What the Memo Said to Him
The circular went out on a Tuesday. "Formal attire is no longer mandatory. Smart casual is now acceptable for all employees." For most men in the office, this required approximately one decision: swap the formal trouser for chinos, keep the collared shirt, done. The silhouette stays the same. The read stays the same. Nobody looks at a man in dark chinos and a tucked Oxford shirt and wonders whether he is trying to be noticed, whether he is dressed for a date, or whether he respects the workplace. The category absorbs him cleanly.
