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Business casual anyone?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I would like to get a sense of who dresses business casually, at least some of the time, on our forum. Obviously I do - more and more. But who else? And who would like to have more business casual options in their wardrobe?

General

55 replies

Latest reply was from allycat1

Maya

Veteran

I'm glad you asked, Angie.

I just started, and it's only two times a week, but I'm feeling a little schizophrenic about it. My office does not have a rigid dress code. Everyone seems to dress the way most people perceive biz casual to be (boring shirts with boring casual pants like chinos and khakis, and boring sweaters). I don't think I have seen any of the ladies in dresses or skirts. There is one guy who wears jeans every day though, and no one seems to care. To that end, I don't feel as though I have a lot of role models to use as examples for myself. As an intern and a designer, I'm sure I could wear jeans and no one would care, but I don't want them to look at me and think "intern" when they see me. I want them to be surprised to hear I'm an intern, if that makes sense. Since this could turn into a real job, I want to put myself ahead in any way I can.

Some places are more strict than the Met in terms of what is and is not biz casual. There are defined limits set. Not so much here. I feel I have more freedom to be creative and arty (given my position, age, and company), but I have trouble knowing where to draw the line. For example, the other day I wore a pencil skirt, pink Laura silk/cashmere cardigan over black turtleneck, and sheer black hose. Is it OK to wear my Star Lings with what is otherwise a pretty dressy outfit? As an accountant, probably not...but it's not so clear cut for me. And as always, footwear is my biggest downfall. If necessary, I could swap out the Star Lings for my dressier Ecco boots. But it's just an example of the thoughts that come to my mind when trying to pull together outfits.

April

Veteran

I dress business-casual at my job (as you all know by now, never casual enough to include jeans -- no matter how dressy -- but I don't have to wear suits like an attorney or someone in the financial field.) Like Maya, I find shoes the biggest challenge. Flats with dress pants can so easily look frumpy and dowdy, and I'm not capable of functioning well in heels. Flats with pencil skirts are also hard to pull off.

Pants are a challenge in that the smallest petite sizes that fit in the hip area tend to be a little short, even for a short person such as myself, but going into a non-petite size necessitates tricky alterations like taking in the entire seat area.

When I find my perfect black riding boots, I plan to get more skirts and dresses and make that my cold-weather look. For now, I'm seriously considering the Cone Sweet booties...

Maya

Veteran

April, I must stick up for flats and pencil skirts! I find it kind of sweet and retro. Can you wear pointed toes? I can't, but I think a flat with a somewhat pointed toe (I don't prefer anything too extreme) can look nice under pants and with skirts. I also think dressy flats can look OK, though I haven't personally found any that suit my annoying feet. Here are some examples (I don't endorse the comfort levels since I haven't tried them, but just to give a visual):

http://www.zappos.com/french-s.....lack-croco
http://www.zappos.com/french-s.....ack-patent
http://www.zappos.com/delman-alice-s-black-black (not flats, but close enough)

I feel your pain on flats with dress pants though. I just let out my CM hems for 2" heels because I knew they would end up being orphans if I was stuck exclusively with flats. I do miraculously have a few 2" heels that seem to go the distance, and I'd like to add booties to that list eventually.

I'd go for the Cone Sweets. I can't get into the style enough to justify $90, personally, but I bet they are comfy. I'm going to try the BC booties instead. Assuming the heel isn't as wobbly as I expect it to be, they should be fine once I stick my Superfeet insoles in them.

Lee Hovey

I am with Maya, I love the look of flats with pencil skirts. When I wear a pencil with heels I feel more sexy; too sexy for my business casual office. The flats tone down the sexiness of the skirt, IMO.

Angie, I also dress business casual for work. I CAN get away with basic casual, but as a manager I try to always look chic, pulled together, and professional. I do wear jeans to work often, but I try to make sure they are a dark clean wash and well fitting. I am learning to work more dresses, skirts, and non denim pants into my wardrobe, and would love more tips for taking the business casual up a notch!

Kari

Veteran

I dress business causal most of the time at work. Two years ago I started working in a job that required business causal dress - no jeans or cords - and I found that I just felt more polished and confident when I dressed up a bit. Subsequent jobs have veered much more to the casual side of a business-appropriate dress code.

The main challenge with my present job is that there is a wide range of dress styles. Managers in my department typically dress business casual (and on the conservative/casual end, pretty similar to Maya's description of the Met's dress code), but most employees in my position typically wear casual clothes - jeans and sweaters. I stick out because I usually wear skirts or dresses but throw in denim every so often. However, because employees can dress casually, I feel like I have more leeway to add playful or casual elements to business causal wear, and I'm grateful that I have the option to wear jeans when I want to.

April, I am in love with my own Cone Sweet booties, so I hope you give them a try!

julijuli

I dress business casual for work most of the time. In my current situation that means that I am usually way more 'dressed up' than the majority of people in my office. My coworkers notice and do say that I'm the fashionista (ha!) of the office. I visit my client often and as you probably know Angie - it's VERY casual in that large software company that I visit! But - I feel that it's important to project a certain level of professionalism. And, I feel better and more confident when I'm wearing something more dressy than jeans and a t-shirt.

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

Me! Me! Me! I dress business casual for work, no jeans allowed. Really, we are supposed to be business dress, but that's not what most people wear, or if they do, they have the dowdiest suits imaginable. I dress a little higher-end when I am meeting the users, but since dresses and skirts are my default attire I already start at a cut above most.

So I would love if you did more posts about this particular dress code, Angie; I know it covers a wide spectrum of styles and rules, but that's what makes it interesting, to me. my biggest challenge is dressing for the weather; the office is never even close to the same temperature outside or even in my house, so even in the winter sweaters can be almost too much. Unless it's been closed all weekend, then it's freezing in there!

Tricia

Veteran

I dress business casual, but we can wear jeans and I do occasionally. When I do wear jeans it's always a dark washed trouser-cut pair; I'd never wear skinnies or bootcuts. Some people in the office dress up more, some less, but most are about where I am in terms of formality.

Dashrashi

Veteran

I have three (four?) distinct styles of dress that I have to utilize on a semi-regular basis. I'm a law student, so in my day to day life (classes, etc.), I wear my casual/out-there clothes. This runs the gamut from jeans + hoodie + graphic tee (for when I'm running late, usually, and still have to walk the dog before I get out the door) to interesting layering and belting experiments a la the J. Crew catalog. (Today: vintage navy slip under cream pointelle sweater dress, layered under pink sweater with oversized cowl. Black over-the-knee socks, brown and black vintage riding boots, and a navy hoodie belted with a narrow gold belt.)

I'm also doing a clinical (law practice as a student for credit), so I dress business casual when I am meeting with clients or doing investigations. I don't like to wear jeans, even in a smart-casual way, since I am often younger (or at least look younger) than most of my clients and the witnesses I interview. My business-casual wardrobe also functions as my day-to-day office-wear when I am working full time (i.e. over summers and other school breaks). Most offices I've worked in are generally business casual (maybe business casual plus), with the exception of one office where the dress code was presented to us interns as, "Uh, no shorts?"

Then, of course, I have my court clothes. Court clothes = business-formal attire, with very little leeway for creativity. Although I've seen established attorneys get...creative with their attire in court, as a student (and young attorney), my rule of thumb has to be that court clothes should be no less conservative and formal than the clothes you would wear to a job interview in the legal field (i.e. conservative and formal already). We are talking full matched suits, button-down shirts, and the occasional knit top in an unobtrusive color. Open-toed shoes would be scandalous, even conservative peep-toes. Because of the kind of law I practice, I'm in court often enough that I can't get away with just one suit. Many lawyers I've worked with keep all their suits in the office so they can change at a moment's notice, but without a permanent office, that's not an option for me.

Oh, and I have approximately four to five feet of hanging space. It's frustrating.

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

I'd be most interested in this topic! I used to dress business casual all the time, but now that I've moved to a newsroom the dress code is much more relaxed (I'm currently wearing autumn MOTG formula 5). That said, I find business casual to be a highly versatile option, and one that fits in with my personality and lifestyle. I've been known to go business casual at work, particularly in the summer, and it always elicits complements. My main problem is the lack of stylish, nom-denmim pant options in my size.

Donna

I would also be interested in this topic. Happily, I'm not working at the present time, but I prefer to dress in a business casual way a lot of the time when I'm out and about. As I've gotten older (now 50), I like more structure to my clothes and would love to have some formulas to work with. I use some of the ideas from the MOTG formulas and change them to suit the situation.

I've been working on my wardrobe for about a year and a half and feel that I finally have clothes to mix and match in a variety of ways for most occasions. For example, I received a jury summons a while back and ended up serving on a jury for a couple of days and was able to find outfits that were appropriate for the setting but still comfortable. I was the most dressed up of the jurors (it's surprising what some wore), but I felt confident and well put together. In the past I would have had a bit of a panic about what was in my closet (or not).

I also like flats with pencil skirts, but I find that the length of the skirt has to be just right to look good. I have the BC booties and love them! They're great with skirts, dresses and pants or jeans. On two different occasions they have been 12 hour shoes for me. Wish they came in a brown leather because I would snap them up immediately.

Anonymous

I've just started a new office job where the dress is business casual, which includes cords (sorry Angie, I love them!). Nice jeans are OK in moderation, and are mostly limited to days when you're not meeting with the public. Vermont in general is not a dressy place, and practicality trumps almost everything else. (And being trendy or dressing up too much can turn people off, or at least is an obstacle in gaining their respect.) But I've finally learned that "practical" doesn't have to mean dowdy or unflattering, and that I feel better about myself if I pay attention to how I dress.

I've enjoyed tips on how to "dress down" the dressier items in my wardrobe (which aren't many, but I hate for them to go unused!), how to dress to flatter my body, and how to have fun by playing up texture, colors, etc. My main limitations are weather conditions (cold, snow, sleet, rain, mud) and shoes, since I need to wear my orthotics most of the time.

And I know you didn't specifically ask for this kind of feedback, but I am interested in learning more about fabrics which wear well, are comfortable, and are easy to maintain. (Dry cleaning is my nemesis!)

Louise

Veteran

Jeans are not the done thing at work so i guess i'm business casual? Though i usually wear outfits i would also wear at the weekend dresses skirts etc- i'm confused!!! x

marianna

Veteran

I'm smart casual, not business casual at all. Hopefully this will change soon!

tarzy

Veteran

Yes please! I'd love to see some posts! I'm more on the "creative business casual" side, like Maya, but I'd love some pants options other than jeans (I'm still not a dress girl.)

I'd love to see some outfits using black trousers that don't look "suity." (I love trousers with Converse on other people, but I still need a bit of a heel, so shoe suggestions would be great, too!)

Maya

Veteran

OMG it's Tara! yay!

marianne

I would be interested in this as well. I am mostly smart casual, but I would love to have some business casual options. I used to have business casual dress code at work a few years ago, and for me it was usually a button down shirt with maybe a sweater, and BR pants. I would be interested in ideas on how business casual could be made more interesting, especially outfits with pants.

medusa

Veteran

I'm still not very clear on the distinctions between casual, smart casual, business casual, etc. Angie, I've read your posts on these different categories but I still don't really get it. I think I'm a slow learner about this. So I would love more posts on this topic because examples really help me!

Rose

I aim for smart or business casual, depending on the situation at work (prof in academia). I don't have any formal dress code, but prefer to look more business casual for teaching, conferences, meetings etc but I also need smart casual for very frequent lab or travel days.

Winnie

A post about versatile pieces that fall under business casual would be very helpful!

Honestly, I'm a bit bored of my dress shirt + pant + sweater/cardigan routine everyday... I'd like to be a bit more creative, but am always wary of professionalism and try to err on the conservative side.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Good grief. Thanks for the response so far ladies. I had *no* idea that there were loads of business casual YLF’ers. It’s quite exciting actually. It’s become my favourite dress code!

Right. It’s been decided. YLF has smart casual and casual down – this is going to be the year for business casual. There are MANY ways to interpret this dress code and it all boils down to three things:

o The business environment – it is conservative, or trendy
o The level of formality
o Your individual style preferences

For example, my biz casual dress code is trendy because I work in the fashion business. It’s more formal because I err on the dressy side of dressy. And I prefer to wear skirts and dresses over slacks unless I’m wearing jeans.

Maya – I like that you want to put yourself ahead of the game. You can have lots of fun putting the right age appropriate biz casual stuff together in your professional environment. I’ll get back to your specific outfit question so remind me about it later.

April, I often wear dressy flats with skirts, dresses and pants! I even blogged about it. You are in good company and we’ll get you sorted. Marianna does this beautifully.

Kendra and Marianna, I like your thinking.

Kari, you have biz casual down. We can learn from you!

Julijuli, I bet you are quite the fashionista in your work environment :0)

Kristen, I’d like to hear more about the weather challenges in the office.

Tricia, would you dress up a pair of skinny jeans and wear them to the office now?

Marianne, we have to get you into skirts and dresses too!

Michelle, there are LOTS of biz casual slacks options in your size in the US. How can we help you?

(Corduroy is not biz casual in my book and no one will convince me otherwise I’m afraid. They are 100% casual).

Tara!!! So good to see you back on the forum. PLEASE get a pair of pinstriped black slacks asap. I’m champing at the bit to dress you.

Medusa, post a separate thread on your questions about the different dress codes and we’ll have you sorted in no time.

Winnie, your points are valid and in certain professions, frivolous biz casual attire will not work. I have executive clients in very conservative environments and they have to keep it sleek and serious - but always with personality and good fashion sense.

Beth

Veteran

Woohoo! Great topic! I'm on the dressy side of business casual but my style and the level of casual/dressy veers wildly some weeks. As a school psychologist, I'm in a unique position in that I'm a central office employee based in an elementary school. I'm not in a suit, but I'm not in casual classroom wear either. I need to be approachable to kids, but also to look professional.

Having no particular dress code should mean a good opportunity to play with style, but it really means I've fallen back on the skirt/pants/sweater combination that's anything but creative and interesting.

Bring on the topic, Angie! I'm all ears:)

cyan45

maybe smart casual without jeans? i'm a private music teacher, and commute
to studios/houses every day. my workhorse outfits:

--jersey dress + cardigan + patterned tights + knee high black boots, small heel

--black sheath dress + blouse under/cardigan/blazer over + tights + knee high small heel boots/pumps

--denim pencil skirt + blouse/button shirt + cardigan + belt + tights + knee high boots/pumps

all include a dressy scarf, wool/trench coat, jackie-esque sunglasses and tote bag
to carry music/books/attendance sheets, etc...

i'd love to learn how to dress more business casual with travel-friendly materials. especially dresses, skirts and SHOES for cold and warm weather. fortunately i can get away with bold colors, and am trying to choose more versatile, solid colors rather than geometric prints (which i adore, lol).

what a cool topic! i love reading everyone's posts

Debbie

Veteran

I'm very interested in this topic. I want to up my style at work. I love dresses and for the summer I know I want to go that way. I'm interested in pant options and shoes.

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I'm smart casual. I'm pretty much in jeans most of the time with the occasional foray into a dress/boot combo.

Mac

Veteran

Since finding YLF, I've focused most of my efforts on getting some casual items, like jeans, that fit me properly. However, I now need to turn my attention to getting a business casual wardrobe that looks semi-okay. In my early 40s, I work in a trendy, young, creative field and I prefer to err on the side of a bit more formal and a bit less trendy since I feel it's more appropriate for my advanced years : ) -- but I'm still a ton more casual and trendy than my friends who work in, say, banking, theology or insurance!

I'd love to see a variety of capsules and ideas on bus. casual during the months to come.

CK

I usually dress casual or smart casual, but this is a very timely topic for me as I contemplate going back to work part-time this year.

mummy2thea

I think I am business casual for work at the moment. I still find it a bit boring because I am still working with a very limited number of items, but I am going to make more of an effort to add some brighter pieces and invest in a couple of skirts or dresses very soon. I am looking forward to reading lots more on this and will put it all to good use.

Vani

Veteran

My workplace has a business casual dress code but most people veer towards smart casual 99% of the time (except when there are client meetings etc.) Which means 9 out of 10 people wear jeans - women wear moderately smart causal tops and all men wear short sleeve polos.

When I joined YLF the few times I wouldn't wear jeans to work, I would just swap the jeans with black or brown trousers. But since then, I wear skirts and dresses a LOT more to work and even wen I do wear jeans, I always embrace Angie's smart casual and MOTG formulas. I am lucky in the sense that there are no dress code rules or general conceptions and norms that I need to follow. But because I am a programmer, I feel like I need to pay particular attention to not dress like one. Also, I turn 32 this year and feel if I convey the notion that I take how I present myself seriously, then I will be taken seriously and this will only help my career.

I do intend to stock up on some more basic sheath type dresses this year. Being in Florida means Angie's spring/summer formulas work for me 11 months out of the year. I've been milking these few cold weeks wearing skirts, frocks, hose and boots to work almost everyday. I love it!

Most of all, though, is that I am also slowly trying to inject more of my own personality into my outfits. I've always had some sort of an affinity for rocker, punk inspired elements and want to learn how to incorporate these successfully into a business casual style of dressing.

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