CASUAL FRIDAY STRUGGLE

Sure, sure-- Casual Fridays blah blah blah. For those of us who have to dress in our business casual duds Monday-Thursday we know that Friday means one thing: JEANS. 

In an office of 60+ architects, I see a variety of Casual Friday takes week after week: from dad jeans & sneakers to skinny jeans & boots and everything in between.

For me personally, Casual Fridays always pose a bit of a challenge. On one hand, I want to go the super-comfy route: a pair of Stan Smiths, an untucked Oxford shirt-- the whole nine. BUT... What if a) my #WorkSquad decides on a swanky lunch at a new restaurant or b) a surprise client meeting falls in my lap? I'd be much better served in tassel loafers and a blazer, right?

Well now that it's fall, I offer up a worthy alternative: a utilitarian field jacket.

Pair this jacket with a tie and your dress boots (as I've done here) or your Oxford and sneakers, and you're guaranteed to at least have that 'cool factor' which works just about anywhere in 2016. 

Also, I cannot get enough of this carry-all tote that WILL Leather Goods sent us. I use it for almost everything!

Jacket: Gap | Shirt: Suitsupply (just like this one) | Tie: Brunello Cucinelli (also dig this one) | Jeans: H&M | Boots: Johnston & Murphy | Belt: Suitsupply (similar) | Watch: Lucien Piccard (check out this one) | Glasses: Tom Ford | Bag: Will Leather Goods