Business Casual Outfit Ideas
If you want to be professional in a startup business, you need to look professional. This can be tough if you’re not used to dressing up. Thankfully, you don’t need to be uncomfortable or even spend a lot of money to update your wardrobe to business casual. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite business casual outfit ideas.
A General Idea of Business Casual Outfits
To better understand how business casual ideas work, you should think of what you want your business to be like as far as its tone is concerned. Of course, you’d probably receive snickers if you wore anything that won’t make sense for anything involving, say, paperwork in the office. However, there are a few key traits to what the fashion world considers “business casual.” Usually, business casual outfits are comparable to what you’d wear in a semi-formal work environment but with a few differences here and there. Here are some examples to take notes from:
Business Casual Ideas for Men
You’d usually want to wear somewhat formal attire when in your business, a few examples include:
- A neutral-colored shirt with short sleeves; it can be either button-down, button-up, or collared
- A sport coat or a sweater with either uniform or a variety of colors and patterns, either for aesthetics or for the winter
- Pants that are semi-formal; dress slacks or dark jeans are also acceptable due to how they balance being premium and comfortable
- Footwear can consist of tie-up shoes, especially if they’re dark leather due to the mature appearance they provide; loafers are also recommended if you prefer slip-on shoes.
Business Casual Ideas for Women
While you can dress down to better fit your own style of attire, you may want to go with the dress code to be on the safe side. In any case, you can go for these options for your outfit:
- Blouses or sleeveless shirts for simple tops
- Vests, turtle necks, or dressy tops work well for more elaborate businesses, especially if they’re in neutral colors.
- Any bottom pieces, such as skirts or dress pants, should be of appropriate length so as to not reveal too much skin in a safe-for-work environment
- Your footwear should consist of either high heels, flats, or pumps, with an occasionally acceptable amount of skin, revealed for the toes or ankles
In short, business casual outfits are a great way to show that you mean, well, business. Keep in mind that clients and customers will be more likely to take you seriously if you’re dressed for the occasion. Furthermore, your work colleagues are more likely to take their work seriously. It’s amazing what fashion can do to enhance your mood. While you may want to head to work in sweatpants and a tee, this won’t give off the right image.
Remember, you don’t have to dress to the nines to be business casual. Adding some nice but comfy shoes, a blazer, and slacks are often all you need.
