Getting those jeans into the office

GROOMING. Work places dictate our dressing that’s for sure, but sometimes the urge to rebel is irresistible. Jeans are one of the casual outfits that can help you cross the bridge from the formal to the casual.

Unless you spend your days in the boardroom holding meetings all week along, you will certainly not need to spend all your time in a formal suit and tie.

Many men are opting for clothes that can bridge from casual to office look. Clothes that can easily ease you out of the office look and in to a more relaxed casual look.

Xenson Senkaaba, a fashion designer with Xenson Fashion House notes that many men are increasingly wearing jeans complete with a nice well-tucked-in shirt to their offices.

Depending on the demands of your profession, you can easily manipulate your casual clothes into formal wear provided, “you tuck in and wear formal shoes or moccasins,” notes Senkaaba. James Mugisha, a technician, says, his job requires him to be in the field most of the time, so most of his clothes are usually casuals like jeans best suited for the tough nature of his work. But for Timothy Okoth, a lawyer, his profession demands that he is smart and this usually means suiting up most of the time.

With many organisations in today’s corporate Uganda introducing dress codes, corporate shirts that are worn on specific days, you don’t have to wait for that particular day to dress down. “If you are going to pull it off with the casual clothes, there are some factors to consider,” says Senkaaba. There are a variety of casual clothes ranging from Khaki trousers, jeans, shoes and coats/blazers.

You must know what you are dressing for and importantly put your work place in consideration. “You can wear jeans with a button up shirt complete with a tie. This can be topped up with a well-fitting blazer,” says the designer.

Dress shirts preferably in plain colours go very well with the jeans. You can opt for white for instance. However, checked shirts are more casual than plain shirts, for a more formal look its best to stick to the plain coloured shirts. “Make sure to tuck in your shirt. For a more relaxed Friday; you can wear a polo shirt, which should also be tucked in,” advises Senkaaba. Also, very important when dressing up for the office is the shoes, for the perfect classic office look. Try the black coloured boots as it is versatile and can easily be worn on almost other clothes.

You can also match your clothes with moccasins, which are more versatile as they can serve both the formal and casual needs.

editorial@ug.nationmedia.com