What Is Business Casual for a Woman?
The term "business casual" refers to the wardrobe requirements that are appropriate for a given workplace. Companies come up with workplace wardrobe standards, like business formal and business casual, as a means of setting a tone of professionalism in the office. Business casual for women consists of a crisp and clean look that is slightly less dressy than business formal.
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Footwear
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Just because the word "casual" is in it doesn't mean women can ditch the heels and throw on their favorite pair of running shoes. According to Virginia Tech, business casual environments have standards for women's footwear. For instance, closed-toe, neutral-colored short pumps, or loafers, are most appropriate for business casual footwear. Flashy shoes, such as the ones you might wear to prom, are not ideal for a business casual workplace. Tall heels, strappy sandals, platform shoes and shoes that are brightly colored are not appropriate for business casual.
Tops
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As a good rule of thumb, if you would wear one of your tops to the club or to a pool party, it's a safe assumption it's not an appropriate top for the workplace. Business casual environments call for women to dress conservatively, to a point. According to a July 2009 article in USA Today, women have a tendency to want to show a lot of skin. Tank tops with spaghetti straps, for instance, are on the no-no list for business casual women's wear. Virginia Tech suggests that to fulfill a business casual look, women should wear blouses, tailored shirts or shirts with cardigans. Additionally, they should make an effort to cover up cleavage. Revealing cleavage in the workplace is considered inappropriate.
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Bottoms
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In business casual work environments, women have the option of wearing slacks, skirts or dresses. Skirts and dresses should cover a woman's knees and be accompanied by a pair of pantyhose. In general, bottoms should not be too tight or form-fitting. Also, there are no shorts allowed in business casual work environments.
Makeup
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It's work, not a beauty pageant, so women should not cake on the makeup. Brightly colored or glittery makeup is not an appropriate look for the workplace. Makeup that is "loud" can be distracting to others and construed as unprofessional. Instead, makeup should be kept simple, subtle and neutral.
Accessories
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Many women like to complement their outfits with accessories, like jewelry, hair bands and belts. In a business casual environment, Virginia Tech suggests to keep accessories simple and leave the flashy stuff at home. Dainty earrings, like pearls or small hoops, are more appropriate than extreme chandelier earrings.
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References
- Photo Credit business woman image by Vasiliy Koval from Fotolia.com
