Define "business casual" in pictures please!

mrebecca · August 2014

I interviewed for a job today where the dress code is business casual. I know what the term means, more or less, but I need a more wholesome understanding. I predict a shopping spree...

[Deleted User] · August 2014

Ugh. It's such a vague term, imo. Did you see the rest of the office? What did they wear?

theseaword · August 2014

theseaword · August 2014

Sorry that showed up so many times. I feel like it's vaguely threatening now.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

theseaword said:

Sorry that showed up so many times. I feel like it's vaguely threatening now.

Keep it handy. We can business casually use it on trolls or BMBs.

TheRunningGinger · August 2014

It really just depends. My office has a business casual dress code but we're allowed to wear jeans. I'd wear something nice the first day and ask for the actual dress code policy and see what everyone else is wearing.

bumpuser1691848 · August 2014

I would see it as dressy, but not a pant suit.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

Do you have a couple of things you can wear before shopping? I might try to get through the first week with what you have and then shop. Or go with a couple basic slacks and tops which can be mixed and matched if you need to dress it up or down.

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

This is business casual in Seattle. It's very very different from business casual on the East Coast, though.

#regional

[Deleted User] · August 2014

CinemaGoddess said:

This is business casual in Seattle. It's very very different from business casual on the East Coast, though.

#regional

This is casual Friday.

mrebecca · August 2014

MarlaSinger& said:

Ugh. It's such a vague term, imo. Did you see the rest of the office? What did they wear?

I would be working as a greeting card merchandiser in two local retail stores... alone. But the website says no old jeans, no t-shirts, close-toed shoes... So I'm thinking more casual than business.

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

MarlaSinger& said:

CinemaGoddess said:

This is business casual in Seattle. It's very very different from business casual on the East Coast, though.

#regional

This is casual Friday.

Casual Friday = Jeans.

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

mrebecca said:

MarlaSinger& said:

Ugh. It's such a vague term, imo. Did you see the rest of the office? What did they wear?

I would be working as a greeting card merchandiser in two local retail stores... alone. But the website says no old jeans, no t-shirts, close-toed shoes... So I'm thinking more casual than business.

Wait. Do you mean no open-toed shoes?

[Deleted User] · August 2014

The trick is buying staples and dressing them up or down as needed. You could wear the top part with jeans and the bottoms with a blouse or jacket. It helps maximize your wardrobe.

mrebecca · August 2014

CinemaGoddess said:

mrebecca said:

MarlaSinger& said:

Ugh. It's such a vague term, imo. Did you see the rest of the office? What did they wear?

I would be working as a greeting card merchandiser in two local retail stores... alone. But the website says no old jeans, no t-shirts, close-toed shoes... So I'm thinking more casual than business.

Wait. Do you mean no open-toed shoes?

Right. But probably not like non-slip shoes.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

Based on that description, I would say err more on the side of casual but keep it professional. No one has ever complained that an employee dressed too professionally.

I would probably ask for a clarification on their dress code policy. That's a completely appropriate question to ask.

mrebecca · August 2014

Thanks!

More questions:
How do I wear a scarf? They're so cute, but I don't want to do it wrong.
Do you suppose closed-toed heels would suffice?

[Deleted User] · August 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

mrebecca said:

Thanks!

More questions:
How do I wear a scarf? They're so cute, but I don't want to do it wrong.
Do you suppose closed-toed heels would suffice?

It depends on the scarf.

It depends on the height of the heels.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10204324884946336&set=vb.1355694157&type=2&theater

I refer to this often

mrebecca · August 2014

PrivacyWanted said:

Honestly, it can vary a lot from office to office.
I've been to places that are 'business casual' where that means dress denim is ok, others where it just means you're wearing a suit without the jacket.
But I think the standard is trousers/knee-length skirt with a blouse or a shell and cardigan, dresses with some sleeve.
This is a good example https://www.outfitposts.com/2012/11/one-suitcase-business-casual-capsule_6313.html

This website is very helpful, thank you!

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

kirotea said:

CinemaGoddess said:

This is business casual in Seattle. It's very very different from business casual on the East Coast, though.

#regional

uhhh... I'm on the east coast and this is what we wear in my office (business casual).

Well, all the people I've worked with from the East Coast think this is for casual Friday, like Mella said.

Maybe it depends on the industry. Once I interviewed for a job at a satellite office for a large east coast law firm. They were having difficulty hiring people because their dress code, which they called Business Casual, would've been almost formal here (women wore suits with skirts and heels, full makeup, men wore suits every day, no Jeans Friday) and people around here weren't having any of it. It was dictated by the main office and the satellites didn't have any say in it.

I was one of the people who turned down a job there. Of course, this was 2005 when jobs were plentiful and you could afford to say no because of the dress code.

thebanich · August 2014

Personally I would not consider a pant suit business casual.

I generally wear capri style or long black pants and a more casual top with a cardigan. My place of work is weird though. Some people wear jeans, some people wear suits.

The woman helping me with my filing was wearing track pants yesterday which was odd but I'm not her boss so...

theseaword · August 2014

I am in insurance which is a traditionally conservative industry. Just to add to the context of my photo. We see a lot of jackets and blazers.

CinemaGoddess · August 2014

kirotea said:

True on the "industry specific" part. I've really only worked in this industry for my "grown up" jobs and have always dressed like that. For me, decent v-neck and scoop-neck tees are acceptable with a pair of khakis/slacks. And by slacks, I mean somewhat "dressy" pants from the Gap or Banana Repub.

Forreal. Even work cultures are different. One lady I worked with here in Seattle was a recent transplant from NYC. Our HR lady was giving her a tour of the office and it ended right by my desk. When HR lady asked if she had any questions, the woman said "Where do the paralegals sleep?" HR lady gave her this head-tilt and said "Where do the paralegals what?"

Apparently, at this woman's last firm, the paralegals had sleeping rooms because they often had to work through the night. They couldn't leave until their attorney left.

Yeah, that doesn't happen in my industry here. If a lawyer isn't able to make their own copies, they need to be taught how.

white318 · August 2014

Depends on the industry honestly...in some environments it means blouses and slacks and shirts and ties. In others it means polos and khakis.

bhjones1980 · August 2014

kirotea said:

CinemaGoddess said:

This is business casual in Seattle. It's very very different from business casual on the East Coast, though.

#regional

uhhh... I'm on the east coast and this is what we wear in my office (business casual).

I am in DC and this is our business casual too (khakis, sweaters, slacks, button downs, blouses)

casual Fridays are Jeans

RayRay007 · August 2014

No tank tops, no sandals, no distracting jewellery (jangly bracelets eg.).

I'd got with slacks or a skirt and a blouse or a dress. Not khakis. Not a golf shirt. Maybe a cardigan or fitted jacket if it were cool. Don't need a matching pant suit.

[Deleted User] · August 2014

Dress codes are so job specific. The concept of business casual varies even within my building. Some departments are in full suits and others are in extreme business casual.