What is Business Casual Attire
Dress codes can be pretty tedious to decipher. If you underplay, there is always a risk that you might stand out due to your improper clothing, while overplaying may make you come across as a showy person. Thus, if you don't want to end up making a fool of yourself, it is imperative that you dress aptly for the occasion. You should be clear about the meaning of the dress code, whenever your invite says, formal, semi formal, casual or business casual. If the invite doesn't mention anything about the dress code, then the task becomes even more difficult. In such cases, you need to take into account the type of occasion, the class of people likely to attend it and most importantly, the purpose why you are attending it. After formal, semi formal, party and casual wear, business casual attire is the new concept that baffles many people.
What is Business Casual Attire
Your workplace may demand that the employees wear only certain type of clothing. Dress code becomes essential in conservative industries or organizations that involve a lot of interaction with clients or communities. While most corporate companies insist on formal wear like suits and blazers, this form of clothes can get too suffocating at times. Since, casual clothing fails to portray a professional image, companies cannot permit casual wear in offices. During such times, business casual attire can come as a huge relief. This attire makes working a comfortable experience for the employees, while still maintaining the professional image of the company.
Business Casual Attire for Men
Business casual attire is mostly demanded on occasions where large number of people are likely to congregate. The informal sessions with a potential employer before a campus interview, job fairs, informal business meetings are some of the occasions where you will possibly be required to dress in business casual attire. The apt business casual dressing for men is as follows.
Shirt: Long sleeved shirt, either solid or stripes is best suited for indoor as well as outdoor venues. Choose sophisticated colors like white, blue etc. Golf or polo shirts are also acceptable, as long as they are neatly pressed and tucked in.
Pants: Basic pants, in colors like khaki, navy, black, gray can never land you in trouble. Avoid wearing tight or baggy pants. The pants should be long enough to just cover the heel of your shoe.
Shoes/Belt: Always invest in a good pair of leather shoes and belt. The shoe color should be in sync with the color of your pants and must be neatly polished. The belt should be a basic one without any adornments.
Accessories: A classic watch should suffice the jewelry requirements of a business casual dress code. If you must, carry a leather bag or a briefcase. Piercings or tattoos are better kept covered while attending a business event.
Business Casual Attire for Women
Dressing up for a business casual event can be a real pain for women. Although, they have myriad options in terms of clothing, they have to be extra careful about what self image they want to portray. A woman need to look professional, yet presentable.
Skirts/Pants: Pants can be a safe bet for women when it comes to business casual attire. Follow the same guidelines for pants as mentioned for men's attire. Knee length skirts are acceptable but anything above that is a strict no-no.
Shirts/Blouses: The most important guideline for women's shirts is that the neckline should not reveal your cleavage at any cost. Also, the fabric should not cling tightly to your body. Avoid floral prints or overtly feminine colors. Sweaters and jackets are acceptable as business casual clothing.
Shoes: High-heeled shoes with thin straps are not considered appropriate for business casual events. Go for leather or fabric shoes that cover your toes and heels. Save your heavily embellished stilettos for parties and other such events only. Avoid white and pastel colors for shoes.
Accessories: Keep your accessories to bare minimum. Solitaire earrings and a thin necklace with a small pendant is sufficient. If you must, wear a thin bracelet that's not too flashy. A classic watch and a formal bag should complete your business casual look.
Now that you know all about a business casual dress code, I hope you will aptly dress for one. If you still fumble with your dress code, simply use your common sense, you are less likely to go wrong that way!
