Dressing for the office can be tricky on a Friday, especially when it is termed as a “dress-down Friday” or “smart- casual Friday dressing” at work. You have to be “well-dressed”, yet not in your regular formal clothing or traditional office wear.

At the same time neither it takes casual to a level that was never intended when the company made the policy.

Always remember that this is a place to conduct business. Some tips for the fashion conscious and trendy office goers to overcome the situation and might help easing your stress of Friday dressing:

Comfort is the key: Be comfortable in a pair of casual khaki stretch pants. Either a cross pocket or a jeans style five pocket will do. You can pair it up with a casual shirt.

Chambray shirts in light blue or a lightweight denim shirt works well with khaki pants. It is an evergreen, never out of fashion trend. An all-over printed polo or a smart casual shirt with a nice pair of classic sneakers will complete the look.

Be in blue: The denim on denim look is high on trend and can be carried to the work place in a smart way. Not so distressed, mild worn out denim with a classic denim shirt, with western yoke and two pockets can be clubbed together to get a perfect smart casual look. This look can be completed with a plain toe derby shoes in dark or light tan.

Keep it neutral: In order to look casual, do not try to mix too many textures and colours together. Doing so can damage your style and can take it more towards casual than being smart-casual.

Summers are back and nothing can be as good as neutral or pastel shade when it comes to colour. Pastel shirts and polo t-shirts with some minimal pattern or print goes well with blue jeans and khaki pants.

Black and bold: There is no replacement when it comes to black as a business dressing. And for a smart-casual Friday, black pair of jeans can we a great choice.

It goes well with any type of topwear, be it a shirt, polo or a crew neck casual t-shirt with minimal or no graphic. Just to check one thing while coordinating your black pair of jeans is that the top wear is not a stark contrast.

Code of fashion: Military is in talks, this time also for its unmatched style quotient. Military inspired fashion is a huge trend and it can be carried to your workplace in style. Minimal or subtle camouflage prints can be paired with dark indigo or black jeans.

Shirts in solid colour or checks pattern with small military details like double pocket and flap; epaulettes and sleeve tabs can be worn as a smart casual. Any classic leather shoes or desert boots will complete the look.

Be yourself: Do not try hard — either you will be odd one out in the crowd, which can be a little tricky to handle. Best is to try clothes that make you feel good, and you are comfortable in.

Your favorite pair of blue jeans in slim fit could be the versatile choice. And you can pair this up with a casual checks or printed shirt or a beautiful coloured polo t-shirt.

Casual Friday or smart casual dressing is all about self expression and it gives an opportunity to express as an individual which is a little difficult in typical work-wear over the week.

By keeping in mind the dressing guidelines of the organisation, one can feel free to experiment and express in a classy way.

The writer is design head, Spykar lifestyle.