What The Heck Is Business Casual?

We’ve all been there before: it’s 10 minutes before you have to leave for an interview, your first day at a new internship, or the career expo. You’re standing in front of your closet, having thought it was going to be an easy task to pick out an outfit. But then the panic sets in – the dress code is business casual. What does business casual mean?????? How do I make sure my outfit doesn’t leave the wrong impression? Why can’t I, like Cher in the movie Clueless, have a computer pick out my outfits for me?

How you dress is important, and being dressed appropriately can make or break first impressions when you meet someone new in a professional setting. If I’ve learned anything from years of being addicted to the TLC show “What Not to Wear,” it’s that how you dress is important not only because of what others might think of you, but because if you’re not confident in your outfit, you won’t feel confident in general. Plus, if you don’t dress appropriately, you’ll get some seriously judgmental looks from Stacy London.

So, to the point, what is business casual? It’s confusing, because how can something be business-appropriate and casual at the same time? How do you know what’s too casual and what’s not? Can someone please just tell me what to wear?

First, I need to be straightforward – business casual is a blanket term for a lot of different types of dress, and no two people will give you the same definition of it. In some settings, dark jeans are allowed as business casual. In others, more formality is required, and you should be wearing more traditional professional clothing. This is confusing, but don’t worry! Here are 5 tips to figure out what business casual means in the context of your workplace:

  1. If you’re completely lost, I would start with some basics: a collared shirt and nice pants (khaki or black are usually safe color choices) or a knee-length skirt will do the trick in almost any setting. Feel free to add a cardigan or blazer, especially if it’s chilly out (see tip #4 below about the magic of blazers). If you’re wearing jewelry and/or makeup, keep it simple. Closed-toed shoes are also a good idea, and don’t feel pressured to wear heels. In my book, it’s always better to wear shoes you’re comfortable in, and that won’t cause you to risk falling on your face when you’re talking to new people.
  2. It’s never a bad thing to be overdressed, so dress closer to business formal when you’re doing an interview or headed to a career fair. This generally means wearing a suit, or something in that vein. Then, when you’re at the interview or fair, look around! See what others are wearing from your potential workplace and take note. For example, at my job, I turned up super overdressed for the interview, having been told to wear business casual and finding myself super confused as to what that meant. This wasn’t a bad thing – it impressed my future boss! Then, while I was there, I saw my coworkers wearing things I might not have thought of as appropriate office wear, like jean jackets and espadrilles. This made me realize it was okay to dress down a little for work, and I adjusted my dress accordingly when I started the job.
  3. Business casual usually gives you a little more room to express your personal style! If you’re not the type of person who gets excited about getting dressed in the morning, refer back to tip #1. But if you, like me, are almost always excited to pick out an outfit every day, business casual might be your new favorite thing. It affords you the ability to wear non-neutral colors, experiment with patterns, and try out different styles than you would be confined to with business formal wear. My favorite thing about working in an office with a business casual dress code is that I can wear clothing I would probably wear even if I wasn’t at work!
  4. If you’re unsure about an outfit, a blazer will always make it better. Seriously. I love blazers. I love blazers so much I bought special lightweight summer ones because even the Houston heat couldn’t stop me from always having a blazer on hand. They make you look put together and professional in one easy step.
  5. Don’t be afraid to ask someone! If you’re really unsure, it’s best to ask your boss or a coworker for advice. They’ll most likely appreciate you taking the initiative to be sure you’re dressed appropriately, and you’ll know exactly what you should be wearing.

Those are some of my best tips and tricks for navigating the tricky world of business casual. As mentioned before, business casual is difficult because its meaning varies so much from workplace to workplace, but this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to figure out. Go forth and conquer the world of business casual, y’all!

And remember, as Annie taught us, you’re never fully dressed without a smile.

leya-mohsin Leya Mohsin is a Peer Career Advisor from Hanszen College.  She is a sophomore studying mathematical economic analysis and policy studies.

 

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