What exactly is business casual?

A common reason that someone comes to work with me is because they are struggling to feel polished when not wearing a suit and feel a little too casual in their day to day.

Which is completely understandable because there is no clear definition of what business casual dress is…

Business casual is typically defined as no jeans, no shorts, no short dresses or skirts for women, optional ties for men, and a rotation of button-downs or blouses.

Business casual dressing is more about avoiding a list of "don'ts" than following a list of "dos" and can vary slightly depending on style, preference, and who you are meeting with that day.

The lack of clarity around this leaves women that like following rules and never want to be caught off guard feeling unsettled spending a lot of time attempting to figure out what to wear.

Instead of a list of don'ts, here are a few business casual ideas for summer.

Is Getting Dressed More Important Now That You Are Working From Home?

Welcome!

I'm Melanie! An image coach for high acheiving women helping your style match your success.

Here on the blog, I write about style tips, personal branding, outfit creation, and how to use your wardrobe to get noticed.
Let me know if there's any way I can help you!

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JUMPSUITS

Jumpsuits are perfect for business casual, just like the one my client Melissa wore for her photoshoot. They have a little more personality than a suit and you can remove the blazer if you going out after work.

TO THE KNEE SKIRTS

While the length and tightness may vary depending on your practice area, skirts that reach about knee-length (or below) are always safe. In terms of color, business casual doesn't have too many restrictions... so have fun with color!

SHORTS SUITS

There’s a little controversy with this one, but I love them! Shorts suit were spotted last year and are back again in a big way! All I can say is know you audience and what makes you feel confident, because in order to pull this one off you need to OWN THE LOOK! A great place to try out a short suit is at a retreat or a women’s conference.

COLORFUL PANTS

Colorful pants are the perfect way to add interest to an outfit and a business casual setting the perfect time to try them. I suggest buying a pair that has a color you have in a few printed tops so you are not just wearing them with a black top and calling that an outfit.

As with everything when it comes to getting dressed, there are so many options out there that it can often feel overwhelming and intimidating. Instead of feeling like there are too many options and just stick with your not very exciting outfits… I encourage you to pick one of the above and give it a try! Let me know which you are going to try by sending me a message over on instagram by clicking here.