Video Professor

Dress codes are never fun. In high school, I had a very strict dress code to adhere to. It included button up blouses, shorts to my knees and anything else to make sure we couldn’t look cute while in class. But don’t let the sound of business casual scare you, in reality, you have a lot of freedom in the style and can maintain your personal look while still following the rules. Here are some business casual dress guidelines that I would recommend if you are at a loss for what to wear.

 
When in Doubt Err on the Side of Safety

For women, it is always a good idea to think below the radar. Solid colored blouses and shirts with collars are always safe choices. But, if your sense of style is a little more outspoken, find a funky print, but nothing too ostentatious. You are in an office and business casual dress guidelines are there for a reason. As for shoes, you aren’t at a club, so leave those gold stilettos at home. Don’t think that this means you need to wear grandma’s orthopedics, find moderately heeled shoes that will be comfortable and that fit the style of your company. 

For men, it is a little easier to dress under business casual dress guidelines. Suits, ties, button-up shirts and solid colors will always win out. Tank tops, graphic t-shirts and flip-flops are not considered acceptable when thinking about business casual dress guidelines.

If you are ever wondering whether an outfit might not be acceptable under the business casual dress guidelines, it is always best to err on the side of safety, the last thing you want is to get written up and sent home for not dressing appropriately at work.

 
Why Have Business Casual Dress Guidelines At All?

It is commonly assumed that dress and work attitude are one in the same. If you dress sloppily, the work environment will follow. To keep an organized, professional attitude, you should dress as such. Business casual dress guidelines are there to reinforce a state of mind in the workplace; they are there to promote productivity and professionalism. While some think that business casual dress guidelines are oppressive to freedom of expression, the reality is that when people dress well, they act differently. You would never wear ripped jeans to the opera because it is not acceptable, on that same note, the office works the same way. You go to the office to do work, it is a professional area, and people should act as such, therefore having a dress guideline that will help promote that attitude seems, to me, completely reasonable.