When it comes to dressing for work, the goal should be to look cool yet polished. You want to look like a guy who knows how to make good decisions. And understanding what looks good on you is a simple way to communicate that. But it's not always easy—day after day, week after week.

What's more, workplace wardrobes have shifted rapidly over the past few years. Look around and you'll notice that everyone and everything is more casual. So how do you look put together without looking, you know, too put together? The key is dressing up the casual pieces you know and love and mixing them in with dressier classics. You'll want to strategize. Shop with intention and look for colors and textures that make basic items appear more interesting. Because you don't want to blend in at work. You want to stand apart.