Dress Codes for Business Casual Attire
Business casual is usually an ambiguous term, a bit like black tie is to Italian cuisine. There’s a gray area between business casual and formal business attire. Some people would define it as business attire which is reserved for client meetings or office use, and other people would use it to describe any casual clothing that makes a company look ‘professional’ without being too casual. In truth business casual is a much more vague term and depends on the culture of the company (which can be more or less defined by the industry they’re in), and their relationship with casual clothing, particularly the wear that’s seen in the workplace. This article aims to define business casual and remove some of the ambiguity that’s often associated with it.
The modern business casual wardrobe largely owes its definition to the need to make an outfit flexible enough to suit not only the context in which it’s worn, but also the person wearing it. For example, many young workers these days wear ‘business casual’ office attire to work due to the relatively casual nature of office attire, and the freedom that it allows them. Likewise, many people wear business casual outfits to casual events, as it’s an easier, less formal alternative to working in business attire. A military outfit is another example – military uniforms are technically business casual, but they’re also heavily dressy and decorated.
The main defining feature of business casual dress is the willingness to carry yourself with confidence. It’s important to make sure that your clothes fit well and you feel comfortable in them, because otherwise you won’t be able to be casual. Casual clothes can be loose fitting, or have patterned details – it all depends on your own personal style, but at the same time it’s important to make sure that your outfit doesn’t look like a suit. Instead, make sure that your business casual dress code is simple, clean, and relaxed. The rules are simple:
When you dress in office attire for business casual attire, it’s always best to choose colors that go together well. If you’re choosing a light color for a more business-like ensemble, make sure that the other colors you choose for your outfit compliment the light color you’ve chosen. For instance, if you’re wearing a dark jacket to a tan workplace, it’s best to choose a lighter shade of clothing that matches that dark color. This way, your workplace doesn’t look too busy, but your overall appearance is still professional.
If you’re dressing in business casual attire to a Christmas party, remember that Christmas colors are usually light. Make sure that your overall appearance is more festive as well; after all, this is a holiday where you’d like people to smile and be nicer to you, rather than making you feel like a Grinch. This applies to your attire as well; don’t dress too warm, nor too casual. Remember that the Christmas dress code is all about being nice and keeping the Christmas spirit, so you should remember this as well. You can wear a dark green sweater with a white Christmas jumper, or a light-colored sweater in a turquoise and white combination.
When you dress in business attire for casual occasions, such as a weekend getaway with co-workers or friends, it’s best to choose simple, yet dressy attire. Your best options for dressing in business casual attire are khaki pants and a white or tan shirt, with sandals or flip flops. Choose one piece of casual clothing that you know will match the rest of your ensemble; try to coordinate colors, shoes, and accessories for a uniform look. Remember that you want your outfit to be classic, not trendy, so avoid trendy colors such as pink, lime green, aqua, and light blue.
