Business Casual Attire: What It Is and Examples

Business casual refers to a type of dress code that some offices allow their employees to wear. This type of dress code is more casual than traditional business attire, such as business formal and business professional dress codes. Each workplace varies in the specifics as to what is allowed and what isn’t for business casual attire, but most offices agree on less formal clothing and less strict dress code rules in general.

Business casual attire is often more comfortable for employees and allows them to feel more relaxed at work. This, in turn, can promote a more enjoyable work experience and lead to higher employee satisfaction and productivity. While not all companies are open to business casual attire, common industries where you’ll find this dress code include technology, marketing, and sales.

There are several outfit options for women who work in a business casual office. When in doubt, it’s best to go with more professional than less professional. For example, if you’re choosing between a pair of jeans and a pair of slacks, your best bet is the slacks if you’re unsure what would be acceptable in your workplace.

Business casual examples for women include:

• Slacks.
• Dark jeans that are in good condition and do not have holes, rips, or tears.
• Knee-length skirts and dresses.
• Sweaters.
• Blouses.
• Polo shirts.
• Cardigans.
• Blazers.
• Jackets.
• Pumps.
• Loafers.
• Boots.
• Oxfords.
• Flats.
• Tailored pants.
• Wide-leg dress pants.

The most acceptable business casual colors for clothing are neutral colors like white, tan, beige, brown, and black. But, a business casual dress code is more likely to be more accepting of bold and patterned colors and prints, so feel free to spice things up with pops of color if your office allows it. For example, you could pair a neutral black skirt with a bright red top and red accessories.

Additionally, the necklines, sleeves, and hemlines of your clothing should be of a professional length. The more modest the better, but some companies allow sleeveless blouses or skirts or dresses that hit just above the knee. Getting familiar with your organization’s specific dress code requirements will ensure you’re always acceptably dressed.

Men usually have an easier time accommodating a business casual dress code because the rules are often more cut and dry, but if you’re ever unsure of what’s okay to wear to work, opt for clothing that is more formal rather than less.

Business casual examples for men include:

• Khakis.
• Chinos.
• Trousers.
• Dark denim jeans with no holes, rips, or tears.
• Closed-toed shoes such as loafers.
• Blazers.
• Sports coats.
• Button-down shirts.
• Sweaters.
• Polo shirts.
• Oxford shirts.
• Cardigans.
• Sweater vests.

Clothing should be clean and pressed without any visible stains. Your clothes should also fit well — avoid clothes that are too tight or too loose. Men’s accessories are usually acceptable in a business-casual office, with good options being watches, belts, and cufflinks.

While a business casual dress code is certainly less formal than more traditional dress codes, there are still certain items you should not wear to a business casual office. These items include:

• Low-cut shirts.
• Backless shirts.
• Strapless or tube-top shirts.
• Short skirts.
• Shorts.
• Flip-flops.
• Casual sandals.
• Tennis shoes.
• Distressed jeans.
• Tank tops.
• Lycra.
• Spandex.
• Shirts with large or inappropriate logos or words.
• Sweats.
• Excessively wrinkly clothing.
• Clothing with holes or tears.
• Oversized clothing.
• Sweatshirts.
• Hoodies.

Additionally, jewelry or other accessories that are especially large or distracting should be avoided in a business casual office. Some organizations also do not allow facial hair like goatees and mustaches or facial or body piercings aside from ears. You should also avoid wearing excessively dramatic makeup, such as brightly-colored eyeshadow or lipstick.

The following are several things to consider when deciding on the most appropriate attire to wear to your business casual office:

• Become familiar with your organization’s business casual dress code. Your employer will likely have the dress code clearly defined in the employee handbook or another accessible location. You should become familiar with the ins and outs of the dress code, as each office is different as to what it allows and what it doesn’t. For example, one office may allow you to wear jeans, while another office does not allow jeans in the office.
• Look at what others wear to work. If you’re new to the organization and are still unsure as to the most appropriate clothing you should wear to work, dress more formally on your first few days and use this time to analyze what others in the office are most often wearing. For example, if everyone seems to be wearing a sweater or blazer over sleeveless blouses, this probably means that the office prefers employees to pair sleeveless tops with a short- or long-sleeved top. If you notice that no one is wearing tennis shoes, this probably means that they aren’t allowed at work.
• When in doubt, overdress. It’s always better to overdress than to underdress, especially when you’re headed to an interview or you’re new to the workplace. Consider dressing more professionally until you feel comfortable with what’s allowed and what isn’t in your office.