Business casual

msgulia

Hello, my name is Julie and I'm new to this. I just accepted a new position and I want to start buying new clothes. Right now I work in a conservative bank. So, I have a lot of suits and blazers.From what I see the new place is way more relaxed. I feel like if I go to work the way I normally dress I'll be out of place. What are some good starting pieces for me to get to look more casual but professional. Should I even start buying stuff or should I wait until I get there and see how everyone else dresses. I feel like its the first day of high school all over again!

11 years ago

General

9 replies

Latest reply was from thimblelina

columbine(erin)

Veteran

Welcome! Angie has written fab posts on business capsules. Maybe start there and I'm sure other ladies will chime in with more suggestions.

11 years ago

Sal

Veteran

Tricky one, but congrats on the new job!

Can you seperate the suit at all and hypothetically wear the skirt with a sweater and the jacket with jeans - some suits this works for but not others? Or wear the suit with a more casual tee underneath - again sometimes this works. Or a trouser suit with brogues/oxfords rather than heels.

I would not leap out and spend lots of money but have a couple of key pieces to mix and match for the first couple of weeks.

I am sure people would understand that your work clothes are more formal and why - a bit like when an intern starts and people understand how they have a limited wardrobe.

I hope it goes well.

11 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

My office is pretty causal - I would say more causal than a true business casual would be... As you said, you may not be able to tell too much until you get in there, so I would suggest using, but changing up some of your current work wear. If you have some separates, like pencil skirts or dress pants, you can try wearing them with more causal tops and cardigans instead of jackets. I'm sure that you can go more casual with shoes than you would have at the bank. We wear open toe shoes and all kinds of heels and flats - think more creative and less conservative. Maybe after your first week of mixing some casual things in with your bank wear, you'll have a good sense of what others in the office wear and know how to plan from there. Good luck in your new position!

11 years ago

SarahTheWhite

Veteran

Kiwigal, I cross posted with you! With pretty much the same advice. (I would add that you might want to save wearing any jeans until you ask someone if that is okay, or only for causal Friday...)

11 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, you know what I do to relax my suits? I wear them with graphic tees. I.e. something other than a button down or tucked silky blouse.

11 years ago

Dimity

Active Member

Congratulations on your new job! It will be exciting and nerve wracking to start in a new place.

You've already had great advice. I'd like to add that your dress/suit pants and skirts will be fine with a fine knit sweater and perhaps a necklace. You might be able to mix in some of your weekend things to casualise your business clothes. You could wear a suit skirt with a casual shirt and a cardigan as well, or just a buttoned cardigan and perhaps a scarf.

It's the shoes that will make a big difference. If you've been wearing high heels, then switching to flats will instantly make your clothes look more casual. Perhaps even sneakers with dress pants and a casual tee? If it's cold where you are, textured hunky sweaters are generally more casual than smooth finishes.

Best wishes.

11 years ago

kkards

Veteran

Congrats on the new job. As others have suggested, I'd wait before buying much new stuff. There's as wide variety of "business casual", and even with in one company, what's expected/ usual in one dept may not work in another. I second Dimity's comment that just changing your shoes can totally change how an outfit looks.

11 years ago

msgulia

Active Member

Thank you! I took a second look through my stuff. I have a lot of the basics...I don't think I'm in that bad shape. I brought a new sweater, pencil skirt, and blouse. It was hard to try to retrain my brain. I also bought a new zebra print jacket. Kinda dressy but I think with its should be easy to dress down. I need to look at new shoes. Shoes are my least favorite thing to buy.

11 years ago

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

Then you are not buying the right shoes msgulia!!! Welcome & congratulations...

11 years ago

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