piece of classically-inspired clothing from Taylor Stitch. Designed in San Francisco, these pants are made in Portugal, and built to last a long life of hard wear.
7. THE PROOF OXFORD SHIRT
Few pieces of clothing are as timeless as the Oxford. It works with rugged, casual, and dressy outfits, and the soft, washed cotton looks and feels pretty much perfect. But we’ve yet to see a performance Oxford, a void now filled by the new Proof Oxford Shirt.
Proof hails from San Francisco, and it’s their mission to bring traditional, classy dress clothes into the 21st century. They do this with the Proof Oxford by combining the stretch and durability of nylon, with the soft comfort of cotton. The result is a flexible, soft fabric with 4-way stretch, that looks as good as it performs, and is stain-resistant, repelling food, water and drinks. The cut and fit is athletic – classically cool but ready to go for anything.
And thanks to the Proof Oxford’s comfortable cut and moisture-wicking comfort, you can wear it for just about anything. Commuting to work on your bike. Walking to the office on a blistering day. Or simply catching a few drinks at happy hour. You’ll stay cool and comfortable the whole way.
Proof Oxford Performance Dress Shirt Features
- Midweight cotton / nylon blend Oxford cloth
- Breathable, cool, moisture-wicking
- Four-way stretch for 360 degrees of mobility and 365 days of comfort
- Innovative midweight fabric combines comfort of cotton with strength and durability of nylon
- Stain-resistant finish repels water, wine, food.
- Designed in San Francisco
8. TODD SNYDER JAPANESE SELVEDGE OXFORD
Oxford shirts are a staple of men’s style, appropriate for casual, semi-casual and even some slightly-less-than-formal occasions. Wear it with jeans or chinos when out on the town, with shorts for a casual look at the summer cookout, or even put it under a linen suit in hot summer weather. Whatever kind of look you’re going after, you should have at least one favorite oxford in your wardrobe. And if you’re looking for a classic item that will go with any outfit, check this Japanese Selvedge Shirt from Todd Snyder – one of the best oxford shirts out there today.
Todd Snyder is known for his classic, sartorially-inspired pieces of menswear with modern sensibility and style, and this oxford cotton shirt fits the bill. Woven from a Japanese selvage cotton oxford cloth, this shirt is comfortably soft and tailored for a sleek, trim fit. It’s suitable for any occasion this summer, goes with almost any outfit, and with Todd Snyder’s renowned quality, will last for years to come. Comes in both Blue and White.
9. Buck Mason No Pocket Shirt
Buck Mason makes some of the coolest pieces of classic men’s style, combining modern edge with old-time designs. The No Pocket Shirt is a great example of this. They took an undeniably simple and casual design – the casual oxford shirt – and makes it even simpler and more casual, by ditching the pockets, and an open collar. The result is a streamlined shirt with zero frills or unnecessary details.
The fabric is a 100% cotton poplin, super soft and designed to give a little bit of stretch and give for a casual, comfortable fit around the clock. It’s double-laundered to give it a worn, casual look, and comes with a slightly tailored cut for a loose, but not baggy, look.
The Cool Cotton No Pocket Shirt comes in Olive, Navy and Natural (White). It’s an easy, casual shirt for relaxing and going out alike.
If something a bit more formal (just a bit) is more your style, Buck Mason also makes the One Pocket Oxford Shirt, with a 100% cotton Oxford cloth and all the classic trimmings – back yoke, button collar, and of course, chest pocket. And they’ve got the Double Weave Vintage Two Pocket, which combines the softest double weave fabric with a purely relaxing fit.
10. WEAR PROOF’S 72-HOUR MERINO COLLECTION ON YOUR NEXT TRAVELS
Proof – now a Huckberry brand – always manages to make high-tech function and sleek style just come together. From their Nomad Shorts to their technical jackets, their entire line at least promises to reshape the way we think of clothing. Their 72-Hour Merino Collection is no less than any other.
They gave the 72-Hour Collection its name after testing the original Tee out in Iceland, where they wore it non-stop for 72 hours to prove its comfort and nature-resisting odor-resistance. The 72-Hour Merino Polo is just the natural successor to that one; a classy-but-casual cut from the same Merino fabric blend and designed for adventurous, on-the-go wear.
Proof’s 72-Hour Merino Fabric is 89% 16.5-micron merino wool from New Zealand, blended with 11% nylon. This combo is the perfect amount of moisture-wicking, odor-resistance, and soft, lived-in comfort. It’s so comfortable – says Proof – that you’ll likely never want to take it off. At least for the first 72 hours. Nylon serves an additional purpose, beyond moisture-wicking; it allows you to machine-wash the shirt without losing its shape.
On top of all that, it’s reliably styled like any other trusty polo. The 72-Hour Collection also includes long-sleeve and short-sleeve henleys and the original Tee – all made with the same merino wool/nylon blend. Whether you’re rocking one of these shirts for 72 hours straight on your next adventure or just for chilling at a summer pool party, it’ll keep you comfortable, looking sharp, and smelling fresh.