https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sat, 11 Apr 2026 14:12:40 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1744212 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 21:18:38 +0000 bj1111 1744212@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>@aliona</b>, you need to bite the bullet and tell her how she is being perceived. &nbsp;she may not be happy with the message, but if she is not getting interviews, she needs to think about alternative reasons why.</p> <p>related <a rel="nofollow" href="http://jezebel.com/dont-wear-an-engagement-ring-to-an-interview-if-you-wan-1785674871">jezebel article</a> from a recruitment specialist, based on the <a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-interviewing-job-lose-ring-bruce-hurwitz">linkedin post</a>&nbsp;--like it or not, people use all available data to make a first impression which is to say not a lot of hard info!</p> <p>consider it your good deed for the month.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1744161 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 18:53:21 +0000 milehighstyle (Linda) 1744161@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I work for an estate planning firm in Denver.&nbsp; 20 employees, 12 women and 8 men.&nbsp; All but 2 of the men are in the very highest positions - co-owners, client advisor type roles.&nbsp; Average age is probably 55, only&nbsp;3 or 4&nbsp;employees are under age 40.&nbsp; The written dress code states "no extremes in fashion or grooming".&nbsp; The unwritten rule is jeans on Fridays only (which I honestly don't get as I've met with just as many clients on Fridays as on any other day).&nbsp; The men are practically in uniform - khakis and golf shirts in the warm weather; khakis and long sleeve button front shirts in cooler weather.&nbsp;&nbsp;About half of the women wear&nbsp;trouser pants&nbsp;all the time - with cardigans, button front shirts, blazers, pull over sweaters.&nbsp; The others (including me) wear skirts, dresses, "crazy pants" (brightly colored or patterned), ponte pants, corduroys (both skinny and trouser cut), tunics over leggings. Tights in the winter, bare legs in the summer.&nbsp; Sandals are allowed.&nbsp; I've seen sneakers from time to time too.&nbsp;&nbsp;Most of our clients would be similarly dressed or even more dressed down.&nbsp; The city as a whole is pretty casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1744110 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:29:17 +0000 kkards 1744110@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Charley, looking forward to seeing your WIWs. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1744075 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:21:24 +0000 Charley 1744075@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is such a neat discussion.&nbsp; I work for a utility company and in our one city, we have facilities that range from a downtown highrise (corporate services, customer care call center) to field offices (treatment plants with office space), so there are a huge range of people and dress styles.&nbsp; </p> <p>Generally, the more time you spend in the field, the more casual you are allowed to dress (and if you wear coveralls for your workday, no one cares what you are wearing underneath).</p> <p>My team is located in an office building on one of the treatment plant sites and we split our time between the field and the office.</p> <p>1. Yes we have a written dress code and it is selectively enforced.&nbsp; It's not very well-written or very clear and I get the impression it is mostly targeted at the staff at the call center.&nbsp; General instructions are that certain things are never allowed (flip flops, tank tops, leggings) and that you should dress at least business casual, unless you will be in the field that day.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;2.&nbsp;The informal dress code is that you are neat and tidy and at least attempting business casual (or smart casual - there are lots&nbsp;of men with jeans and golf shirts / short&nbsp;sleeved dress shirts) at the field sites.&nbsp;&nbsp;The downtown office is more on the business side, with dress pants / jackets / suits.&nbsp; <br /> 3.&nbsp;My specific team is 2/3 men, mostly with a trade background.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /> 4. I'd say that most of our days are about a 5 - not very casual, but not very dressy.&nbsp; I'll post some typical outfit photos later this week or early next week.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1743862 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 21:31:21 +0000 Sara L. 1743862@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would say my workplace is mostly business casual for the engineers. &nbsp;There's a another team that does environmental work (biologists, archeologists, ethnography) that dress very, very casually. &nbsp;However, generally the engineers wear what Angie states - chinos, polo shirts, buttons downs with no tie, etc. &nbsp;Jeans are not usually worn except on Fridays, although I'll wear colored denim (white, black, burgundy) during the week. &nbsp;There's no written dress code here. &nbsp;My previous job in the same industry had a written dress code that was enforced. &nbsp;It was similar to the unwritten code here so it's not an issue for me. &nbsp;One of our main clients has an enforced dress code of dress shirts, slacks and ties for the men (and the equivalent for women) so I feel like I need to dress, not to exactly the same standards, but be dressed up enough that I'm not uncomfortably under dressed when in meetings with them. &nbsp;</p> <p>I'll admit that my version of business casual is definitely more casual than it was when I first started working. &nbsp;I'm still more dressed up than the majority of my co-workers though. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1743740 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 15:12:18 +0000 Anonymous 1743740@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I feel the need to address the opinion about ponte pants. I work in an office that has a "business casual" dress code. We are not to wear jeans unless they are dark denim. Most of the time, I wear NYDJ ponte Michelle trousers, which I think look professional. I also occasionally wear either white or very dark denim pants. No matter what pants I wear, I always make sure that the rest of my outfit is professional. The dress code came about because of people in other offices wearing really casual attire that is not at all appropriate for the office--flip flops, tank tops, etc. There obviously had to be some guidelines for people to follow. That said, it is a university ag extension office in a rural location, not a bank or attorney's office. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1743662 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:42:08 +0000 Anonymous 1743662@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oops, I missed this and posted on our dress code in your WIW. I'm interested in the comments about gradual casualisation in younger people. We have a young staff member who will likely soon be out of a job based on cutbacks. She is a seriously talented and brilliant young woman. She's been interviewing with no callbacks and several of us worry it's because of the way she dresses. For example, she wears tunics as dresses, which often puts her knickers on full display (I don't think she réalisés this). It's not my place to say anything, but I feel sad for her as I think her dress might be negatively impacting her career. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1743640 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:35:53 +0000 kkards 1743640@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@Ummlila-yes, i agree, ponte pants are less business and more casual, and i'll be honest, that's why i wear them....i'm trying to find the magical line that strikes the perfect balance. i do think that the cut/silhouette&nbsp;of the pants makes a difference....<br />@Ginger...looking foward to seeing retro goes to work.<br />@psychedelicate--love.love.love the communal skirt suit!</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge/page/2#post-1743623 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 07:18:23 +0000 Irene 1743623@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I work at a London tech startup. 65-70℅ of my colleagues are male, which contrasts nicely with my previous industry: publishing. Either way, my office environment has always been casual: converse sneakers, jeans and t-shirts are perfectly fine. I do feel that at my current company things have changed re dress code (and everything else, really). I've seen this startup grow from 40 people to 120, and many of my colleagues were - still are - very young, but as new, older, more experienced people join us, we have all become a bit more conscious about our attire. There was a guy who used to come to work in a tracksuit sometimes - no kidding. I haven't seen that in a long time. But converse shoes and jeans are still perfectly acceptable. As for myself, I'm making the effort to dress nicer again and I'm more aware of what other female colleagues wear, we all admire each other's clothes and comment on them. </p> <p>But, yeah, at my company anything goes regarding attire, which I don't mind. If it helps people focus on what really matters, who cares what they're wearing? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743573 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 03:43:00 +0000 Cococat 1743573@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I would love to participate in this. </p> <p>My work place (university) doesn't have a dress code apart from the safety dress code for laboratories. Most days I would dress in what I consider a business casual style. If I'm teaching, my main consideration is shoe comfort, as my lectures go for 2 hours and I stand the whole time. I almost always wear heels.</p> <p>In warmer weather, I tend to wear dresses and and it's usually jeans or pants for winter. We're mid Spring at the moment.</p> <p>Angie, interesting hearing your thoughts about uniforms. I attended a school with a strictly enforced uniform policy. We wore black hose Summer and Winter, a hat, a blazer which had to be the outermost layer in Winter (sweaters had to be worn under), gloves in Winter etc. I hated it because I felt that I had no creative freedom as clothing always feels like a creative expression for me..but I will acknowledge that it taught me about conservative professional attire.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743568 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 03:17:41 +0000 psychedelicate 1743568@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@kkards Nope. I mean, there's some realm where common sense comes into play (like, don't wear your bikini), but it has never come up. I work in the offices of a museum where if we have to do something official, there's even a special communal skirt suit that person can borrow to change into! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743567 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:54:05 +0000 Ginger 1743567@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is going to be fascinating. I will definitely be participating!</p> <p>I see a LOT of variety at my workplace. It's a very large manufacturing facility and headquarters, so it runs the full gamut from assembly line work clothes to executive wear. Officially the facility went from business to business casual something like 15 years ago (for office workers); there's a large component who've worn business most of their professional lives, and have not casualized to a significant degree. But some have! In practice, I see some ties on a few older men and suits on a few women (usually managers in both cases). Suits for customer meetings or important presentations, which not everyone participates in.&nbsp; I also see jeans on a daily basis.&nbsp; High heels are not typical (though not rare) - the facility is very large.&nbsp; I believe that dress code enforcement is left up to the managers' discretion.</p> <p>Interestingly, the young finance workers tend to be dressed pretty well on the business casual side. The most casual office workers are some estimators who have been with the company for decades.</p> <p>Casual Fridays (and unofficial casual Thursdays before 9/80 off Fridays) are very much a thing. Sports team/school team wear is encouraged, or "wear red" to support our troops.</p> <p>Personally... my style tilts so far retro that there isn't much of a "business casual" analogue.&nbsp; Business formal is a suit; everything else is a dress or a skirt.&nbsp; Dresses and skirts tend to present more formal than casual, unless it's a maxi or has only straps. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743562 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:19:53 +0000 UmmLila (Lisa) 1743562@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am interested in the continuum of business casual, and pants in particular. I am surprised that knit ponte pants are considered business wear, since they seem more or less like heavy-weight, not very tight leggings. I can see corduroy as not office-ready, but what about velvet trousers that come in lots of dressy variations &nbsp;and are similar in feel? Wovens largely seem ready for business, unless they are denim, but I guess some denim really is business casual. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743469 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:15:19 +0000 kkards 1743469@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@unfrumped-- yes, I have struggled with this....but I guess I've landed on the, it's ok to be more casual side, because it's closer to the way the rest of my colleagues are dressing. And for me, and the business I work in, it's important to show that I am open to new ideas etc and not stuck in my past </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743465 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 20:08:38 +0000 kkards 1743465@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@BC---even before the places I worked switch to business casual, I had largely ditched the panthose....I probably spent $400 a year on them. I don't think I ever went a week with running at least one pair.<br /> @Barbara - yes, as Angie notes, location can also influence what is considered acceptable. And re pencil skirts-- we always joke that you can tell when a new group of recent college grads has started (we bring them in as training claasses 3 times a year), because almost all the women wear pencil skirts the 1st day....it's like some secret memo has been circulated... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743457 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 19:57:42 +0000 unfrumped 1743457@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Very interesting discussion!<br /> I love getting ideas from YLF but found it harder than I expected to find office wear " style icons" though there have been some great ones for sure. Especially a consistent look. So many outfits are more casual in one way or another or maybe too "fun" though that sounds terrible-- not intending it that way.<br /> I even think the huge cropped trend works against my work style needs . Yes, there can be a polished, tailored business cropped pant look, but there is something about the crop that evokes , well, capris or resort and not serious pants! And is more challenging for proportions for many women, and can look too playful or even gangly, especially if not wearing a business-y jacket with it<br /> And while I also need to do some untucked outfits, I don't find most plain untucked shirttail hems acceptable. The hems need to be cut more specially to work untucked. And then I think it's weird to have too much back shirttail hanging out from under a jacket!<br /> Am I picky or what!<br /> I think there must be gradations of business casual but don't know how to describe them. Not right or wrong, but a spectrum of formality depending on one's line of work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743446 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 19:44:00 +0000 Barbara Diane 1743446@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I hadn't heard the term smart casual before. Thanks Angie.</p> <p>FWIW many many many years ago I wore a pencil skirt and silk blouse or a dress for an entry level or one above level position with no face to face encounters with customers. </p> <p>My DS1 wears trousers and a dress shirt. My DS2 wears the same unless he has a more formal meeting or event. Formal can Include a suit. He may wear nice jeans with a dress shirt on Fridays. I'm not sure. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743437 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 19:21:03 +0000 Barbara Diane 1743437@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm curious if this varies by location?<br /> I'd guess that the PNW would be more casual than Washington DC. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743392 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 17:15:21 +0000 El Cee 1743392@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Terrific challenge idea... really makes me wish I still worked in a traditional office setting. (I so miss dressing up.) Although I cannot take part in your challenge (very casual lifestyle at present), I really look forward to following your postings.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743369 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:35:19 +0000 AviaMariah 1743369@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll play. My office went from business casual to casual almost a year ago. I love it because it really simplifies my life as I don't feel like I have two closets. I'll try to remember to post a WIW on Monday and then I'll answer all your above questions. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743366 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 15:28:32 +0000 Anonymous 1743366@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm glad I don't have to wear suits and pantyhose, too, but I don't mind blazers. It's the matched suit with tucked in shirt that I miss every chance I get. For one thing, my body shape is such that I look better in untucked tops. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743342 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 14:47:39 +0000 RobinF 1743342@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great discussion. It has definitely gotten more casual for me over the 30 years I have been in accounting. Part of that is that I was in a CPA firm and a bank but now am in a manufacturing office but I do think it has gotten more casual in general. I personally like it. I am not a fan of two-piece suits and hate panty hose so the switch to pants and sweaters is much more comfortable for me. I save my jeans for Fridays. I'll be following this with interest. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743338 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 14:35:27 +0000 Anonymous 1743338@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree with Angie's definitions. In my wardrobe, I wear biz casual for work, though I get away with white or very dark blue jeans from time to time (I wear ponte trousers most days); and smart casual for weekends. Social attire depends on the event or occasion. Yes, corduroy is casual. I only have one pair of corduroy pants, and I rarely wear them.</p> <p>Interesting about uniforms, though. My oldest DD had to wear school uniforms, but has always preferred casual dress. My middle 2 DDs, one 25 and one 23, used to think they were dressy in jeans; but they dress differently now that they're out of college and have started their careers. My youngest DD, now 18, dislikes jeans and is shifting into more classic styles. The 3 younger ones never had to wear school uniforms, and the high school they all went to is quite casual, yet all of them criticized the way the girls at their school dressed. I'd like to think I was a role model of sorts to them, even if on a subconscious level. They all dress well. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743306 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 11:15:51 +0000 kkards 1743306@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>@bj111---yes, I agree. Which is why I'm so interested in seeing visuals... </p> <p>@ Desmo April-- about 10 years ago my sister went from a business casual office to a full out business environment -- i remember shopping with her to find work appropriate clothes, and the limited choices, especially for summer. I'd love to see what you have come up with, would you post a WIW. </p> <p>@Staysfit-- I'm surprised at the fact that you don't have a written dress code. I assumed that most schools had one both for faculty and for students. </p> <p>@Runcarla--hope you'll post some WIW. Re older workers dressing more formally or for comfort. In my office, unfortunately, there are not many older workers... I am among the oldest, especially among the non support staff, and they tend towards the dressing for comfort. And like you I try to mix more traditional business like clothing with more casual to find a less "starchy" look </p> <p>@/psychedelicate- no informal dress code? I've found every where I work, each team has its own unwritten (and probably unspoken) dress code. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743274 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 08:11:08 +0000 Staysfit 1743274@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>1. If there is a dress code in any of the locations I work, I have never seen it, and when I interviewed, I specifically told everyone, I would be wearing jeans. The settings I have worked in are multidisciplinary, and include various professionals, for example, teachers, social workers, nurses, psychologists, speech and language therapists, Occupational Therapists, Information Tech. Staff, Maintenance Staff, Teaching Assistants, Administrators, Administrative Assistants, Behavior Support Staff, etc. Everyone dresses for their role. </p> <p>Choosing what to wear in this type of setting was initially more tricky than in my private office, where my role was obvious and the population served more uniform. I had to figure out how to dress in a way that allowed me to stand out as having a unique role, still look somewhat physician like, but also friendly enough for he type of environment and families I work with. All that and still feel true to myself. The WIW pics I post are the result of my efforts. </p> <p>2. The informal dress code? I see everything except bare feet. People wear shorts and tank tops to work. They also wear skimpy sun dresses and sandals in the summer. Staff have to go outside with the students in whatever weather, and when it's hot, they dress in what they think will keep them cool. </p> <p>3. The makeup question is so interesting. We work with autistic children so perfume is discouraged. I see very few people wearing makeup, however there are some that do. One woman goes all out, and loves color. She goes big with everything, make-up, hair, flamboyant, dramatic everything. Some of the younger women wear makeup. I wear make-up but keep it fairly subtle. </p> <p>4. I think most of my dress is smart casual, although I am doing my best to wear more dresses and jackets. That might bring me into business casual territory. In any case, I'm moving away from wearing jeans so often. I really prefer myself in skirts and dresses. I don't become more casual on a Friday. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743267 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 07:12:18 +0000 rachylou 1743267@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh I'm very interested in this, altho I haven't worked in an office setting in over a year. I will tell you this tho, about culinary dress, my mother really likes chefs' white jackets. I'm not sure how I feel about them. They can look snappy; but they can also be torture in a hot kitchen. I go for the shirt and apron at work (we have the choice). I definitely hate the free baggy chef pants that the bakery gave us. They're uncomfortable first of all, and then second they are stupendously ugly and sloppy looking to my eye. They also, IMO, climb to the status of aesthetically grotesque when people wear them with a certain type of low, wide chef's clog. I'm thankful we don't actually have to wear them. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743266 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 06:35:34 +0000 Desmo April 1743266@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>For the first time in over 15 years I am in an office that is on the business side of business casual. Really anything went in my old life, full sleeve tattoos, multi colored hair, jeans of all colors and condition. I loved the creative environment and it generally never seemed sloppy.</p> <p>Now I feel so constrained and it has been a struggle put outfits together. I don't have a ton to chose from and this isn't a permanent position at this point so I don't want to invest too much at one time.</p> <p>I have a few outfits that I'm happy with, I feel polished and the look is authentic to me but I've worn some things that I'm unhappy in. It's not even that they were bad outfits or unflattering, but they can just feel so wrong for me and completely lacking in edge. To be fair, as the weather cools down this will be much easier. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743211 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 00:43:49 +0000 Carla 1743211@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Angie, the SA's at the recently opened Nordstrom's in Toronto are dressed and groomed to the nth degree! They all wear black, but it is very stylish. There is a lot of Eilene Fisheres-que drapey knit, and mostly dresses and skirts vs trousers. Grooming is immaculate with classic make-up looks and neat hair. Also, they are wonderfully attentive without being overbearing. All seem to be in their 20's, but it is a brand-spanking-new store. </p> <p> I took DS #2 there last week and we had lunch. He loved it! But, I did not buy him the $1600 fall jacket (Cavalli) he fancied! (We found one for him at BR!) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743206 Sun, 23 Oct 2016 00:27:36 +0000 bj1111 1743206@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Just like @rachy's thread on neighborhood dress, biz casual and other dress codes are situational and contextual. @runcarla's brother and other examples are illustrations. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/business-casual-challenge#post-1743152 Sat, 22 Oct 2016 22:02:40 +0000 carter 1743152@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great challenge! I don't work in an office anymore, but I'll be watching on my daughter's behalf. With no official dress code, she's struggling to find the right balance between too casual and too formal. </p>