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.