How to do buisiness casual

As I mentioned earlier this week, I have a new job title at my place of employment. With this new job title comes new responsibilities, new hours, and new clothes. No more scrubs, ponytails, or Nikes for this gal. The dress code for my office is "business casual" but what exactly does that mean? Depending on your employer, business casual can lean more toward casual where nice jeans and tops are okay. Or it can lead more toward business where only slacks and closed toed shoes are acceptable.

 

Whether you are the former or the latter (we fall somewhere in-between) you should always keep some general rules in mind.

 

Dresses:

vs

While the outfit on the left is cute and would be fine for a brunch with girlfriends or a casual date with your boo thang, the dress on the right is much more appropriate for work.

-Dresses or skirts should reach the knee, or below the knee. Anything shorter would be considered inappropriate.

-Sleeveless is okay, but straps should follow the "three finger rule" (they should be as wide as three of your fingers.

-Dresses should not be too tight or form fitting (no panty lines), see-through, open back, or low cut

-Neutral colors are easy to spice up with fun accessories or shoes. Try pairing a black dress with a bright colored belt and matching necklace.

-When wearing a dress or skirt with a print, keep the accessories neutral. As you can see, I chose nude pumps and minimal jewelry and let the dress be the stand-out part of the outfit.

 

Separates:

vs.

Althought the outfit on the left is nice, the shirt is sheer and the pants too long for flats. The outfit on the right is much more appropriate for work.

-Pants should not be too tight, too baggy, or too long. If the pants are too long (you are stepping on the back of them) consider wearing heels or getting them hemmed.

-Shirts should also follow the three finger rule. If the sleeves are too narrow, consider wearing a cardigan

-Tops should not be sheer or see-through. If the top is semi sheer, wear a camisole underneath

-Jeans should not be worn, unless stated in your companies dress code as appropriate. If you wear jeans, consider a dark wash or trouser cut. Avoid lighter, distressed, or ripped jeans.

 

Other tips:

-Cardigans are a great layering piece that aren't as formal as a blazer or jacket.

-When it comes to shoes, it varies with most work places. Some say closed toe only, however at my company open toed and thong shoes are appropriate, as long as they have a back (like white sandals in the top left picture).

-Nude shoes are a great staple item (the heels I'm wearing above were from Target) but flats are okay too. They are great for wearing with colored outfits or prints.

-If you are unsure, always lean toward the more business side of business casual. Look to your female boss and co-workers and build your wardrobe from their examples. You could also ask your human resources department for a copy of the dress code.

 -Business casual staples: khaki pants or slacks, grey pants/slacks, black pants/slacks, casual blouses, knee-length dresses, cardigans or casual jackets, black and nude shoes, a neutral bag and jewelry for accessories.
-Avoid looks that are too "trendy" or "out there" remember, you are in a professional environment and just because you would rock it on a weekend, doesn't mean it's work-appropriate. For example, leather is in right now, and fun details like leather sleeves are okay, but stay away from full leather pants or shirts.

Some other helpful articles:

What does business casual mean for women?

How to dress business casual for women

The hunt: Work appropriate T-shirts

 

What is your office dress code?

Do you find it hard to find the balance between "business" and "casual?"