Guidelines for Dressing Business Casual for Women

Now that summer is in full swing, we have a tendency to want to dress more casually. This is true in all facets of life, be it play, travel or work. While no one really cares how you dress when playing or traveling, other than dressing appropriately, people do care how you dress at work. There is a difference between business casual and just casual. In fact, dressing too casually can even lead some bosses to think that you are not taking your job seriously and therefore not being promoted. On top of that, the more casually you dress, the more casually people will treat you at the office. This is sure to cause some completely avoidable tension in the workspace.

 

Unfortunately, there is a double standard about business casual for men and women. Business casual for women should be a little more casual and a little less casual. Here are some tips for maneuvering in the murky waters of business casual for women.

 

First of all, don't even consider those really comfy but ripped jeans (actually, you should avoid jeans altogether unless they're dark wash and high-waisted). All seams must be finished, all holes patched and all frayed must be cut. Also, avoid clothing with writing, unless the writing is the company logo. With this in mind, let's consider what is deemed appropriate, such as pants, skirts, dresses, tops, and shoes / accessories.

 

Clothing: The fabric of your clothing can range from luxurious to linen or cotton. Make sure your clothes fit well, that is, they are not too tight, too short or too low-cut. Under no circumstances should you wear something see-through unless you intend to wear a camisole underneath. The best way to dress casually is to wear only half a suit. This does not suggest that you should walk half-naked, but only wear the pants or skirt of a suit and not the jacket. Another alternative is to wear the blazer over a simple cotton dress.

 

Shoes and accessories: First of all, socks are not necessary in summer and it is too hot for them anyway. However, your shoes should be pretty. Sandals, especially flip flops, should only appear at the company picnic or outing. If you don't want to get stuck in your stilettos from work every day of the summer, try wearing wedges or strappy heels. Anyway, they are more comfortable and infinitely much more summery. Your other accessories should be in good taste. The general rule of thumb is to wear an eye-catching piece and keep everything else small.

 

This means that if you choose to wear huge dangling earrings, don't wear a chunky necklace as well. This also applies to your makeup; If you want to focus on your eyes, use nude lipstick and vice versa. A great way to make an outfit more casual is to change your laptop bag. Try to bring one in a fun color instead of just a black protective sleeve. Remember, your laptop bag and other accessories don't have to match what you're wearing. 100%

 

To conclude, if your mother hadn't let you go to school 'dressed like this' in high school, you shouldn't wear that outfit to work either. Of course, these are just guidelines. Every office is different and some offices may even have a section in the Employee Handbook on proper clothing. Be sure to check with HR that there isn't a list of dos and don'ts somewhere. However, these tips should help you perform excellently while remaining completely appropriate. And remember, always dress the way you want to be treated - if you dress casually, you will be treated casually!

https://nationalculturists.org/