Business Casual

Business casual is my least favorite classification of dress.  It's completely American, was created to ascertain a more relaxed business environment, but now it has become a mostly sloppy business environment.  I am shocked a lot during the week at what some people will throw on and pass off as acceptable at work.  Don't even get me started on casual Friday (that post will come later!)

The problem usually lies within management and whether or not the company has a dress code.  After all, if someone shows up in sweatpants and there is no action taken, then eventually the whole office will be heading to Sloppytown - and fast. 

So let's start with the basics, from the beginning.  Business Casual stems from Business Formal.  Business Formal is a suit, and in the most formal atmospheres, that means a skirt suit for women.  Business Formal means no toes, no cleavage, no shoulders, no legs for men, sometimes no bare legs for women (stockings required).

 So, when the American business world decided to loosen up a little, it meant, OK - you can now go without a tie, you can go sans stocking, you can wear an open toed peep toe pump or a flat sandal in the summer.  You don't have to wear a jacket and you don't need to be in full suit.  Ladies can feel free to wear trousers and skirts that are separates (or, a skirt that doesn't go with a suit).

But just look around in the next office you're in.  What are people wearing? Cotton this, cotton that, flip flops, T shirts, pants with hems dragging, shirts showing cleavage, skirts too short, sneakers etc etc etc. 

Our current definition of Business Casual is a far cry from Business Formal.  For a lot of people there is nothing business about it.  And on "casual" Friday I have seen people in outfits better suited for cleaning the house on the weekend.  And it's going to get worse before it gets any better. 

I show up to the office I work at looking polished, pulled together and like I put some thought into myself to make sure I look presentable and professional.  Granted, yes, I'm into fashion but I've discovered if you have the right clothes and you know what works, it is very easy to look great everyday. 

So I'm going to give you my take on Business Casual from what I've learned from living in New York, attending FIT, readings oodles of styling books and seeing dozens of Dos and Donts out on the streets during the work week.

Here are some examples of how to take Business Formal down a notch and create a Business Casual.  I understand that some offices are very casual and so you may be able to "get away" with more.  I will give some options for that as well but try and steer clear of the Donts if you want to stay looking polished.  And why wouldn't you?? After all, it's your image and your self respect, and looking great is an important factor in presenting the best "you" to the world!

Footwear:

Do:

 In varying degrees of formality

DON'T:

...Ever.

Bottoms:

Do:

In varying degrees of formality

DONT

...Ever.

Tops:

Do:

DONT:

...Ever

And while we're at it: Jewelry

DO:

Dont:

Basically the "rules" are simple: Ask yourself, would I wear this to the beach/club/out to dinner/out for drinks/to a wedding?? If the answer is YES for any of those other places, odds are, it doesn't belong in the office. 

And of course, style "rules" are for breaking sometimes so if you think you are getting good at pulling off variations of business formal on the casual scale, then go ahead and try making riskier choices paired with classic safe pieces, like a fuschia wedge shoe with all white classically cut clothing and a blazer or red pants with a classic top and classic, simple shoes.

Here is a quick collage I threw together of examples of what I wear to work, the outfit on the right is casual Friday.  I'm at a law firm at the moment, so I must keep it a little more structured than I would have to normally. Also, my shoe choices would be much more fashion forward, but, as you can see, I can alter my wardrobe to work for any situation by making little tweaks here and there.  THAT'S what good basics will get you.

Dressing for work every day is fun if you let it! Plan your outfits out at the beginning of the week and have trusty basics that fit well and are always polished for when you will inevitably not have the time to plan.

Here's to presenting our best selves to the world everyday!