Where to Get Smart Casual Work Wear?

StonedWizard on 23/02/2016 - 12:09
Last edited 23/02/2016 - 17:50

Hello all,

I know theres a similar thread posted on here in relation to suits. But i've started a new role where i'm required to wear "smart casual". We may later get provided a uniform so I don't particularly want to go out and splurge on $100 shirts and pants just yet. Being new to the whole corporate world thing i'm not sure which brands to look at. I do have a beer gut so do need brands which cater more towards the curvier male.

I was hoping to spend under $50 each for shirts and pants and around $100 for shoes.

Update

Turns out I need to wear business pants/suit pants and a shirt with tie. So looking for suggestions on places which offer good quality without spending heaps.

Thanks for all the help.

Education & Work

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2016 - 12:16

    go into tarocash or tradesecret they seem to have very competitive prices

    • StonedWizard on 23/02/2016 - 12:25
      +3

      I tend to find Tarocash, YD, Conor to be really cheap and poor quality, but i'll definitely look into Trade Secret. Thanks for the suggestion.

  • True Bargains on 23/02/2016 - 12:17
    +1

    I normally go for Uniqlo or perhaps H&M.

    • StonedWizard on 23/02/2016 - 12:26

      Do they cater for the larger male or people with asian builds ?

      • the-mal on 23/02/2016 - 13:09
        +1

        Uniqlo has a slim fit range of business shirts that are quite slim cut. Their sizing is definitely Asian sizing. But they have regular fitting shirts too, you may just need to size up. They're good quality for what you pay too (around $30-$50 a shirt from memory) and should last you a good year. Great for your basic set of work shirts.

      • bobbified on 23/02/2016 - 15:00

        both those shops have good quality shirts and pants..
        except I find the wrinkle-free shirts from H&M still wrinkle like my grandma's hand.

        Do they cater for the larger male or people with asian builds?

        That sounds pretty contradictory because the asian builds are stereotypically smaller. lol ^_^

        • MrBear on 24/02/2016 - 08:14

          That sounds pretty contradictory because the asian builds are stereotypically smaller. lol ^_^

          It was an OR question, not an AND question. So not contradictory at all.

        • bobbified on 24/02/2016 - 09:54

          @MrBear:

          It was an OR question, not an AND question. So not contradictory at all.

          That's how I read it.. with an "OR". The OP is a single person and it sounds funny because it's almost like he's asking for clothes for two different body types:

          1. a "larger male"
          2. "people with asian builds" (which by stereotype, is someone with a smaller frame).

          (I personally fit into the number 2, but stereotypes aren't obviously always correct!)

    • airzone on 23/02/2016 - 18:07
      +1

      Just knock on the change room door if going to Uniqlo.. Sometimes they are "occupied".

      • bobbified on 24/02/2016 - 09:55

        lol! you mean, put your ear against the door first and listen for heavy breathing!

  • yoonibear on 23/02/2016 - 12:52

    H&M are perfect for me. $20 business shirts that fit really well. (XL Asian male - size F).

    • StonedWizard on 23/02/2016 - 17:50

      Thanks for the suggestion i'll definitely look into them !

  • SnoozeAndLose on 23/02/2016 - 12:54
    +1

    Target is a good place to buy cheap shirt and pant with some quality.

    $20 off over $100 spend + cash reward with free delivery.

    For $100 you are easily able to get shirt pant and shose.

    • Randxyz123 on 23/02/2016 - 13:55
      +1

      Don't go to target for clothes. Their clothes are pretty bad quality (I mean you get what you pay for)

      Personally I'd recommend spending a little more money and going to higher end stores during their sales.

      H&M should be reasonable as should Uniqlo.

      Don't skimp on shoes. You are going to be wearing them all day every(week) day so you want them to be comfortable and don't want them to fall apart after 6 months.

      • SnoozeAndLose on 23/02/2016 - 14:26

        They do have some quality shirt which you need to pay more.

        You get what is pay for.

        But point is they have $20 off + free shipping(over $39).

  • kolorijo on 23/02/2016 - 13:33

    Connor & Roger David

  • Fizzgig on 23/02/2016 - 14:19
    +1

    Big W, Target, Kmart, Asos etc - tend to have some good items for cheap

  • bobbified on 23/02/2016 - 14:56

    Smart Casual has many meanings.. have you actually started your job yet? You could probably go in and get an idea of what people generally wear in the office.

    It could simply be a polo shirt and slacks… or a button-up shirt and slacks.. or unripped jeans and button-up shirt.

    • StonedWizard on 23/02/2016 - 17:52

      I haven't started the job yet but they said business casual so going to play it safe with Suit pants, shirt and tie initially.

      • airzone on 23/02/2016 - 18:13
        +1

        Business casual normally means sans tie and suit. I wear chino pants and buttoned / collared / long sleeve shirts. The chinos are harder wearing than suit pants. My shirts are various discreet colours and generally a flat colour and no print.

        But it's also industry specific.. Finance "business casual" might mean a casual suit, while an IT startup business casual could mean tidy jeans and a nice polo.

        • StonedWizard on 24/02/2016 - 16:34

          Turns out I'll need to buy suit pants 😒

  • conan2000 on 24/02/2016 - 14:56

    I buy all of my work trousers from www.next.com.au It was around $60 for two pairs recently. Much better quality than what you'll get for sub- $100 locally (it's a British clothing chain). Also they are machine washable which I consider a must, no way am I paying $10 an item for cleaning! The come in different lengths as well as waiat sizes so I don't have to get them tailored.

    Next's shirts are quite good as well but I've been buying my shirts from Costco lately, $22 a shirt for their non-iron home brand and they are quite good quality. They also have other brands of shirts (this changes regularly) for far cheaper than retail prices. Costco may be of no use to you depending on location/membership though…

  • Excelsior on 16/03/2016 - 13:36

    Bell and Barnett, MJ Bale and those boutique stores have (online) sales quite often and prices are often manageable without breaking the bank. One example would be those 2 shirts for $80 and above kind of deal.

    The only downside for me is that the shirts don't quite fit me as well (I've got a smaller frame) so I had to tailor them which added a bit more to the cost. Happy with the quality though.

    Zara have decent shirts too, they're good value when also on sale. I've picked out a couple of nice ones for $30-40.

    For shoes I've had good experiences with Aquila but they're quite pricey (usually ranging from $150+). My current work shoes were bought from Styletread for less than $80 and does the job pretty well.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join