Business Casual Dress Code
Business casual dress codes differ from company to company, but there are some general guidelines that can help you decide what to wear. Coupling these guidelines with your company's particular corporate culture will help you avoid any career-derailing inappropriate business attire.
How to Dress for a Business Casual Look
The key factor in following a business casual dress code is that the outfit must look business appropriate sans a tie. You'll have several different styles to choose from, most of which not only look sharp, but are also comfortable to wear.
The Best Tops
In the tops section, you can wear:
- Oxford shirts that button down
- Polo-style shirts with collars
- Sweater vests
- Sports jackets
Additionally, you have more leeway when it comes to color selection; various shades, from grey to saffron to blush pink, are all perfectly appropriate colors.
Pants and Slacks
For appropriate bottoms, choose garments like:
- Chinos-type pants
- Khakis
- Dress slacks
These pants work best in these colors:
- Deep brown
- Khaki beige
- Army green
- Navy blue
- Black
- Steel grey
Winning Wardrobe Combinations
To create a successful wardrobe combination, you'll want to pair dressier clothing pieces with more casual ones. For example:
Dress Slacks Paired with Polos
This combination works well because polo shirts can be casual, but when they are paired with dress slacks, the entire look becomes work appropriate. You might also want to consider tucking the polo shirt into your pants and wearing a belt. Finish the look by pulling the polo out slightly so that it falls gently onto your belt.
Khakis with an Oxford Shirt
This outfit is self-explanatory; however, one potential pitfall can lie in color selection. Khakis and chinos come in a very specific range of colors, so the Oxford shirt you choose should complement the slacks but not match exactly.
Sport Jacket, Oxford Shirt and Khakis
If you have a meeting or a formal lunch, then a sport jacket is a necessity. Pairing your jacket with chinos or khakis can be a bit tricky because chances are your pants and jacket won't exactly match. In cases like these, make sure that the jacket complements the pants. For example, a navy blue sport jacket works equally well for navy blue chinos and beige khakis, but might not look appropriate if paired with army-green khakis.
Dress Slacks and Oxford Shirts
It's perfectly acceptable to wear an Oxford shirt with dress pants. This look is still considered business casual because there is no tie and no matching sports jacket.
Sweater Vests, Oxford Shirt and Pants
You can also wear a sweater vest with an Oxford shirt and either a pair of khakis or dress slacks. In this instance, the sweater vest mimics the look of a sports jacket and but still appears business casual.
The Right Shoes
Once you have your outfit, you'll need to complete the look by choosing the right shoes. Business casual shoes that work well for the office include lace-up shoes and Oxford styles. Loafers can also be appropriate depending on the overall construction of the shoe as well as material and finish as leather always looks good.
What to Avoid
Clothing
There are types of clothes that employees should avoid on casual days if their desire is to climb the ladder of success. These include:
- Jeans
- Sweat suits or jogging suits
- T-shirts
- Baseball caps
- Shorts
Shoes
Avoid wearing:
- Sneakers
- Sandals
- Flip-flops
Remember Good Grooming
Casual days do not equate to non-grooming days. Take special care with your appearance. Shave and style your hair as you normally would for a more formal day.
Although most individuals understand that a person's inner character should be how they are judged, the truth is that in the business world, people are judged by their appearance as well as their work ethic. Taking care in this area will simply highlight excellent work skills and make it more likely the worker that goes that extra mile is noticed and considered for promotions and employee awards.
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