While dressing professionally for the office might be routine, it's still only a part of your day-to-day life — and for most guys, traditional business attire doesn't meet the needs of life outside work.
Public Rec is solving that issue with menswear that blends comfort, perfomance, and everyday wearability in ways that simply make sense for the modern man. Founded by former investment banker Zach Goldstein, the brand was born from a need for clothes that are equally comfortable and wearable in settings beyond a gym or leisure setting — a huge void he had discovered after years of working in finance.
Traditional athleisure is too casual for the office, and most business clothes are flat-out uncomfortable. In 2015, he left banking behind to launch Public Rec, starting with a super successful Kickstarter campaign that funded his vision for the "All Day Every Day Pant." With an original goal of raising $15,000, the company exceeded that by more than $160,000, and fully sold out.
Ten years later, Public Rec's original pants live on, renamed the Gamechanger Rec Pants, and the brand has grown into a full line of versatile apparel designed for work, leisure, travel, and really anything in between.
Keep reading to learn more about all of our favorite items or shop all menswear at Public Rec here.
If you're looking for more of our favorite brands, check out our guide to the best menswear brands for business casual work clothes.
Our top 3 favorite Public Rec items:
Athleisure brand Public Rec just made the most versatile polo shirt ever — the Go-To Polo.
The Gamechanger Rec Pant is as stretchy and comfortable as your favorite sweatpants, but looks like traditional dress pants.
With pant and inseam sizes, Public Rec's Gamechanger Jogger is an elevated take on sweatpants that will appeal to more than athletes.
Public Rec Gamechanger Rec Pant
Public Rec's original All Day Every Day Pants were renamed the Gamechanger Rec Pants, and they still live up to the original hype. I first tested All Day Every Day Pants in 2018, and they became one of my favorites for the office. After testing the newer Gamechanger Rec Pants, I was reminded why I loved them so much.
As you can see, you can easily wear them casually with a polo and sneakers or a bit more formally, with a button-up shirt and dress shoes. If I had to recommend one Public Rec product to try (and get hooked on the brand), it would be these pants.
Public Rec Gamechanger Jogger
The Public Gamechanger Rec Joggers use the same super stretchy material as the Rec Pant — just in a more sporty silhouette. While I wouldn't wear joggers into the office, they've been excellent for dressing leisurely and working out.
These are easily the stretchiest joggers I own and since they use specific waist and inseam sizes, you'll get a much better fit than practically any other joggers on the market.
Public Rec Go-To Crew
It goes without saying that T-shirts are the cornerstone of any casual outfit. Although there are plenty of great T-shirts to choose from, the Public Rec Go-To Crew is one that I've spent a lot of time wearing recently.
The material's stretchiness makes it comfortable, but its wrinkle resistance is the real reason it shines. A T-shirt is supposed to be quick and easy to wear, so the idea of having to iron a T-shirt every time I want to wear it is kind of a turnoff. I've worn and washed this exact Public Rec T-shirt countless times over the last few months and haven't needed to iron it once.
Public Rec Go-To Polo
Polos are one of the most versatile types of shirts. They can be worn casually, more formally as business attire, and even for sports like golf and tennis. Public Rec transforms the classic style into a polo you can wear literally anywhere, hence the name Go-To. It's super stretchy, resists wrinkles, and is easy to wear with anything in your closet. I'm a huge fan of polo shirts, especially some of Ralph Lauren's iconic designs, but when it comes to comfort and overall wearability, Public Rec is hard to match.
Public Rec Dealmaker Chino Plus
Chinos are another menswear style that many brands make, but Public Rec sets itself apart with its proprietary Work Hard Play Hard fabric. Designed to be weather-resistant, the Dealmaker Chino Plus delivers a level of dependability and durability that most other chinos simply can't.
I wore them in the rain, and the water beaded up on the pants and easily rolled off. While the water resistance can't be compared to something like GORE-TEX, I was very impressed with how well they stay dry. Overall, they're not as stretchy as the Gamechanger Rec Pants and Joggers, but there's still plenty of stretch for comfort and mobility.
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