What casual Friday means in most Indian offices
Casual Friday usually means you can skip the formal shirt but not look like you are heading to the gym. A collared piece, a clean fit and a dark or neutral colour is the safest formula. Add your own trousers, and a polo, a plain shirt or a neat crew tee will pass in most workplaces. When in doubt, watch what the most senior person in your team wears on Fridays and stay one step more relaxed than that.
This guide gives you five casual Friday outfit formulas built from real EKVAAR pieces, with prices, so you can pick one and be done. We do not sell trousers, so each formula assumes you wear your own chinos, straight trousers or dark jeans if your office allows them.
The five casual Friday formulas
| Formula | Top | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. The polo | CORE Piqué Polo | ₹999 | Client-facing or conservative offices |
| 2. The open shirt | EASE Oversized Shirt over a tee | ₹899 | Creative teams, start-ups |
| 3. The clean tee | CORE Supima Tee | ₹999 | Relaxed offices, work-from-anywhere days |
| 4. The sweatshirt | SIGNATURE Sweatshirt | ₹1,149 | Cold air-conditioning |
| 5. The dress | CORE Tee Dress | ₹849 | Warm days, no trousers needed |
1. The polo: the safest choice
The CORE Piqué Polo is a 220 GSM cotton piqué with a structured ribbed collar and cuffs, in a regular fit. That structure is the point on a casual Friday. A soft collar flops after a few washes, and a structured one keeps the outline that reads as “dressed”. It is available in Noor Black, Rui White, Agni Red and Neel Blue.
For a first casual Friday polo, Neel Blue is the quiet choice. It looks smart next to grey, stone or dark trousers. Noor Black is the strictest. Agni Red is a good pick for a Friday meeting when you want to be remembered. If you are torn between a polo and a plain tee, our note on polo or tee lays it out.
2. The open shirt: relaxed but put together
The EASE Oversized Shirt is a relaxed drop-shoulder shirt in soft cotton with a clean collar and button front. It comes in Rui White, Noor Black and Gulabi Pink. Wear it open over a Noor Black or Rui White tee, sleeves pushed up once.
The trick with an oversized shirt on a casual Friday is proportion. Fit the bottom half closer: straight trousers or slim jeans balance the loose top. Wear it buttoned for a meeting and open for lunch. The Column Oversized Shirt at ₹1,499 is a step up: an oversized half-sleeve shirt in 240 GSM cotton, with EKVAAR set vertically along the spine, in Noor Black or Neel Blue. It is a design piece, so keep the rest of the outfit plain.
3. The clean tee: only if it looks clean
A tee can work on casual Friday if it holds its shape and has no big print. The CORE Supima Tee at ₹999 is made in long-staple Supima cotton and is described as smooth, soft and made to hold its shape wash after wash. It comes in Neel Blue, Noor Black and Rui White. The CORE Crew Tee at ₹749 is the everyday alternative: 180 GSM cotton in a unisex regular fit.
Two rules make a tee office-ready. Tuck it in or keep the hem short enough to look intentional, and choose a colour with no fade. Rui White shows every mark, so check it in the morning light before you leave. For women, the CORE Fitted Crew Tee at ₹699 is a clean crew neck in a regular women’s fit, available in all six colours.
4. The sweatshirt: for the cold office
Many Indian offices run the air conditioning colder than the weather outside. A sweatshirt keeps you working. The SIGNATURE Sweatshirt is a 300 GSM cotton fleece crew with ribbed collar, cuffs and hem, in a unisex regular fit. It comes in Noor Black, Rui White, Neel Blue and Gulabi Pink.
A crew neck reads tidier than a hoodie on a casual Friday. There is no hood to sit crookedly at the back of the neck, and the ribbed hem gives a clean line. Wear it over a Rui White tee with the tee’s collar showing. We wrote more on this in layering for an air-conditioned office.
5. The dress: one piece, done
The CORE Tee Dress is described as a relaxed t-shirt silhouette with pockets, easy from morning to evening. It comes in Rui White, Noor Black, Neel Blue and Agni Red. For a casual Friday at the office, choose Noor Black or Neel Blue and add your own shoes and a light layer. The sweatshirt or the shirt worn open over it both work, and either one gives the outfit a second line to look at.
Colour advice that saves you time
- Your base: Noor Black or Neel Blue. They hide small marks and feel formal without effort.
- Your bright day: Agni Red or Gulabi Pink, on only one piece.
- Your calm day: Arav Green or Rui White. Arav Green is a good choice if you already own a lot of black and blue.
- Avoid: three strong colours in one outfit. Two is the limit.
Small things that make it look finished
Before a casual Friday, check the hem and cuffs. Rib knit collars and cuffs, as on the polo and sweatshirt, keep their shape only if you wash them gently. Keep a matching bag, a plain belt or watch, and shoes that are clean and closed. If your desk includes meetings, carry an A5 notebook. The Original Notebook at ₹399 has a 300 GSM black cover with the EKVAAR monogram and 120 pages of 70 GSM paper, ruled or unruled. It is a small piece that shows you are prepared.
A note on fit
Product pages carry a size guide, so use it, and if you are between two sizes, choose the one that gives you room at the shoulders for a shirt or sweatshirt and a little less room in a polo. Size choices depend on your own body, so treat this as general guidance.
Each piece is made for you in India once you reserve it, with free shipping across India.
FAQs
Is a polo acceptable for casual Friday?
In most Indian offices, yes. The CORE Piqué Polo has a structured collar that keeps its shape, which is why it reads more formal than a tee.
Can I wear a hoodie to the office?
On casual Friday, only if your team culture allows it. A crew sweatshirt such as the SIGNATURE Sweatshirt at ₹1,149 is a safer choice, since it looks tidier and has no hood.
Which colours are best for the office?
Noor Black and Neel Blue are the easiest casual Friday colours. Rui White is fine if you check it stays clean, and Agni Red or Gulabi Pink work as a single accent.
Do you sell trousers?
Not at the moment. The pieces here are meant to be worn with your own trousers or jeans, or, in the case of the tee dress, on their own.
Pick one casual Friday formula and choose your piece in the shop.
