There are times when you don’t wish to look so official and tied up in suits and corporate attire. One may ask, are there business casuals one can wear instead? In this article, we’ll take a look at what business casual is and when to wear it.
What is a business casual and when should you wear it?
“Business casual” means different things to various organizations, cities, and offices. Most organizations have given employees an opportunity to wear business casuals to work, giving employees an opportunity to wear their most comfortable attire to work. This is due to the effect of enclothed cognition.
The phenomenon of enclothed cognition describes how your clothing and dressing affect your overall cognition and psychological process.This has resulted in employers giving employees freedom to choose what to wear to the work place at least once a week.
These casuals could either be sport coats, casual blazers, collared shirts, button-down shirts, etc. for men; and dresses or skirts below knee level, flats, and accessories for women. It has gone from all-official dressing to a touch of business casual.
What is a business casual dress code?
Business casual is sometimes a suit and tie for men and a pantsuit or a professional gown or skirt for women, depending on the company. This leaves room for a worker to express their dressing sense in a professional way.
For example, a bank stated that employees could wear jeans or chinos (as a substitute) to work every day, not just on certain days. As a principled worker, you can do some jean combinations that still make you look classy and professional.
In some organizations, jeans are not permitted in the workplace, so it all depends on your organization’s dress code. This is why it’s still preferable to dress too formally rather than too casually. You can also ask top officials in the organization for the best business casual to put on if you’re new to the job.
Business casuals for men and women
For men
- Khaki, gabardine, wool, or cotton pants neatly pressed.
- pressed cotton button-down long-sleeve shirts.
- Sweaters
- leather shoes in black and brown.
- black and brown leather belts.
- A selection of ties
Avoid wearing
- Your favorite old T-shirt
- Ripped jeans
- Ratty sneakers or flip-flops
- Avoid clothing with logos or potentially offensive words or graphics.
For women
- a skirt or dress slacks.
- Sweaters, twinsets, cardigans, polo/knit shirts,
- hosiery (optional) with closed-toe shoes.
- A professional dress—try a sheath silhouette.
Avoid wearing
- Tank tops
- cold-shoulder tops
- Low-cut tops
- Ripped or frayed clothing
- Shorts, skirts, or dresses worn with high-heeled flip-flops are also
- Distracting or noisy jewelry
When should you wear business casual?
In some organizations, business casuals are worn as stipulated in the dressing code. If not set as a rule, you may wear business casual to unofficial business meetings, business dinners, closed meetings, etc.
You can also wear business casual on a Friday of every week if not stipulated in the regulations. In the end, it’s necessary that you follow the listed business casuals above so you don’t look too casual in your workplace.
