Casual Wear Casualties

Problems with Business Casual in Corporate America -

It takes considerable thought and confidence to dress well casually. Putting on a pair of khaki slacks and a polo shirt may be considered a great look, but it does nothing to distinguish you in the business world. Many business professionals want to distinguish themselves in a work environment where casual dress is allowed but don't want to look like the person two positions lower than themselves who makes one-third their salary.

In some organizations, a casual dress policy results in more casual attitudes and often a deterioration in employees' behavior. Occasionally casual dress policies create tendencies for employees to kick back mentally causing service delivery to diminish.

Most people recognize that traditional business wear is generally more flattering than all other attire selections. Business suits flatter our overall image and hide a multitude of ‘sins.’ Casual wear just doesn't have the ability to hide our bulges and imperfections. People just tend to look better in suits. Take my attire test: you tend to get better service when dressed in a traditional business suit, and others tend to move out of your way when walking in a crowded shopping mall. Try the test again but dressed casually and compare the results.

"Casual wear" is one of the phrases used to describe the trend away from traditional business attire. Other terms include "business casual" (usually means the khakis and polo shirt ensemble), "business appropriate" (means a step-up from street casual), "business ready" (means you have a "traditional business suit" ready to change into at all times), "executive casual" (means for men a blazer, shirt, tie, khakis, loafers; and for women it means slacks, a nice blouse, blazer, and flats or pumps). All these “casual” definitions can lead to casual-ties (casualties not casual ties).

Business Casual Guidelines -

To resolve the problem of “casual wear,” astute business professionals are asking for clear guidelines within their organizations regarding dress codes and appropriate business casual attire. Regardless of what is allowed within your organization, you should keep in mind your customers and their preferences when it comes to service delivery. These guidelines should influence your selection of attire for casual, yet appropriate, business wear in today’s contemporary workplace.