TL;DR
A reader starting a job with a business casual dress code asked whether tennis shoes are acceptable. Kathi’s answer is no, unless your work calls for them. Choose a comfortable leather shoe with a black sole in a solid color, match your socks to your trousers or one shade darker, and never wear white socks with dress shoes.
Kathi,
I’m starting a new job in August. The dress code is business casual. Are tennis shoes considered appropriate?
Rob > Encinitas
Rob,
Unless you are a professional skateboarder, basketball player, or work in a medical setting, tennis shoes are not appropriate work attire. Purchase a comfortable leather black-soled shoe in a solid color. Shoes and glasses define a man’s wardrobe. Have you ever heard the phrase, “you can tell a man by his shoes?” Shoes and glasses are the investment items to buy high-end because it is very obvious if they are inexpensive.
These are also the areas that you can most easily define your style and make your image count. A well-dressed man wears tennis shoes only when travelling to and from the gym. When dressing, try to match socks with trouser color or a shade darker and never wear white socks with dress shoes.
Kathi is a professional organizer, image consultant and event planner based in San Diego California.
Please submit your questions to: [email protected].
San Diego Professional Organizer
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Frequently asked questions
Are tennis shoes appropriate for business casual?
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Not usually. Kathi says tennis shoes are not appropriate work attire unless you are a professional athlete or work in a medical setting. A well-dressed man wears tennis shoes only on the way to and from the gym.
What shoes should a man wear for business casual?
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Buy a comfortable leather shoe with a black sole in a solid color. Shoes and glasses define a man’s wardrobe, so they are the items worth buying at the high end. It is very obvious when they are inexpensive.
What color socks go with dress shoes?
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Match your socks to the color of your trousers or go one shade darker. Never wear white socks with dress shoes.
