WHAT IS BUSINESS CASUAL (Conclusion)

Your appearance has a lot to do with how you are viewed at the company.Work wear should enhance our image and present a positive response from clients and co-workers.

Now business casual means different things for different people. Everybody have different taste in clothing, whether it is classic, vintage or fashionable and business casual is less restricting than a lot of people think.Casual clothes in the workplace have become more complex in these days. There are no rules written what to wear or not and no dress code can cover all the requirements, so employees must exert a certain amount of judgement in their choice of clothing in the workplace.

One of the essential implications is that casual clothes are not the same weekend wear. Your clothes should reflect your position in the company. Choose your clothes that combine classic style with modern trends.If you experience difficulty about acceptable casual attire for work, it would be good practice to ask your HR Manager or Supervisor. In clothing if the employee fails to meet the standard as determined by the employer, it could cause the warning or termination.

This blog is dedicated to informing you about the do’s and do n't of casual apparel in the workplace.

Check this Link for more information about casual apparel in the workplace.
http://business-times-101.blogspot.ca/

References

Chensvold, C. M. (2008, July 28). Five rules of style for the business-casual workplace. Retrieved from www.cbsnews.com: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505125_162-51212795/five-rules-of-style-for-the-business-casual-workplace/.

Jill Martin, Pierre A. Lehu. (n.d.). For Dummies: How women can dress in workplace business casual. Retrieved from http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-women-can-dress-in-workplace-business-casual.html

 

CASUAL SHOES FOR MEN AND WOMEN

In business environment shoes should be comfortable, functional,clean, attractive and shined. Shoes plays an important role in business apparel. You can have appropriate clothes on but if your shoes are not appropriate it makes you that you have no sense of professionalism and business apparel. Appropriate colours are black, navy or brown that coordinate with your other attire and accessories; white and pastels colours are not appropriate.

Women should avoid these mistakes:

• No running shoes or flip-flop
• No bright colours, only neutral colours look more professional
• No animal prints and over high heels
• No sandals and open toed shoes with jewels

It is also depends on you how comfortable you feel in your heels.

       

Men: Unprofessional look reflects through the shoes, if you have your dress pants and nice collared dress shirts on but other side you have casual running shoes on which will make you silly, very inappropriate and unprofessional. Men should avoid sandals because they do go well with business casual. Leather shoes should be worn.

Shoes really reflects your personality and business sense in the workplace.

There are some examples for appropriate shoes for business casual attire.

 

 

 

Do you think shoes play an important role in business casual attire?

Yes 

No

 

Please give your views and opinions about this.

References

 

Business Etiquette (n.d.). Women Business apparel. Retrieved form       http://www.pasadenaisd.org/rayburn/Clubs/BPA/contest/women.html

Business Etiquette (n.d.). Men Business apparel. Retrieved form http://www.pasadenaisd.org/rayburn/Clubs/BPA/contest/women.html

Ray A. Smith(n.d.). Plain and Fancy Footwork : Can the new crop of comfort dress shoes really   work at the office. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB112690096126743229,00.html

Pinterest. (n.d.). NMSU Career Services via Style YOUniversity. Retrieved from    http://pinterest.com/pin/109634572148931659

 

 

 

 

BUSINESS CASUAL APPAREL FOR MEN

Men do not have many choices of casual wear in the workplace like as women do. For men it is very simple and easy to choose casual clothes, but there are still some restrictions apply. The very first and common choice men have business suit with tie. This is very appropirate to wear but everyday business suit sound very uncomfortable but it depends on the nature of your business and client meeting.

Always remember these tips for dress down days:

• No T-shirts, Only full sleeved shirts
• No shorts or jeans and specially ripped jeans
• No sports wear and sports shoes
• Ties should be matched with suit and shirt
• Belt should match with shoes

NO LOGO SHIRTS EVER

Rather than suit men have few other choices for example dress pants with collared shirts, blazers, pull over V-neck sweater and vest. It will be appropriate to wear a turtle neck if a blazer will be worn over it. Just remember always no Jeans at all even if its friday. Jeans are not appropriate for business casual wear, even if its dark color jean but now days some companies have polices that their employees allowed to wear jeans only friday. A dark color outfit will convey authority and credibility for example black suit. Keep in mind if you are the part of business, so leave your casual and very comfortable clothes at home.

Always remember appearanc do matter in every part of your job and promotion as well.

References


Business Etiquette (n.d.). Mens Business Apparel. Retrieved from http://www.pasadedenaisd.org/rayburn/Clubs/BPA/contest/women.html

 
Business Casual tips for men (2012, May7). Dress code for men. Retrieved from http://www.royalitypassionforfashion.wordpress.com

 

CASUAL APPAREL FOR WOMEN/ACCESSORIES

 

Business casual is perhaps most difficult for women. May be their wardrobe is full with clothes but in business casual have still some restrictions. Women cannot wear anything in the workplace means whatever they like to wear. Women have so many choices available but it is very hard to decide what to wear. Today’s women are more fashion conscious; they want to look stylish and modern.  Yes, they can wear buttoned up collared shirt with dress pants as men do. But there is biggest concern about the women who do not want to wear all these business suits and dress pants.

With business casual you have the freedom to be little more stylish and less conservative. Instead of wearing only suits and dress pant now they have options to wear blouses, skirts, blazers and dresses.




 

When dressing up business casual always remember few things:

 

·         No cleavage                                      

·         No open toed shoes or running shoes        

·         No wrinkles, stains or smell

·         No visible underwear ever

·         No mini skirts

·         Avoid very bright colours and wild patterns

·         No signal and excessive jewellery

·         Outfits should not be too tight or too loose
 

 

Skirts:The two most important things about skirts are fit and length. The length should not be too short and fitting not too tight. The length of the skirts really matter at business casual wear because it distracts during the meetings, environment and behaviour in the workplace.

 

 Jewellery: Jewellery should be worn in moderate amounts and should not attract too much attention. Jewellery should not be too big, bright, shiny jewels in it which creates signal towards to you. Keep your jewellery simple and understated.

 

 

 

 

Is your weekend or everyday wear appropriate for your workplace?

Why women are restricted to wear jeans and T-shirts in the workplace?

 

References:

 

 

Business Etiquette (n.d.). Women Business apparel. Retrieved from http://www.pasadenaisd.org/rayburn/Clubs/BPA/contest/women.html

 
Howcast. (2010, Dec 10). How to Dress in Business Casual for women [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oct67arkYxA

 
Kiran Pihaw (2011, April 8). TopNews.in. Eva Longoria Pops out of her Plunging Jacket’ During Cookbook Promo: Retrieved from http://www.topnews.in/light/people/david-letterman

 

Lola (n.d.). Divine Caroline: Casual Dress in the Business Workplace. Retrieved from http://www.divinecaroline.com/fashion/style-guides/casual-dress-business-workplace

 
Rakuten Global Market (n.d.). Classic Trilogy Necklace & Pierced Earring set. Jewelry Present Present White Day. Retrieved from http://global.rakuten.com/en/store/fromny/item/s011/

 

Vee (n.d.). Dime On A Dime: The Do’s And Don’ts of Business Casual Attire. Retrieved from http://dimeonadime.com/web/2012/02/the-dos-and-donts-of-business-casual-attire

 

 

 

 

 

 



DRESS DOWN DAYS

Casual clothing days in the workplace seems very relaxing and comfortable day for employees. This is very complicated subject to discuss. Many employers have dress down days where employees are allowed to wear their casual clothes. Many employers believe that comfortable and relaxed working environment increase employee morale and creativity. But other side employers have fear about it that it leads to decrease the productivity and may affect the professionalism. Some employers believe that absenteeism and flirtatious have increased because of dress down days.

 All the employers have policies in effect for dress down days and its employee’s responsibilities to know about the rules of the company and follow them to present a professional workplace. There are many employers that believe causal dress day’s increase relaxed work environment, employee morale, creativity and internal communication. Most of the businesses have adopted casual dress days for at least one day per week (Friday). It showed many positive reasons for employees like clothing related expense and while employers use casual dress as a recruitment and retention tools.

 

There are some item which are not appropriate to wear at workplace including: t-shirts, flip flop, sockless shoes, sandals, backless dresses, tank top, torn jeans, miniskirts, baseball caps. Casual wear means not to wear anything which you feel like casual, wear something that is relaxed and present a professional image. Especially if it’s your casual day and you have a meeting with customer you have to dress formal.

If you are new to a company or an employer you are not sure what is your company’s dress down policy, check with your manager or you can observe what others are wearing on casual dress day. Take advice from co-workers.

In my opinion, Casual day in the workplace is mostly depending on the nature of business. For examples Law Firms, School staff, corporate offices, Banks, Government offices and many more which we can mention about dress down days. Casual clothes do not always means wearing most comfortable clothes for examples jogging pants or hoodies in the office.

Do you think employers are being really strict about casualty in the workplace?

Do you think casual work day are useful for both employers and employees?

Do you agree with this article, comment on it?

References


Fashion Mens (n.d.). Business Attire. Retrieved from
http://fashiontrendsmens.com/business-attire/.html

Guffey, M.E, Rhodes, K., & Rogin, P. (2011). Business communication: process and product   (6th Canadian ed.). Toronto, ON: Nelson.

 Liana Lapadat. (2012, October 21). Liana's Blog. Casual apparel in the workplace. Retrieved   from http://chicfashionstreet.blogspot.ca/2012/casual-apparel-in-workplace.html