What is business casual?

[Deleted]

My new job dress code is Business casual to professional. I've always dressed professionally with work, and probably will continue that, but I have a little more leeway now than I did before and don't know what it really is. Help? 

[sofamonkey]

Apparently, no leggings.

[terpsfan]

In your case the big difference is no suits.

15 years ago when I started with a then big accounting/professional services firm we had a whole training day on dress for business casual.. No sleeveless, no open toe, hose always, tie pattern no bigger than a quarter.. .. Times have changed!

[Deleted]

Well, I have very few business casual shirts that don't have slits cut in them for my fat arms to fit, so I guess I'll be sticking to my suits and professional dress since it's still acceptable until I can get more clothes.

[Deleted]

Straight skirts or wool pants with button down shirts (or shells and cardigans) and wrap dresses are pretty fool proof. After you get a sense of how relaxed your office will be you might be able to stretch that, but I have always found the easiest way to do it is to go to BR and buy what they have in the business section- I don't wear pants (except jeans and yoga pants) so I rotate between a collection of maybe 20 wrap dresses, 10 straight skirts, 10 button downs, and a bunch of shells and cardi-wraps, and I put no thought at all into my clothes in the morning.

[terpsfan]

Summer 99.. AA although we were the mgmt consulting side so not the true "accountants". I'll never forget those training sessions. And my very first client that summer that was professional dress in fucking Norfolk, VA. Yep, college, summer, Norfolk, professional suits. Sweat.

[Deleted]

Usually dress pants or skirt with a blouse, sweater, or cardigan etc., wrap dresses.  No spaghetti straps, very short skirts, leggings, shorts or Capris.  Open toe shoes are acceptable in some places, but not most that I've been aware of. If you're unsure, err on the side of professional and see how other women there dress.  

[Deleted]

That's the thing...after the first two weeks or so, it will just be me in an office with a secretary and maintenance staff...Unless the Regional Manager (who hired me for the office) is visiting, I'll be on my own. His plan is to move me to Sales Manager within 9 months and hire more staff on below me then. MAYBE a second person in a month or two, but he's unsure. It depends how I do.

[Deleted]

Mar 1, 2015 22:43:17 GMT -5 @reannalynne said:

That's the thing...after the first two weeks or so, it will just be me in an office with a secretary and maintenance staff...Unless the Regional Manager (who hired me for the office) is visiting, I'll be on my own. His plan is to move me to Sales Manager within 9 months and hire more staff on below me then. MAYBE a second person in a month or two, but he's unsure. It depends how I do.

Oh. Well, if you are senior person in the office, you set the dress code. I was the most senior female in a small branch office for awhile and I absolutely exploited it. Of course, you dress for your regional manager, but as long as you aren't in jeans then business casual is a very broad term.

[Deleted]

Thanks