Even though each company may have its own idea of what “business casual attire” means, there are some rules you can follow to make sure you’re dressed correctly. In this article, we define business casual attire for women and men, for an interview, and business casual attire vs smart casual.
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Business Casual Attire
Business casual attire has never been easy to describe. It often depends on the culture of your company, the business you work in, and your bosses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when people worked from home, the work wardrobe became less clear or even went away. This makes a lot of professionals wonder what they should wear to work.
Business casual attire is a dress code that basically means you should wear traditional business clothes with a few more casual touches. For example, it would be considered business casual to wear khaki pants or slacks with a blouse or polo shirt but not a tie.
And the numbers show that allowing employees to dress more casually than usual is good for business in the long run.
- Stormline Gear did a study that found that more than 61% of workers are more productive when the dress code is less strict.
- Also, 61% of people looking for work said that a strict dress code would make them think less of a company.
But business casual clothes can look very different from person to person.
Business Casual Attire for Women
The simplest explanation is that business casual attire for women is a mix of business formal and casual styles. Basically, it describes the clothes that most people wear to work. It’s mostly about mixing formal and less formal clothes to create a semi-formal look that’s appropriate for the office but won’t make you look too casual to your coworkers. Here are some examples of business casual attire for women and outfit ideas to give you some ideas. We’ll talk about it in more depth in the blog.
How to Dress in Business Casual Attire
There are some things that every woman should have in her business wardrobe. Elegant business skirts, slacks in different colors, formal and casual shirts, blazers, suits, and more Let’s figure out how to pair these formal business pieces with casual clothes so that we don’t overdress or underdress for work.
The basic rule for all outfits is that one business-appropriate piece should be worn with one casual piece.
#1. Business Casual Blazer
A blazer is considered formal business casual attire and women wear it; hence, a casual item should be worn with it. To keep the appearance clean and simple yet semi-formal, pair it with a casual shirt, jeans or chinos, or a lightweight dress.
#2. Business Casual Attire
Business attire is a very formal item that women must be careful when combining to obtain a casual level of formality. The traditional sheath dress is an example of a dress that is appropriate and incredibly versatile. For a more relaxed workplace environment, pair it with an oversized linen jacket, a bright and trendy trench coat, or a chunky sweater.
#3. Business Casual Shirt
Shirts worn for formal occasions are crisp, well-fitting, and quite beautiful. These are the foundations of business casual attire; therefore, let’s maximize their use. Pair it with linen chinos, dark jeans (which should not be bleached or torn), a sweater, or a trench coat with a generous cut. To maintain an attractive appearance when wearing shirts with micropatterns, stripes, or checks, pair them with plain and clean-looking pants.
#4. Business Casual Slacks
Due to their adaptability and comfort, women’s pants are one of the most popular apparel items. Wear them with a formal shirt of your choice, a relaxed tweed jacket, a light sweater, and ballerinas for an easygoing ensemble. This is one of the most comfortable work attire options available.
#5. Business Casual Skirt
Modern business skirts are very elegant, so we need to add some casual touches to break up their formality. We shouldn’t cut down on the length because it wouldn’t be appropriate for a professional setting. Instead, try a pencil skirt with a casual shirt tucked in or a flared skirt with a plain T-shirt that fits you well. Or, if you want to look classy, you can wear a skirt and a suit. If your dress code lets you, you can also wear a miniskirt suit if you want to look stylish. If you want to keep things casual, don’t wear heels. Instead, put on your ballerina flats or loafers.
Business Casual Attire for Men
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: business casual attire for men doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on designer pieces and high-end items, but you can if you want to.
This guide will show you that just a few well-chosen business casual attire men wear to great no matter what the occasion is.
Read also WORK ATTIRE: Complete List of Work Attire for Men & Women
#1. Men’s Business Casual Shirts
When choosing the right business casual attire, shirt attire for men can set the mood for the day. If you can’t get your mind on the game, pick a shirt that makes you feel better. People say that the colors green, blue, red, yellow, and purple make them feel happy right away. Pantone’s color of the year, Very Peri, looks great on a printed button-down shirt. It’s the perfect mix of blue and purple. Pair this color with gray bottoms in a classic plaid or a small mini-polka dot. Do you have a lot of meetings that require you to put on your serious face? Use neutral dress shirts that you know will work. A classic outfit is a white button-down shirt with dress pants and chukka boots. When you’re not doing anything, roll up your sleeves to look more casual.
When looking for new business casual shirts for men, comfort should always be your top priority. Find shirts that have a little bit of stretch so they can move with you as you go about your day. When it comes to colors, black, white, navy, grey, and white go well with any other color. These are the best colors for minimalists who want to get the most out of the clothes they have. But if you love color, choose tops in the colors you like best. There are both long-sleeved and short-sleeved button-down options for men’s business casual clothes, so they always look and feel new. T-shirts are also a must-have if your office is a very casual place to work. Thick, structured t-shirts give your business casual attire a more put-together look. Also, leave the oversized T-shirts at home and choose something that fits better.
#2. Men’s Business Casual Pants
Now that you know what to wear for shirts, let’s talk about men’s business casual pants. Stretchy chinos are the perfect middle ground between dress pants and jeans. If you want a classic pair with pleats, you’re good to go. You could also look for a five-pocket style that looks like your favorite pair of old jeans. If we’ve learned anything about fashion, it’s that comfort and care are very important. Stretch is a must-have for your workday, but you should also think about pants that are easy to care for. Your best friends will be pants or bottoms that don’t wrinkle and are easy to wash and put on. We’ve all been in a hurry to leave the house and needed to grab something and go.
#3. Men’s Business Casual Jackets and Sweaters
Business casual attire for men is built on pieces that can be worn together or alone. You never know when the air conditioner will be on full blast or when the weather will change. Men’s business casual jackets, blazers, sport coats, and suit coats are all must-haves for the office. Not sure how to tell these three jackets apart? The suit coat is a little too formal to wear to work. The blazer or sport coat is versatile and has a casual look. Choose a knit blazer that is easy to wear and has a casual look. Sport coats usually have a looser fit and are great for cold weather because they can be worn over other clothes.
Another good outerwear choice for the office? Try on a bomber-style jacket with different textures. Throw one on over a button-down shirt with short sleeves, and if the dress code allows it, add a pair of dark-wash jeans.
Business Casual Attire for an Interview
When going to an interview, choose a look that is more conservative and well-put-together. A nice example of business casual interview attire is loafers, slacks, and a white button-down shirt that has been pressed.
Doing research on the business before your interview can help you decide what casual attire to wear. Photos of employees at work are often posted on company websites and social media pages. Keep in mind that you should dress a little more formally than what you see online, but this guide should give you a good idea of how to dress for the company in general. You could also ask the person in human resources or the recruiter who set up your interview about how to dress for the company.
No matter what kind of job you applied for an interview, you should always look neat and clean in your business casual attire. It’s fine to show a little bit of who you are, but it’s best to stay away from loud clothes like ties with characters or busy patterns.
If you are applying for a client-facing job in a business-casual setting, you might want to dress up a bit for the interview. Here are some ideas of attire to wear to a business casual job interview:
- Dress pants can be black or navy.
- Dresses in black or navy, knee-length or pencil skirts
- Shirt or blouse with buttons
- Cardigan or jacket (blazer is optional)
- Flats, heels, oxfords, and loafers.
- Belts and neckties are not required.
- Jewelry that goes with the outfit but doesn’t stand out too much
Business Casual Attire vs Smart Casual
Styles of clothing often mix and match in today’s fashion. Most people know the difference between business clothes and casual clothes. What they don’t know is the difference between business casual attire and smart casual attire. Having known the meaning of business casual attire, we will define smart casual attire.
What Is Smart Casual Attire?
Smart casual attire is a dress code that uses trendy pieces to make a person look professional. It’s less formal than business casual and may include more trendy pieces. For example, you can go to professional meetings and events wearing a jacket or blazer and professional sneakers.
Let’s talk about what’s different between business casual attire vs smart casual.
What’s the Difference Between Business Casual and Smart Casual?
- Smart casual allows you to wear clothes that are more casual than business casual. Not only the kinds of clothes but also the colors and styles.
- For business casual, you should wear a dress shirt made of crisp cotton. For smart casual, you can wear a denim or flannel shirt.
- For business casual, you should stick to more classic colors, while smart casual gives you more freedom to be playful. You can’t wear bright red pants to the office, but you can wear them as part of your smart casual outfit.
- Basically, you can wear anything you would wear casually as part of a smart casual outfit. But you can’t say the same thing about business casual.
Are Jeans Ok for Business Casual?
With a few exceptions, jeans are usually fine for business casual. Jeans worn for business casual should be clean and in good shape, with no tears, fading, or fraying. Avoid jeans that are brightly colored or have a lot of flashy details. Instead, go for classic styles that you can dress up or down with accessories or layers.
What Should You Not Wear for Business Casual?
Business casual clothes should still be appropriate for work, so don’t wear torn jeans, old t-shirts, beat-up sneakers, or anything else that looks worn out.
What Is the Difference Between Business Attire and Business Casual?
So, if “business professional” at one company means a suit for both men and women, “business casual” could mean dress pants or skirts without a jacket or tie (for men).
What Is Business Casual for a Woman?
Business casual means that you don’t have to wear a full suit, but you shouldn’t wear a strapless sundress and flip-flops. Mixing aspects of more formal office wear, such as a blazer, suit skirt, or slacks in neutral hues, with more casual pieces, such as a patterned shell top or leopard print flats, is the trend.
Can I Wear Sneakers for Business Casual?
Normal sneakers that you tie up can work well in a business casual office. Lace-up sneakers look more casual than slip-on sneakers, so choose a neutral color and leather to make them look clean enough for the office.
References
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