Summer in some parts of the County and my region of Southern California has really started to warm up. If you are a recent grad and accustomed to spending summer at the beach or tubing down the Colorado River, you might be in for a shock when you meet up with your employer’s dress code. Information on appropriate wear for casual Friday’s and the summer months was probably part of your new employee orientation packet or handbook, but you were too excited about the new job to read very deeply into this material.
Now that we are into what most organizations call summer, don’t put a “distressed look” on you supervisor’s face from your low rise and abused appearing jeans. Before that happens you will need to step back and review your employer’s dress code. Just ask your supervisor to help you locate the one for your position, or department.
Unfortunately, most dress codes are constructed as a regulation to tell employees what not to wear. Rather than an informative guide, so that everyone is on the same page as to business image the employer wants the attire to project to employees and the public. In order to give you a general sense of what Business Casual really means I offer the composite wisdoms from many sources:
Business Casual Guidelines for Men and Women
Business casual is crisp, neat, and should look appropriate even for a chance meeting with a CEO. It should not look like cocktail or party or picnic attire. Avoid tight or baggy clothing; business casual is classic rather than trendy.
Basics:
Khaki pants, neatly pressed, and a pressed long-sleeved, buttoned solid shirt are safe for both men and women. Polo/golf shirts, unwrinkled, are an appropriate choice if you know the environment will be casual, outdoors or in a very hot location. In some cases as with the Riverside County summer business casual may include the wearing of polo shirts with departmental logos. This may not seem like terribly exciting attire, but you are not trying to stand out for your cutting edge look, but for your good judgment in a business environment.
Shoes / belt:
Wear a leather belt and leather shoes (unless, of course, you are vegan). Athletic shoes are inappropriate no matter what they are made of.
Cost / quality:
You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a corporate CEO. However, do invest in quality that will look appropriate during your first two or three years on the job for a business casual environment or occasions.
Details:
Everything should be clean, well pressed, and not show wear. Even the nicest khakis after 100 washings may not be your best choice for an interdepartmental meeting. Carefully inspect new clothes for tags, and all clothes for dangling threads, etc. (as with interview attire).
Use common sense.
If it is raining buckets from a flash flood and every thing is one large mud puddle outside, no one will expect you to show up at the regional office looking ready for a photo shoot — they'll just be happy you made it. If you show up at a meeting or event and realize you're not as well dressed as you should be, make a quick, pleasant apology and make a good impression with your interpersonal skills and intelligent questions.
Specifics for men’s business casual:
Ties:
Most authorities agree that ties are generally not necessary for business casual, but if you are in doubt, you can wear a tie. It never hurts to slightly overdress; by dressing nicely, you pay a compliment to the people you interface with. You can always wear the tie and discreetly observe other attendees at a meeting for example; if no one else is wearing a tie, you can inconspicuously remove yours.
Shirts:
The conventional wisdom is that long-sleeved shirts are dressier than short-sleeved and are appropriate even in summer. Choosing white or light blue solid, or conservative stripes is your safest bet. Polo shirts (tucked in, of course) are acceptable in most casual situations, particularly if they are branded to identify you as part of a work group. (The exception I would insert is that it is also appropriate to wear short sleeve dress shirts in climates that are very warm in the summer.
(I worked for 3 cities in the Valley, before the County. At regional meetings held during mid-summer we would chuckle to see someone in a long-sleeved dress shirt and tie. The whispers to each other behind a concealing hand would suggest,”... they must be from Riverside.”)
Socks:
Wear dark socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you sit down. (Tacky, Tacky… Don’t you just hate to see some guy on a television talk show with calf showing.)
Shoes:
Again, (with the stated exception) leather shoes should be worn. No sandals, athletic shoes or hiking boots.
Facial hair:
Just as with interviews: Facial hair, if worn, should be well-groomed. Know your industry and how conservative it is; observe men in your industry if you are unsure what's appropriate or are considering changing your look.
(If you shave your head, for gosh sakes don’t put a large band aids over the nicked areas. Dull blade or not, it just gives the impression that you don’t have good eye-hand coordination.)
Jewelry:
Wear a conservative watch. If you choose to wear other jewelry, be conservative. Removing earrings is safest. For conservative industries, don't wear earrings. Observe other men in your industry to see what is acceptable. (I was shocked to find out that I shouldn’t wear my gold and diamond Rolex Presidential model watch with casual attire… I guess it is back to good old Mickey).
Specifics for women’s business casual:
Please no emasculating replies to this blog entry, remember this is what the experts have to say. So, to jump right into it, don't confuse club attire with business attire. If you would wear it to a club, you probably shouldn't wear it in a business environment. Also, most attire worn on television is not appropriate for business environments. Don't be deluded. (You have certainly heard me preach this one before.)
Pants / skirts:
The experts say that women can wear casual pants or skirts. Neither should be tight. Fabrics should be crisp; colors should generally be solid; navy, black, gray, brown and khaki are always safe bets. For the most business-like appearance, pants should be creased and tailored; neither extremely tight or flowing. If you are pursuing a career in a conservative industry and are in doubt, observe well-dressed women in your industry on the job, at career fairs, at information sessions, etc.
Skirt length and slits:
Your skirt should come at least to your knees while you are standing. While you are seated, your thighs should be covered. If your skirt comes to just below the knee, a slit to just above the knee might be acceptable. A very long skirt should not be slit to above the knee. Generally slits in the center back of a skirt — to facilitate walking a stair climbing — are acceptable. Slits to facilitate a view of your legs are not appropriate for business purposes. Slips should not be visible.
Shirt / sweaters:
In addition to tailored shirts or blouses, tailored knit sweaters and sweater sets are appropriate business casual choices for women. Cotton, silk, and blends are appropriate. Velvets and shimmery fabrics suitable for parties are not appropriate. Fit should not be tight. Cleavage is not appropriate to business and job search occasions.
Jewelry / accessories:
Wear a conservative watch. Jewelry and scarf styles come and go. Keep your choices simple and leaning toward conservative. Avoid extremes of style and color. If your industry is creative, you may have more flexibility than someone pursuing a conservative industry.
Shoes:
Should be leather or fabric / microfiber. Appropriate colors are black, navy and brown (to coordinate with your other attire and accessories); white and pastels are not appropriate. For the most conservative look, toes should be covered. Sandals which are neither extremely dressy or extremely casual might be appropriate. Thin straps and high heels are not appropriate. Chunky heels and platforms are not appropriate. Make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes; hobbling around the office or a job fair in shoes that are pinching your feet does not convey a professional image.
Hose:
Not essential for business casual, but are recommended if your skirt is knee length (rather than calf length) and in more formal environments such as banquets and meetings in restaurants.
Purse / bag:
If you carry a purse, keep it small and simple, or carry a small briefcase or business-like tote bag in place of a purse. A structured bag tends to look more professional than something soft or floppy. Purse/bag color should coordinate with your shoes. A briefcase is certainly not necessary for most business casual events. Leather, microfiber and fine wovens are appropriate. Canvas and straw are not appropriate.
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Now that you know, there should be no more shredded skater shoes, distress jeans, and faded Skinny Puppy tee shirts at work. Unless, of course, you have invented a new computer to blow Apple out of the niche market, and replace Microsoft as the number one operating system.