5 Tips for Building a Business Casual Wardrobe

Business casual attire is a relaxed version of traditional business workwear. Business casual means you don’t have to wear a full suit and tie. This dress code usually includes a collared shirt (button-up or polo shirt) or sweater on top, and dress pants, khakis, chinos, or a pencil skirt on the bottom. You may also wish to add a blazer or sport coat, but you don’t necessarily need a custom-tailored suit jacket. Shoes should be closed-toe and professional, whether you choose boots, heels, flats, loafers, mules, or oxfords.

Business casual may be the more casual version of formal business wear, but there is a limit to just how casual your outfit should be. While some types of jeans can be considered business casual, they should not be distressed or ripped in any way. Pairing casual wear like jeans with flip-flops or tennis shoes is not acceptable.

Anything low-cut, transparent, midriff-baring, pajama-like, and exercise-related is not a business casual outfit. Short and/or tight shorts, skirts, and dresses, sweatshirts, and muscle shirts are also examples of what not to wear for a business casual dress code. Bright-colored clothing with loud or overly-trendy prints is also not appropriate for a business casual setting.

A business casual wardrobe is easy to put together with the right items in your closet. Here are a few tips on dressing to fit into a business casual wardrobe.

1. 1. Always look polished. You should always look professional and polished when you’re dressing in business casual attire. Make sure that your clothing doesn’t have any imperfections like missing buttons, visible stains, wrinkles, or torn threads. Iron clothing that is wrinkly, so you do not look disheveled. If you can wear jeans, make sure that they don’t have any excessive holes, tears, or shreds. For business casual settings, dark wash jeans pair well with a blazer or cardigan.
2. 2. Avoid revealing clothing. While you don’t need to fully suit up in a turtleneck or button-down shirt, avoid wearing clothing that might reveal your undergarments or too much skin for a workplace setting. Knee-length skirts are more acceptable than short skirts or short shorts for business casual office wear.
3. 3. Build a capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a collection of classic pieces that work together with versatility, allowing you to create look after look with just a few items. It’s wise to keep a curated selection of business casual items like blouses, cardigans, denim jeans, dress slacks, and designer t-shirts in your closet, as well as a pair of leather shoes or loafers and a belt. A business casual capsule wardrobe takes the guesswork out of what appropriate business attire is and leaves the creative combinations to you.
4. 4. Avoid baggy clothing. While you don’t want to wear anything too tight, business casual clothing should not appear sloppy or unkempt. Khaki pants and blazers should be unwrinkled, stain-free, and tailored to fit your body.
5. 5. Stick to a muted color palette. Overly bold colors or patterns may not be appropriate attire for many business casual environments. Stick with neutral colors or muted, solid colors to keep in line with attire that is better suited for your particular professional atmosphere.

If there is no dress code at work, you can opt to wear semi-casual clothing as long as you present a neat and polished appearance, and as long as your workplace allows it. Casual, neat-looking clothing that is not overly revealing, loud, or bears offensive sayings is appropriate for a public work environment. Avoid wearing tank tops and ball caps, and make sure your shoes are clean and do not have holes in them. Opt for dresses, pants, blouses, or shirts that aren’t overly trendy, with loud prints, or too revealing.

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