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Business Meets Casual
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Business Meets Casual
What two words stop corporate
workers in their tracks? Business casual. While you may love
the flexibility of not having to wear a suit every day, you
still find yourself dumbfounded by what is and isn't appropriate
office wear. Because there aren't any hard and fast rules for
business casual, you have to understand the subtleties of looking
relaxed yet professional to make it work. So put those suits
in the back of your closet and get ready to get dressed!
No jacket "required."
Now that you're no longer constrained by a business suit, having
a blazer on hand can still be a lifesaver. If you have an unexpected
client meeting or simply need to assert yourself at a staff
meeting, adding a tailored jacket to your knit top can give
you the added confidence you want.
There's no sloppy in
success.
The biggest misconception about business casual dressing is
that it means the same thing as casual dressing. You're not
hanging out on a Saturday afternoon, you're at work so you still
need to dress the part. This means no jeans, no wrinkled shirts
or torn pants, no clingy, short skirts. While most companies
don't have a specific "do" list when it comes to appropriate
attire, there are always plenty of known don'ts. Make your biggest
fashion "do" common sense when it comes to dressing for work.
You still want to be perceived as a professional, and that's
next to impossible when you come to the office in ripped jeans
and a tube top.
Power in the details.
Just like when you're planning your outfit for a night out,
it's important to pay attention to the details when dressing
for the office. One of the easiest ways to "dress up" a casual
ensemble is to add some accessories-think pins, scarves, hair
accessories and tasteful jewelry. And never forget how easily
the right shoes, belt or a sensible handbag can pull it all
together.
Don't bring the street
into the office.
You've been eyeing that trendy see-through blouse for weeks
and now it's finally yours. You can't wait to wear it to work.
Stop right there. Even if an item of clothing sparkles on the
rack it doesn't mean it will shine in the workplace. There are
loads of clothes out there that are great for a Friday night-micro-mini-skirts,
see-through anything, glittery anything, bold patterns-but all
wrong for casual Friday. Unless you want your new nickname to
be Erin Brockovich, keep your low-cut, see-through, shiny, tight,
and leopard print clothes on hand for dates instead of morning
meetings.
Pushing the limit.
While it's always a good idea to take things to the next level
in business, the opposite is true when it comes to pushing the
envelope in what's appropriate for business casual. When you're
at work, you want to present a professional appearance. If you're
wondering whether or not you can "get away" with wearing something,
you probably can't. Even if your office is casual, it's best
to stay conservative at work so that you're taken seriously.
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