What is the balance of professional and casual clothing? There’s no doubt that the business casual outfits for women is really confusing, and honestly, what does it really mean anymore? These days, business casual dress seems to mean anything ranging from hoodies and jeans to blazers and heels, and I’m speaking from experience. Therefore it’s no wonder you’re confused about what to wear. If you’re feeling confused about this dress code, then this article is for you because I’m going to be talking about how to navigate the business casual outfits.
I am in a digital media agency, and so I have worked in many offices in many industries, from industrial equipment to property management to oil and gas to logistics, and they all had a business casual outfits, and I can say firsthand that, business casual dress was very different in each of the different offices and environments. Fortunately, having this experience has helped me find my own approach to business casual outfits, and now I can pass it on to you.
First, I’m going to help you understand what business casual outfits means for your workplace, and next, I’m going to share five tips to help you dress with the perfect balance of professional and casual.
what does business casual outfits mean?
To figure out what business casual outfits means for you and your workplace, you need to take a few things into consideration, and it depends on these four things: it depends on your industry; it depends on the company; it depends on your role and experience; and it depends on the location and climate where you work.
So, first of all, business casual dress is relative to your industry. Some industries are more formal by nature, like law and banking, and some industries are more informal or casual by nature, like tech and engineering. A formal industry will be more conservative, so you’ll still see things like blazers, blouses, and trousers. However, what makes it more casual is that you’re not going to see suits. You’ll also see plenty of colour; you might see some slightly larger prints; and you’ll even see different materials like tweed. Business casual outfits in informal industries will mean more unstructured pieces like cardigans, pullovers. You’ll probably see more color, larger prints, and probably black or dark denim.
Secondly, business casual dress also depends on the company’s culture, the size of the company, and the number of employees. When a company sets a business casual outfits, the idea is to work in clothes that are business-like yet informal. Ultimately, the employer sets the standard for what is appropriate and how the employees should dress. One of the best ways to gauge what is appropriate is to notice what the management is wearing, but use your discretion because not everyone in a management role dresses appropriately for their position.
Next, It is also important to consider your role and experience. if you’re new at the company or in your role and you haven’t yet established a reputation you’ll want to address up a little bit more so that you’re appearance reflects the value that you have to contribute.
Finally, you want to address for the location and climate. With that said, in warmer climates it’s not a permission for you to show more skin, it just means you’re going to be wearing lighter materials and probably lighter colors when you’re dressing. When dressing for the location, you want to think about where you’re workplace is located. If it is in the downtown of a metropolitan city in an industrial area or in a remote location or somewhere else. This will also determine how formal your business casual is going to be. For example, business casual in downtown location is probably going to be a little bit more dressed up than business casual in a remote location. However, even if you’re not in a formal location, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t put thought and intention into what you are wearing. Now I’m curious what kind of workplace do you work in comment below and tell me about it. Now you have a better idea of how to determine what business casual attire means for you and your workplace. Here are five tips to dress with a perfect balance for business casual outfits.
1. Keep it really simple
Have a solid core wardrobe with great classic and quality pieces that fit you perfectly. This means classic matte fabrics like wool, cotton, and linen. And yes, this also means getting your clothing tailored. When you do this, you can’t go wrong with anything in your wardrobe because it all fits you perfectly and looks great on you.
2. One end out wear a blazer
Keep in mind that blazers come in all kinds of different styles. You can get formal blazers in a classic cut and a dark matte fabric, or you can get more informal blazers in a more flexible material with more drape. You can get them with or without a waist button, with or without a lapel, and you can even get them in fun colours or prints. Blazers instantly boost your visual credibility because they are a symbol of power. Blazers are a really great piece for a business casual attire to wear when you are starting out at a company and you are building your reputation. Another option for a more casual office, for example, if your coworkers do wear t-shirts and jeans is to wear a nice bomber jacket or even a leather jacket.
3. Coordinate your outfit
One thing that I absolutely endorse is wearing colors. Please wear color. Not enough people do. When you do, coordinate it with a neutral. You also want to a coordinate your prints, your fabrics, your footwear and, your accessories. Because your look should tell one complete story. If you’re outfit is mismatched, for example, if you’re wearing a really formal blazer with really casual blue Jeans, then you are going to be conveying a confusing message. You want to convey one clear message with your outfit.
4. To err on the side of sleek rather than bulky
So you want to avoid really thick, bulky sweaters, anything oversized, bulky pockets, and even bulky shoes. This includes runners and heavy-duty winter boots that are meant to be worn outdoors.
5. To err on the side of conservative rather than reveal headlines
Hemlines for dresses and skirts should be knee length or no more than two inches above the knee, depending on your height. When it comes to necklines, your neckline should be no lower than 2 inches above your cleavage, and if it is lower, you’ll want to wear a camisole underneath your blouse.
Now, you know more about how to dress for the business casual outfits. If you know another woman who struggles with the business casual outfits, send this article her away. Also, check out my article on Old Money Style.