kinglin

I'm attending a college reception at a very nice local golf club, and I'm required to dress business casual. Right now I've got a very nice jcrew polo and light kaki pants I am wearing. Could I get away with wearing tan sandles, or do I need a nice pair of dress shoes?

bern700

Business Casual: Button Down Shirt, Slacks, Dress Socks, Dress Shoes, & Belt.

Smart Casual: Sports Coat, Button Down Shirt, Slacks, Dress Socks, Dress Shoes, & Belt (Tie is optional - I prefer it though)

Business Formal: Suit, Button Down Shirt, Dress Socks, Dress Shoes, Belt (or braces), & Tie.

Formal: Tuxedo

What you are planning on wearing is just plain casual...

thisSHHHisBANANAs

^Ditto. Polo shirt is straight up CASUAL. Business casual just means that you don't have to wear a suit and that a tie is optional. But a button down shirt and slacks is standard. I'd go with a sportcoat as well.

Vperricone

Business casual can be a nice polo also. or a nice sweater

or a combo.

spydertennis

no way, there are different types of polo shirts and business casual is more of an image than a required list of clothes. if its a nice polo, ie no tacky logos except the symbol, then go for it. you gotta tuck it in and wear a belt though

sandals if you already have a good relationship with these people, shoes if your looking to impress, but if youre looking to impress i would wear a button down anyway, tuck it in, but not button it up all the way and wear an undershirt that matches

im sure youll look great

Vperricone

I work in a Busnines casual place. People wear polos all the time. as well as sweaters.

bern700

REAL business casual does not include polos. That is just CASUAL...wearing some slacks, a polo, a belt, & dress shoes would be considered casual (not business, not smart casual, not business formal)...just PLAIN CASUAL.

It's so sad to see the decline in the American gentleman's dress.

thisSHHHisBANANAs

^ I agree.

i_wanna_be_Brown

yeah, actually, some people would call that Country Club Casual.

For business causal, I believe it is supposed to be a button down shirt, but tie and jacket optional.

spydertennis

alright - http://www.polo.com/product/index.js...entPage=family

not alright - http://www.jcrew.com/catalog/product...catId=cat74236

coqui

i used to work at a company that required business casual dress and i still have the handbook that described the guidelines for men and women. here it is for men...

BUSINESS CASUAL

ACCEPTABLE ATTIRE FOR MEN
-dress shirts with a collar (worn tucked in)
-dress trousers or dressy casual trousers
-sweaters - may only be worn with a collared shirt underneath
-dress shoes, dress boots, or tennis shoes
-socks must be worn at all times

UNACCEPTABLE ATTIRE FOR MEN
-jeans/denim of any kind or color (including denim shirts)
-bolo ties
-jogging suits or sweat suits/shirts
-turtlenecks
-t-shirts
-shorts
-SANDALS
-hats
-any worn out or torn attire

yeah, so don't wear sandals. they also said Docker's were fine for pants.

ExRunner

I know this is really stupid, but I'm sure one of you attire gurus can answer this for me. What is the difference between a sports coat and slacks, a suit, and a tuxedo?

bern700

In order from least dressy to more dressy:

Everyday Clothes (aka casual, country club casual):
http://style.polo.com/askralph/quest...=&section_id=6

Business Casual (tie optional):
http://style.polo.com/askralph/quest...=&section_id=6

Smart Casual: http://style.polo.com/askralph/quest...=&section_id=6

Business Formal (aka Suit): http://style.polo.com/askralph/quest...=&section_id=6

Formal (aka Tuxedo): http://style.polo.com/askralph/quest...=&section_id=6

i_wanna_be_Brown

spydertennis, that solid color polo is not ok.

Exrunner:

sport coat and slacks is the most casual of the three. The sport coat is usually a blue blazer with brass buttons, and the slacks are like chino khaki pants.

A suit means a matching jacket and pants like pinstripes and such.

A tuxedo, i dont really know how to define it, especially since there are so many different types.

A tuxedo is required for "black tie" events, whereas a suit is usually what most people where for "formal" events.