Business Attire

Business Attire

What is office casual?

Today’s office is a different environment from the traditional professional world. Gone are the days of stuffy dress-up and formal interactions. Many top executives like to be seen as just another member of the team and can easily be found wandering around in jeans and button-up shirts (and might even show up in a t-shirt on a Friday afternoon!).

The problem with the new office environment is that some people are still unsure of what’s appropriate. What really is office casual?

  • Sloppy never works. Even if you’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt, your clothes should be clean, in one piece, and ironed. If you find yourself dressing like it’s Saturday morning and you’re hanging out with your friends, you may want to reconsider your outfit! While dressing casual, you should still look professional.
  • You’re not going to the bar. Too short, too tight, too bright or too obnoxious never works for the office. If you’d wear it while you’re out on the prowl on a Saturday night, you probably shouldn’t be sharing the look with your boss. You want to retain a sense of decorum that inspires your coworkers’ respect.
  • Consider color and fabric. The key to casual is usually cut - collarless shirts, looser pants and trousers, etc. However, you can find yourself going too far when you ignore what your clothes are made of. Make sure you’re not going off the casual deep end by wearing anything too shiny or stretchy. Muted colors are usually best (although a bright t-shirt never hurts to welcome the weekend on a casual Friday) and fabrics that fit you comfortably work well.
  • Pay attention to your shoes. Sloppy sneakers and flip-flops are definite no-nos. You don’t want to look like you’re headed off to the beach, because it gives the impression you don’t care about your work.
  • Don’t fear a jacket. Jackets never look too stuffy, especially if they’re made of more casual fabrics such as corduroy or denim. Paired with a t-shirt, you’ve got the perfect Friday afternoon outfit. Or, team it up with a collared shirt and you’re ready for a meeting with any level of executive.