Working Wardrobe: How To Get The Perfect Business Casual Look

What is business casual? What's ok to wear to work? What isn't? What's the difference between business casual and business professional? All these questions and more will be answered in my first ever business casual guide! Keep reading for all kinds of information on maintaining a professional look.

So let's start off this guide with learning about what's ok the wear and what isn't. Most jobs will have their own regulations, so check with you boss first. 

Not Ok To Wear:

1. Jeans. (See the deal about jeans below) 
2. Athletic clothing. Sweatpants, sweatshirts, etc. Most athletic clothing is very tight and not appropriate for work. 
3. Shorts, tank tops, crop tops, and halter tops.
4. Hats or hoods.
5.  Torn or ripped clothes.
6. Flip flops, rubber soled sandals, and slippers. 
7. Showing Undergarments.

Ok To Wear:

1. Dresses and skirts at or below the knee.
2. Dresses that aren't too tight or low cut. 
3. Blazers are great for both men and women. Buy neutrals so you can wear them with anything. 
4. Blouses and button downs. Try not to get any with logos or sayings on them, since those definitely don't look professional.
5. Close toed heels, loafers or flats are appropriate for the office. 
6. Tailored pants. Tailored, dark straight pants are great for work. 

The Deal With Jeans:

I know that I said jeans are not ok to wear to work, and in most cases, they're not. Ask your boss if you can wear jeans. If you can, stick to dark skinny jeans. That means no rips, holes, prints, embroidery, light wash, or stains. 

Do's and Don'ts

Do wear clothes that fit and make you look professional. 

Don't wear clothing that is either too tight or too loose. 

Do buy neutrals so you can mix and match with different tops. 

Don't show too much skin.  

Do add some flavor by wearing an appropriately patterned scarf, or wearing a patterned top. 

Don't wear sheer fabrics. Cotton, silk, and other fabrics similar to that are more appropriate. 

Do try to stick with modest necklines and longer hemlines. 

Don't wear shirts with logos. Funny sayings aren't good either. Instead, wear simple plain shirts that you can mix and match better with. 

The Difference Between Business Casual and Business Professional

Summed up into one word, the difference is basically suits. 

For men, a business professional look would probably be a suit, neutral dress shirt, belt, dress shoes, and a tie. For woman, low heels with a closed toe are preferred. Examples of business professional are a pantsuit, tailored knee length dress, or a blazer and pencil skirt. 

So no need to wear a pantsuit to a business casual environment. 

What To Do About Accessories

Don't wear sneakers, high-tops, flip flops, rubber-soled sandals, or open toed heels. When you wear heels, they shouldn't be much taller than 4 inches. 

Stick to medium sized purses and handbags. But that doesn't mean you can't branch out! Wear an over sized tote with a plain outfit to make a great focal point. 

Avoid chunky necklaces, cocktail rings, and big earrings. Keep the jewelry to a minimum, and what you do wear, make it simple and not too flashy. 

Pay attention to your hair and makeup. The office isn't the best place to try out that new dramatic smokey eye. Keep your hair neat, and don't dye it distracting colors. Pink tips are not acceptable.  

That's all for this post! I worked hard on getting as much of the basics of business casual as I could! I'll probably write some more in-depth posts about some of these topics soon! Please comment down below what you think! I apologize for not posting recently, I've been hard at work with this post and I had writers block for a while.