How to Choose Business Casual Work Clothes
Business casual is in. No longer is this loose-fitting, t-shirt-and-shorts style the appropriate fashion statement for the workplace. In fact, it’s the perfect attire for any job that requires you to dress up but also to appear casual.
The term “business casual” is now applied to every type of attire for a work environment: jeans, skirts, pants, and shirts that show some skin. Even accessories like belts and jewelry now need to be a little more conservative. Of course, these items can still be purchased with the business casual outfit.
So, if you want to wear your top to work or when you’re going out with your friends, you need to make sure that your outfit is appropriate for both occasions. That means dressing appropriately for your outfit as well as for the situation. Keep in mind the following tips when choosing business casual clothing.
Dress Your Short Shorts Right – One thing that you definitely don’t want to do is show up at work in nothing but shorts. You will find that there are a lot of people in the office who are watching you to make sure that you don’t show up in shorts because it is very unflattering. It doesn’t look professional, and it certainly won’t be fun. Always wear something else underneath to break up the shorts. Think slacks, a dress shirt, or a blazer.
Wear Color With Style – You don’t want to choose an outfit that is completely boring or looks the same everywhere you go. While you don’t have to have a red dress shirt to go with your black trousers, you should definitely have one that has some color or pattern. If you choose a dull outfit, it will probably be boring everywhere you go. Choose a slightly more stylish option, and you’ll go a long way towards making your look the right one.
Wear a Shirt Or Dress – While your trousers are always going to match your shorts, wearing a different type of shirt will help to make your look more casual. A nice, but not overdone button down or collared shirt can give you a little variety from one outfit to the next. If you wear a pinstriped dress shirt, make sure that it matches your shirt; don’t just have a shirt with some cool patterns on it.
Wear Colors With Formalism – You want to be in the office, but you don’t want to wear a formal outfit all the time. You don’t want to look like a tourist in a museum, either. So, if you want to go to work in your business-casual clothes, remember that it doesn’t have to look formal all the time.
Don’t Wear Old T-shirts – One place where this goes into effect is at home. You can put a nice, dressy outfit together for a night out and then remove it at home in the morning. You might consider dressing in something casual but have something easy to slip into and wear when you leave the house.