It has been some time now since I trotted away from my position as the unchallenged thoroughbred in Calvin Klein’s stable of male models. A rigid diet consisting only of lavender scented cigarettes and Calvados positioned me at the vanguard of the angular, waif-like ethnic cleansing look so revered in the world of high fashion — but I felt it was time to move on. Also, being head of Burger King jeopardized my image somewhat — heralding, as it did, the advent of some inappropriate extra chins. I have, however, kept in touch with the Mercurial world of men’s business fashion  and have watched the coming of ‘Dress Down Friday’ with delight.

This is the practice of some corporations to tolerate the substitution of the normal business ‘uniform’ with an attire defined as Business Casual. Normal uniform for the male, of course, is defined as jacket and pants of the same dark material (with the elbows shining like Greta Garbo’s eyes), sensible shoes (cleaned every time you pass through the airport), a conservative shirt, a dark tie — and a minimum of exposed jewelry unless you work in Miami. The sole exception to the latter rule applies when you reach senior management, when it becomes mandatory to sport a Rolex watch the size of an ice hockey puck.

©2010 Design For Business. All Rights Reserved.