Business casual means any clothing that will allow you to toss on an optional tie and a jacket in a pinch when a bit of formality is required, but where those pieces don't have to be worn normally. The general concept for business casual, with men, is "Break down and simplify the suit without straying too far away from it." Or, more bluntly, "If all of your managers drop dead and you are asked to give a presentation to the CEO and board in 30 minutes, can you formalize your outfit enough to fit in on the top floor?"

I've seen people KILL their careers because they could never learn to dress right. It may be a stupid societal expectation, but it is what it is.

where I'll be meeting someone. These days, I'm only doing meetings with prospective clients. Depending on who those clients are, I wear clothing a little better than what I'll be encountering where they work. It shows respect and concern with looking professional. Meetings with the President? That would send me out for a new suit and some new shoes, frankly. A polo shirt? Not a chance.

I've been in the workforce since long before the whole "business casual" thing came to be an nowhere that I've ever worked or been has business casual been limited to a fella taking his suit coat off. Khakis or cords and a polo shirt (or sport shirt or sport shirt with a sweater for winter, both sans tie) has been pretty much standard business casual for men everywhere I've been most places for years.

Because of course, it's not news. Not anywhere close to that even on the slowest of the slowest days.

And even news organizations like to run humor pieces now and then.

Yes you need to look like all the other corporate clones and their three piece!

Seriously, I too would have worn my military blues...however knowing is half the battle!

Poor fella has this look like, "oh great it is the POTUS and here I am wearing an Izod and yesterday's slacks!"

...but then I dress like a beatnik - they all look like "suits" to me.