Imagine graduating from college and landing your first adult job. You have only been with the company for a couple of short months when you get an invitation for a work dinner. The attire reads “business casual” so you immediately begin to mentally sort through your wardrobe for something that fits the dress code. The night of the dinner rolls around, and you decide on a collared shirt tucked into dress pants, a belt, and dress shoes, but no jacket or tie. You’re feeling pretty assured in your interpretation of the dress code and confidently show up to the venue.

 

As you enter the room, you begin to scan the crowd and casually check out everyone else’s outfit choice. There are a handful of men dressed just like you, and you think you’ve got a good understanding of the dress code. But then, you notice two great extremes. For one, there is a group of men sporting collared shirts with dark jeans. On the other side, there are men in suit and tie. Finally, you spot your boss, and you stare in amazement at his outfit of choice: cargo shorts, sandals, and a logo adorned polo shirt. 

 

So what exactly does the term “business casual” mean?

 

Apparently, there is no general agreement on the definition of this term, as several factors are dependent on how it could be interpreted. The type of industry, number of employees, climate, culture, amount of interaction between employees, and size of the company can all be taken into consideration when deciding how to best dress to fit this dress code. So how did this term come about?

 

 

In 1966, the idea of “Aloha Friday” was created in Hawaii to encourage offices to let their employees wear Hawaiian printed shirts to work on Friday’s to help transition into a weekend potentially filled with sunshine and fun. This concept made its way over to the mainland in the 1990s and became known as ‘casual Friday’ where companies found a way to allow their employees to feel more relaxed heading into the weekend while continuing to sport a professional appearance. When Levi’s eventually caught on to this movement, they began to mass produce their new khaki slacks, Dockers, which quickly became popular. Casual Friday soon became acceptable business attire all through the week, not only on Friday’s.

 

Generally, appropriate business casual dress for a male includes slacks or khaki bottoms and a collared shirt (either button-down or polo style) or sweater. Ties and sports coats are often implied as optional, and loafers or dress shoes that cover all or most of the foot are suitable.

 

Bottoms: A male’s pant should be made of cotton or a dress synthetic material. Denim, sweatpants, shorts, or exercise bottoms are considered to be unacceptable for business casual attire. 

 

Tops: A male should consider a casual buttoned shirt, dress shirt, sweater, golf-type polo shirts, and turtlenecks. A suit or sports jacket would also be acceptable if desired.

 

Shoes: While loafers and dress shoes are most common, a conservative athletic or walking shoe would also fit business casual footwear. Ensuring that the foot is mostly covered is most important (no sandals!), but you shouldn’t show up wearing your gym shoes.

 

One should never consider clothes that reveal too much chest, back, stomach, or feet when dressing for a business casual event – whether that be a workplace or a gathering. If the article of clothing is better suited for the beach, a wild night out with friend, or exercising, it is likely not appropriate for a business casual setting. 

 

Beyond what articles of clothing you choose to fit the business casual description, take into consideration how you make the pieces work together as an entire appropriate outfit. A button-up shirt should be buttoned up to the neck, revealing minimal chest, and tucked into the pants with a belt visible. The clothes should be neatly pressed and not wrinkled, torn, dirty, or frayed. Clothes with offensive terms or pictures are highly discouraged, but small sports team, university, or brand name logos are generally acceptable. 

 

Keep the ripped jeans and t-shirt in the closet, but don’t reach for the tuxedo, either! There is a happy medium with business casual, but don’t forget to take the time, place, and occasion into consideration.

Imagine graduating from college and landing your first adult job. You have only been with the company for a couple of short months when you get an invitation for a work dinner. The attire reads “business casual” so you immediately begin to mentally sort through your wardrobe for something that fits the dress code. The night of the dinner rolls around, and you decide on a collared shirt tucked into dress pants, a belt, and dress shoes, but no jacket or tie. You’re feeling pretty assured in your interpretation of the dress code and confidently show up to the venue.

 

As you enter the room, you begin to scan the crowd and casually check out everyone else’s outfit choice. There are a handful of men dressed just like you, and you think you’ve got a good understanding of the dress code. But then, you notice two great extremes. For one, there is a group of men sporting collared shirts with dark jeans. On the other side, there are men in suit and tie. Finally, you spot your boss, and you stare in amazement at his outfit of choice: cargo shorts, sandals, and a logo adorned polo shirt. 

 

So what exactly does the term “business casual” mean?

 

Apparently, there is no general agreement on the definition of this term, as several factors are dependent on how it could be interpreted. The type of industry, number of employees, climate, culture, amount of interaction between employees, and size of the company can all be taken into consideration when deciding how to best dress to fit this dress code. So how did this term come about?

 

 

In 1966, the idea of “Aloha Friday” was created in Hawaii to encourage offices to let their employees wear Hawaiian printed shirts to work on Friday’s to help transition into a weekend potentially filled with sunshine and fun. This concept made its way over to the mainland in the 1990s and became known as ‘casual Friday’ where companies found a way to allow their employees to feel more relaxed heading into the weekend while continuing to sport a professional appearance. When Levi’s eventually caught on to this movement, they began to mass produce their new khaki slacks, Dockers, which quickly became popular. Casual Friday soon became acceptable business attire all through the week, not only on Friday’s.

 

Generally, appropriate business casual dress for a male includes slacks or khaki bottoms and a collared shirt (either button-down or polo style) or sweater. Ties and sports coats are often implied as optional, and loafers or dress shoes that cover all or most of the foot are suitable.

 

Bottoms: A male’s pant should be made of cotton or a dress synthetic material. Denim, sweatpants, shorts, or exercise bottoms are considered to be unacceptable for business casual attire. 

 

Tops: A male should consider a casual buttoned shirt, dress shirt, sweater, golf-type polo shirts, and turtlenecks. A suit or sports jacket would also be acceptable if desired.

 

Shoes: While loafers and dress shoes are most common, a conservative athletic or walking shoe would also fit business casual footwear. Ensuring that the foot is mostly covered is most important (no sandals!), but you shouldn’t show up wearing your gym shoes.

 

One should never consider clothes that reveal too much chest, back, stomach, or feet when dressing for a business casual event – whether that be a workplace or a gathering. If the article of clothing is better suited for the beach, a wild night out with friend, or exercising, it is likely not appropriate for a business casual setting. 

 

Beyond what articles of clothing you choose to fit the business casual description, take into consideration how you make the pieces work together as an entire appropriate outfit. A button-up shirt should be buttoned up to the neck, revealing minimal chest, and tucked into the pants with a belt visible. The clothes should be neatly pressed and not wrinkled, torn, dirty, or frayed. Clothes with offensive terms or pictures are highly discouraged, but small sports team, university, or brand name logos are generally acceptable. 

 

Keep the ripped jeans and t-shirt in the closet, but don’t reach for the tuxedo, either! There is a happy medium with business casual, but don’t forget to take the time, place, and occasion into consideration.

Congratulations! You have landed an interview! Now, you need to prepare.

 

One of the most important components to prepare for an interview is the attire. What you wear creates a first impression on the interviewer and will determine the physical image that they have of you throughout the hiring process. For this reason, you should carefully choose your outfit to reflect the company you are interviewing with, the job you have applied for, and your personality.

 

The Main Ensemble

Selecting the main pieces of your ensemble is the most important part of determining your outfit. For interview attire, there are two routes that you can take. The first is traditional business attire and the second is business casual. Traditional business wear is viewed as more formal, whereas business casual attire is a more relaxed, yet still well-tailored look.

 

You can determine the look that you should wear by researching the company you are interviewing with to understand their company environment. If the company is more modern and relaxed, choose a business casual look. However, if the company you are interviewing with seems larger and more conservative, you should choose traditional business attire.

 

Understanding the position you have applied to and are interviewing for can also help to determine the attire you wear as well. For an entry level job or internship, business casual attire is a good choice. Additionally, it is also suitable to wear business casual attire when interviewing for a creative position, because it can showcase your creativity. If the job you have applied for is mid-level or executive, it would be in your best interest to choose traditional business attire.

 

Once you have determined the type of attire you should wear, you must determine what pieces you need.

 

Traditional Business Attire

If for your upcoming interview you should wear traditional business attire, then you are going to need to acquire a suit. A traditional two-piece suit that you would wear for an interview is comprised of tailored pants, and a matching, tailored jacket.

 

There are different variations of the traditional suit. In today's world, you do not have to stick with a traditional black or pinstripe suit when attending an interview. Selecting a navy blue, gray, or even tan suit is also acceptable in an interview setting. In fact, depending on the environment of the company you are interviewing with, choosing one of these colors may help you stand out as an individual among the other candidates.

 

Along with a traditional two-piece suit, traditional business attire for an interview should also include a well-tailored, ironed shirt. The shirt you pair with a traditional suit should be a neutral, solid color. This will keep the outfit from appearing too busy and will be more appealing to the majority of interviewers. To complement your shirt and to pull your outfit together, you should choose a tie that coordinates with your suit and shirt.

 

It is important for your interview that the suit you have chosen to wear fits you well. To guarantee that you are not pulling on your jacket sleeves or adjusting your pants during the interview make sure you have the correct measurements for your pants and jacket. If your exact measurements are not available for purchase, you can always choose to have it tailored at after purchasing.

 

Business Casual Attire

Business casual attire has become commonplace in many workplaces. If you feel that business casual is the best way to dress for your upcoming interview, it means that you have a little more freedom in choosing what you would like to wear, but also a few more decisions to make.

 

When you choose to wear business casual attire for an interview, a jacket is not required, nor does it need to be an exact match, but it is still recommended. Instead, you can choose a jacket that coordinates well with your pants but allows you to express your personal style. Although they do not have to match, the pants and jacket should still be well fitted. Do not choose to wear a relaxed fit of pant with a slim-fit jacket. Make sure that the two pieces flow together.

 

There are also rules to follow regarding color choices. Business casual attire for an interview should be comprised of neutrals such as black, navy, gray, or brown for your pants and jacket. However, unlike traditional business attire, you have more freedom to choose a pattern or bold color for the shirt and complimentary accessories.

 

If you are interviewing for an entry-level position, or the work environment is very casual, you can choose to forego the jacket component of the ensemble. If this is the case, you should still wear a collared shirt and ideally a coordinating tie to pull the outfit together.

 

Shoes

A component of the interview outfit that you cannot forget is the shoes. While you may think that the shoes are the last piece of the ensemble that you should think about, they are very important in bringing your look together.

 

Shoes for an interview should always be well-kept and clean. You do not want to make the mistake of wearing dirty, scratched, or broken shoes to a job interview.

 

The most reliable style of shoe to wear for an interview is an oxford. This style ties with laces is traditionally leather and has a sleek design. Oxfords can be found in a variety of colors and toe shapes such as square, rounded or pointed. You should choose the toe style that is most comfortable for you and the color that coordinates the best with your outfit.

 

Accessories

Choosing the right accessories for your interview ensemble can help you express your creativity and personality. Some accessory pieces that you can individualize are ties and socks.

 

Ties

Ties come in a variety of colors, styles, and prints and can be used to pull the whole look of an outfit together. You can express individuality by choosing a brightly colored tie, a unique pattern, or a novelty tie. Choosing a unique tie would be best if you are wearing a business casual ensemble, as to not be too distracting or unappealing to interviewers.

 

Socks

Socks are a great way to personalize your outfit whether you are wearing traditional business attire or business casual. Because socks are not seen at all times, they can be a subtle way to hint at your individual style. Additionally, when seen they make great conversation pieces.

 

If you are able to put together a great outfit that showcases your confidence and personality, you will be on the way to a great interview! Good luck!

 

Congratulations! You have landed an interview! Now, you need to prepare.

 

One of the most important components to prepare for an interview is the attire. What you wear creates a first impression on the interviewer and will determine the physical image that they have of you throughout the hiring process. For this reason, you should carefully choose your outfit to reflect the company you are interviewing with, the job you have applied for, and your personality.

 

The Main Ensemble

Selecting the main pieces of your ensemble is the most important part of determining your outfit. For interview attire, there are two routes that you can take. The first is traditional business attire and the second is business casual. Traditional business wear is viewed as more formal, whereas business casual attire is a more relaxed, yet still well-tailored look.

 

You can determine the look that you should wear by researching the company you are interviewing with to understand their company environment. If the company is more modern and relaxed, choose a business casual look. However, if the company you are interviewing with seems larger and more conservative, you should choose traditional business attire.

 

Understanding the position you have applied to and are interviewing for can also help to determine the attire you wear as well. For an entry level job or internship, business casual attire is a good choice. Additionally, it is also suitable to wear business casual attire when interviewing for a creative position, because it can showcase your creativity. If the job you have applied for is mid-level or executive, it would be in your best interest to choose traditional business attire.

 

Once you have determined the type of attire you should wear, you must determine what pieces you need.

 

Traditional Business Attire

If for your upcoming interview you should wear traditional business attire, then you are going to need to acquire a suit. A traditional two-piece suit that you would wear for an interview is comprised of tailored pants, and a matching, tailored jacket.

 

There are different variations of the traditional suit. In today's world, you do not have to stick with a traditional black or pinstripe suit when attending an interview. Selecting a navy blue, gray, or even tan suit is also acceptable in an interview setting. In fact, depending on the environment of the company you are interviewing with, choosing one of these colors may help you stand out as an individual among the other candidates.

 

Along with a traditional two-piece suit, traditional business attire for an interview should also include a well-tailored, ironed shirt. The shirt you pair with a traditional suit should be a neutral, solid color. This will keep the outfit from appearing too busy and will be more appealing to the majority of interviewers. To complement your shirt and to pull your outfit together, you should choose a tie that coordinates with your suit and shirt.

 

It is important for your interview that the suit you have chosen to wear fits you well. To guarantee that you are not pulling on your jacket sleeves or adjusting your pants during the interview make sure you have the correct measurements for your pants and jacket. If your exact measurements are not available for purchase, you can always choose to have it tailored at after purchasing.

 

Business Casual Attire

Business casual attire has become commonplace in many workplaces. If you feel that business casual is the best way to dress for your upcoming interview, it means that you have a little more freedom in choosing what you would like to wear, but also a few more decisions to make.

 

When you choose to wear business casual attire for an interview, a jacket is not required, nor does it need to be an exact match, but it is still recommended. Instead, you can choose a jacket that coordinates well with your pants but allows you to express your personal style. Although they do not have to match, the pants and jacket should still be well fitted. Do not choose to wear a relaxed fit of pant with a slim-fit jacket. Make sure that the two pieces flow together.

 

There are also rules to follow regarding color choices. Business casual attire for an interview should be comprised of neutrals such as black, navy, gray, or brown for your pants and jacket. However, unlike traditional business attire, you have more freedom to choose a pattern or bold color for the shirt and complimentary accessories.

 

If you are interviewing for an entry-level position, or the work environment is very casual, you can choose to forego the jacket component of the ensemble. If this is the case, you should still wear a collared shirt and ideally a coordinating tie to pull the outfit together.

 

Shoes

A component of the interview outfit that you cannot forget is the shoes. While you may think that the shoes are the last piece of the ensemble that you should think about, they are very important in bringing your look together.

 

Shoes for an interview should always be well-kept and clean. You do not want to make the mistake of wearing dirty, scratched, or broken shoes to a job interview.

 

The most reliable style of shoe to wear for an interview is an oxford. This style ties with laces is traditionally leather and has a sleek design. Oxfords can be found in a variety of colors and toe shapes such as square, rounded or pointed. You should choose the toe style that is most comfortable for you and the color that coordinates the best with your outfit.

 

Accessories

Choosing the right accessories for your interview ensemble can help you express your creativity and personality. Some accessory pieces that you can individualize are ties and socks.

 

Ties

Ties come in a variety of colors, styles, and prints and can be used to pull the whole look of an outfit together. You can express individuality by choosing a brightly colored tie, a unique pattern, or a novelty tie. Choosing a unique tie would be best if you are wearing a business casual ensemble, as to not be too distracting or unappealing to interviewers.

 

Socks

Socks are a great way to personalize your outfit whether you are wearing traditional business attire or business casual. Because socks are not seen at all times, they can be a subtle way to hint at your individual style. Additionally, when seen they make great conversation pieces.

 

If you are able to put together a great outfit that showcases your confidence and personality, you will be on the way to a great interview! Good luck!

 

As you continue to climb through your adulthood, you’re finding that your closest friends and family members are beginning to get married and invite you to their wedding celebrations. With each invitation received via snail mail comes a different dress code that you’re asked to follow when the big day rolls around. But what exactly do all of these different dress codes mean? You could ask the bride and groom or a close member of the bridal party who is aware of what is being planned, or you could learn about the seven most common wedding dress code requests and what wardrobe pieces best fit the description of “cocktail” or “island casual”.

The least common requested dress code today, white tie is considered to be the most sophisticated, classy, fancy attire for a wedding. Dating back to the late 1820s where color on a male’s formal apparel was unthinkable, men traditionally wore black and white pieces as their most formal clothing. Unless the bride and groom are Hollywood stars, multi-millionaires, or straight royalty, it is unlikely that you’d receive an invitation stressing this specific dress code. But, in the off-chance that you do, male guests should prepare to wear a coat with a tail, a white wing-collared shirt, a white vest and white bow tie. You should expect your shoes to really shine, and may even consider a silk top hat on your head.

Not quite as fancy as white tie, black tie, also known as the “dinner jacket,” made its debut around 1928 when Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, decided to wear a short evening jacket, rather than his coat with tail, to a dinner. From then on, the high-class, formal white tie dress code began to slowly fade. If an invitation stresses black tie, male guests should expect to wear a tuxedo adorned with a black bow tie. Either a cummerbund or tuxedo-and-vest combination are acceptable for this attire.

Black tie optional, commonly referred to as “formal,” came into use when it was realized that most people did not own tuxedos and evening gowns. Still meant to be a formal event, ‘black tie optional’ allows guests to dress more comfortably and gives greater leeway on the outfit pieces of choice. If men feel most comfortable in a full tuxedo, they’re free to go for it. However, if a male prefers to wear a dark suit and tie, people wouldn’t question why he wasn’t following the dress code. However, men should still shy away from light colored pieces or clothing that is covered in a print.

Known for being the party dress, cocktail attire was first introduced for ladies in the early 1900s when women indulging in some pre-dinner drinks became acceptable. And since cocktails were considered drinks before dinner, women began to sport shorter dresses to wear during this part of the evening. Cocktail dresses continued to be worn and have since become the most popular party attire in fashion history. For men, this is where they can leave the tuxedos behind and comfortably sport a simple suit and tie. Rather than having to stick to black and dark colors, though, men should feel free to wear brighter colors and patterns, jackets or no jackets, a formal vest, bowtie or tie. There is a lot of flexibility in this dress code, which is great for those feeling a bit more daring.

Less straightforward than all of the rest, daytime semi-formal is considered to be the most confusing dress code for both men and women. Are you supposed to wear a suit and tie, or is something way more casual acceptable? The name in itself is an oxymoron, and most of the time, people are underdressed when they are asked to follow the semi-formal code. While this dress code lies somewhere between black tie and informal, men should expect to wear a jacket, regardless of what else they pair with it. This look is minimal and simple, so a light plain colored shirt should be paired with your jacket. However, your pants and jacket do not necessarily have to match. If you choose to wear a tie, choose a slim one to keep things less formal. Texture, color, and patterns are okay here, too! Leave your tuxedo at home to avoid being overdressed, but be sure to not show up in jeans, either.

Like daytime semi-formal, dressy casual is another dress code that often leaves people confused. How casual is too casual? Note immediately that ‘wedding casual’ and ‘casual-casual’ are two drastically different things. This dress code does not mean the bride and groom want you to show up in jeans and a t-shirt to their wedding celebration, but they also don’t expect you to go buy a full suit, either. Unless specifically instructed, men should avoid jeans, workout clothes, and sneakers. A collared button-down or polo shirt would be a more acceptable choice for the dressy casual code. A jacket isn’t required, but it’s always a nice touch when attending a wedding. And while slacks are always a good pant option, a khaki or chino bottom would also pair well for this attire.

If you’re heading to a tropical place for a wedding, the island dress code should automatically have you envisioning floral patterns, lightweight clothes, and a comfortable pair of loafers. If you wish to still wear a suit, keep it lightweight or choose to just wear a sport coat over a light top. Again, chino or khaki bottoms are common for this dress code, and boat shoes and loafers are popular footwear choices. Don’t stress about a neck tie, either. You won’t be the only one who isn’t sporting one.

As you continue to climb through your adulthood, you’re finding that your closest friends and family members are beginning to get married and invite you to their wedding celebrations. With each invitation received via snail mail comes a different dress code that you’re asked to follow when the big day rolls around. But what exactly do all of these different dress codes mean? You could ask the bride and groom or a close member of the bridal party who is aware of what is being planned, or you could learn about the seven most common wedding dress code requests and what wardrobe pieces best fit the description of “cocktail” or “island casual”.

The least common requested dress code today, white tie is considered to be the most sophisticated, classy, fancy attire for a wedding. Dating back to the late 1820s where color on a male’s formal apparel was unthinkable, men traditionally wore black and white pieces as their most formal clothing. Unless the bride and groom are Hollywood stars, multi-millionaires, or straight royalty, it is unlikely that you’d receive an invitation stressing this specific dress code. But, in the off-chance that you do, male guests should prepare to wear a coat with a tail, a white wing-collared shirt, a white vest and white bow tie. You should expect your shoes to really shine, and may even consider a silk top hat on your head.

Not quite as fancy as white tie, black tie, also known as the “dinner jacket,” made its debut around 1928 when Edward VIII, Prince of Wales, decided to wear a short evening jacket, rather than his coat with tail, to a dinner. From then on, the high-class, formal white tie dress code began to slowly fade. If an invitation stresses black tie, male guests should expect to wear a tuxedo adorned with a black bow tie. Either a cummerbund or tuxedo-and-vest combination are acceptable for this attire.

Black tie optional, commonly referred to as “formal,” came into use when it was realized that most people did not own tuxedos and evening gowns. Still meant to be a formal event, ‘black tie optional’ allows guests to dress more comfortably and gives greater leeway on the outfit pieces of choice. If men feel most comfortable in a full tuxedo, they’re free to go for it. However, if a male prefers to wear a dark suit and tie, people wouldn’t question why he wasn’t following the dress code. However, men should still shy away from light colored pieces or clothing that is covered in a print.

Known for being the party dress, cocktail attire was first introduced for ladies in the early 1900s when women indulging in some pre-dinner drinks became acceptable. And since cocktails were considered drinks before dinner, women began to sport shorter dresses to wear during this part of the evening. Cocktail dresses continued to be worn and have since become the most popular party attire in fashion history. For men, this is where they can leave the tuxedos behind and comfortably sport a simple suit and tie. Rather than having to stick to black and dark colors, though, men should feel free to wear brighter colors and patterns, jackets or no jackets, a formal vest, bowtie or tie. There is a lot of flexibility in this dress code, which is great for those feeling a bit more daring.

Less straightforward than all of the rest, daytime semi-formal is considered to be the most confusing dress code for both men and women. Are you supposed to wear a suit and tie, or is something way more casual acceptable? The name in itself is an oxymoron, and most of the time, people are underdressed when they are asked to follow the semi-formal code. While this dress code lies somewhere between black tie and informal, men should expect to wear a jacket, regardless of what else they pair with it. This look is minimal and simple, so a light plain colored shirt should be paired with your jacket. However, your pants and jacket do not necessarily have to match. If you choose to wear a tie, choose a slim one to keep things less formal. Texture, color, and patterns are okay here, too! Leave your tuxedo at home to avoid being overdressed, but be sure to not show up in jeans, either.

Like daytime semi-formal, dressy casual is another dress code that often leaves people confused. How casual is too casual? Note immediately that ‘wedding casual’ and ‘casual-casual’ are two drastically different things. This dress code does not mean the bride and groom want you to show up in jeans and a t-shirt to their wedding celebration, but they also don’t expect you to go buy a full suit, either. Unless specifically instructed, men should avoid jeans, workout clothes, and sneakers. A collared button-down or polo shirt would be a more acceptable choice for the dressy casual code. A jacket isn’t required, but it’s always a nice touch when attending a wedding. And while slacks are always a good pant option, a khaki or chino bottom would also pair well for this attire.

If you’re heading to a tropical place for a wedding, the island dress code should automatically have you envisioning floral patterns, lightweight clothes, and a comfortable pair of loafers. If you wish to still wear a suit, keep it lightweight or choose to just wear a sport coat over a light top. Again, chino or khaki bottoms are common for this dress code, and boat shoes and loafers are popular footwear choices. Don’t stress about a neck tie, either. You won’t be the only one who isn’t sporting one.