How to Dress Business Casual - Women
Companies across the country have started loosening their ties and embracing a business-casual office environment. And while leaving stiff power suits in the back of the closet sounds appealing, business-casual style is a nebulous territory. Navigating the gray area -- from figuring out how much skin is appropriate to deciding whether T-shirts look too casual or jeans look too sloppy -- can cause premature gray hairs.
The plus side is that once you determine the proper boundaries, the daily grind becomes new ground for sartorial creativity. And although the office shouldn’t be a runway show, business-casual wear is an outlet for self-expression, which can often give you an edge.
“Have confidence," said Lubov Azria, chief creative officer at global fashion company BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP. "The first impression should be you.”
Overview
The concept of business casual clothing can often be vague and subjective. Fortunately, there are a few key pieces this season that will not only keep you looking stylish, but help you maintain a professional, polished appearance. The trick to pulling off contemporary, stylish and casual pieces is to balance your look with traditional attire. Once you find that perfect silhouette, you can experiment with bold colors, bright prints and statement accessories that give you a little extra edge when you're on the clock.
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Tailored Blazer
Having that perfectly fitted blazer is probably the quintessential piece for a business casual wardrobe. Throw it over a T-shirt and jeans and you can instantly look polished. For the more fashion-forward type, do as Kirsten Dunst did at the 2012 Independent Spirit Awards and grab a blazer in a bright color, like white, canary or sapphire blue.
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Dark Jeans
A deeply saturated, dark pair of jeans are not only appropriate in most work environments, but the right pair can look utterly chic. But be sure to keep those distressed, faded or tattered jeans in your closet. A trouser jean can look fantastic on most any body type -- but if you can rock skinny jeans like Zoe Saldana wore at the Hammerstein Ballroom recently, pair them with a loose, blousy top so you're not skin-tight head-to-toe.
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Equipment Blouses
You'll find silk equipment blouses on most every rack this season -- and that's good news for your biz casz wardrobe! The flattering, flirty blouses are perfect with a high-waisted pant, like Lauren Conrad wore to the 8th Annual Teen Vogue Young Hollywood Party. But for the office, it's probably wise to steer clear of shorts and instead opt for a high-waisted pant or skirt.
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Statement Shoes
While you sometimes have to be tame with your tops and skirts, shoes are an excellent place to throw in some added flair. And this season, animal-print, floral-print and boldly colored boots and pumps are everywhere -- like the ones pictured that Lily Collins wore to the Max Azria Fall 2011 fashion show. Just be sure to break them in before breaking them out at work. Work blisters are certainly a faux pas.
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Quirky Jewelry
Boring office outfit? Just throw on a long necklace, a stack of bangles or chunky earrings to add some personality to the look. Mena Suvari added a long, dangling necklace to her conservative top and it added the touch of flair it needed. When adding jewelry, it's best to stick with one statement piece, while keeping the rest simple.
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Bold Colors
While you may want to keep your silhouette professional, you can still make the outfit fun by experimenting with bright colors. Try to color block an outfit by combining two unexpected hues. Ali Landry stopped traffic -- while still dressing rather conservatively -- in a hot pink blouse and red pants.
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Leather Pencil Skirt
A twist on a classic -- the leather pencil skirt has been replacing its wool cousin on many runways this year. This contemporary piece pairs perfectly with a traditional silk blouse, as seen on a model during Yves Saint-Laurent's Fall/Winter 2012 show at Paris Fashion week. For a more casual look, try a simple white or black tee with the skirt.
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Classic Cardigan
A thin, fitted cardigan should be in every working woman's closet. Margherita Missoni shows how lovely it can look buttoned up to the top -- but it's also the perfect companion to a sleeveless dress or tank to cover up during meetings (or when the AC is blasting).
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Patterned Dresses
Neutral-hued sheath dresses, while work-appropriate, can be utterly boring and too buttoned-up for a business casual environment. Enter the patterned dress. While you can still opt for one that's relatively conservative in cut and style, the pattern makes it more feminine and playful than the average dress. And throw on a complementary blazer like Judy Greer and boom: you're a stylish workplace pro.
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Perfect Tee
A classic cotton T-shirt may not be the first thing you think of when dressing for business casual, but it's certainly an essential. They can be worn under blazers or cardigans, paired with high-waisted skirts or tucked into pants with belts. It's the ideal counterpoint to some of the more formal garments. And if you opt for nicer brands, not only will the cut be more tailored, but the fabric will be so soft that you probably won't want to change out of it on the weekend.
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Know Your Environment
So how exactly do you keep within the boundaries of the rather subjective notion of business casual?
“A standard method to measure it is: What is your female boss wearing?” said Lisa Johnson Mandell, author of the best-selling book “Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want.” “Look at your female superior for your lead. Never overdress beyond her, but don’t dramatically underdress either.”
"Take classic elements and pair them with something fresh and modern." Lubov Azria, Chief Creative Officer of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP
And if you’re starting out in a new workplace or field, it’s especially important to take cues from the women around you.
“Go in there looking sharp, polished and conservative, and fly under the radar for a while," said Ruth Sonnenshein, a Los Angeles-based stylist and co-founder of the styling company A Clothes Call. "Once you get a better sense from your colleagues, you can then take more risks.”
Balance Classic with Contemporary
Business-formal styles are nothing if not timeless. Pencil skirts, tailored blazers, kitten heels and oxford button-downs can all look quite sophisticated, but they can also look terribly dull if put together all at once. This is where business casual comes in.
“Take classic elements and pair them with something fresh and modern,” Azria said.
Spring/summer 2012 brings many trends that are both fun and appropriate for the workplace.
One look Azria says she loves this season is a leather skirt, which you can pair with a classic button-down blouse. Los Angeles-based stylist Heather Snow also recommends wearing a nice cotton T-shirt with a fitted blazer. “Just because it's a T-shirt doesn't mean it has to be sloppy. [Paired with a blazer], it looks sleek and put-together.”
Snow says she is also a fan of the floral prints on blazers and slacks that she’s seen this season. The fun print on a tailored silhouette adds a touch of playfulness to an otherwise professional piece.
Snow and Sonnenshein both recommend Equipment-style blouses -- the silky, feminine versions of the traditional men's cotton button-down -- which are popular this spring. While trendy, they’re completely appropriate for the office, and they are a refreshing replacement for a starchy-collared, cotton button-down. You can tuck one into a pair of high-waisted pants or a pencil skirt, exuding a contemporary yet timeless look.
Denim Do’s And Don’ts
For the most part, jeans are acceptable in a business-casual environment and an easy way to feel more comfortable and stylish at work. But certain types of jeans raise eyebrows.
“Keep your jeans dark and free of holes. Distressed jeans, jeans with holes and boyfriend jeans should probably be saved for the weekend,” Sonnenshein said.
Instead, go for a pair of jeans in a dark-ink color. Snow recommends a higher-waisted skinny or trouser jean, depending on your style. This way you can tuck in a blouse for a polished look. Alternatively, tuck in a tee and pull on an oversized cardigan or blazer over it.
Your office jeans shouldn't be faded or tattered in a way that would look unprofessional. And while some snug pants can be fine, jeggings should be left at home. Avoid wearing pants that show every pore in your lower half.
If you want to wear jeans that hug your figure, Snow suggests offsetting a tight, skinny pant with a longer blazer or cardigan.
