{"id":2127,"date":"2022-12-23T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/?p=2127"},"modified":"2024-07-25T16:15:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T20:15:46","slug":"business-attire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theforage.wpengine.com\/basics\/business-attire","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner’s Guide to Business Attire"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It’s your first day of work and you have zero idea of what to wear. Or, maybe you’re doing an in-person interview and can’t remember what you should wear on the bottom (too many Zoom interviews<\/a> to count)! What’s the best way to figure out the right business attire \u2014 aka, what to wear to work? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s your go-to guide for what different types of business attire actually mean, how to know which one to wear, and top tips for dressing for success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is Business Attire?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Business attire is what you wear to work \u2014 whether that\u2019s on a work Zoom call, in an interview<\/a>, or for an in-office meeting. This attire will vary depending on where and for whom you work. For example, you might wear more formal clothes if you\u2019re a lawyer meeting with clients at a law firm<\/a>. On the other hand, if you\u2019re working for a laid-back social media company, the dress code might be more casual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Building Your Personal Brand<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Preparing to enter the workforce? Learn how to build an online presence that stands out to employers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Types of Business Attire<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are five main types of business attire, ranging from casual to business formal. Some of these styles might blur or be similar between different companies. For example, a conservative law firm’s smart casual business dress code might be more like business casual when compared to a relaxed start-up’s smart casual (which might be more like casual). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While business dress code lines can be blurred (more on how to distinguish them later), these distinct types can help you differentiate between the ends of the business attire spectrum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Casual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Casual business attire is clothing you might wear in your everyday life, yet it\u2019s important to be conscious that what you\u2019re wearing is still okay for the workplace (i.e., no profane graphics, ripped jeans, or athleisure). This dress code may include t-shirts, jeans, sneakers, and casual dresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to wear casual business attire: <\/strong>at relaxed, flexible companies; for casual networking coffee chats; working from home; team outings to casual spaces (e.g., picnic lunch or volunteer event)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smart Casual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Smart casual is a dress code that \u201cdresses up\u201d your everyday wardrobe. For example, you may add a blazer to a t-shirt and jeans or wear a more refined sweater and some nicer accessories. Smart casual isn\u2019t about swapping out your casual clothes for more professional ones but rather elevating them to make you look slightly more formal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to wear smart casual business attire: <\/strong>regular office days at more relaxed companies; internal meetings; offices in creative fields<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Business Casual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If smart casual is dressing up a casual dress code, business casual<\/a> attire is dressing down a formal one. While jeans aren\u2019t typical in this dress code, neither are suits, unless the former is dressed up and the latter is dressed down. Blouses, dress shirts, slacks, dress pants, and blazers are all staples in this dress code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to wear business casual attire: <\/strong>networking events; internal work presentations; more relaxed client meetings<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Business Professional<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If all work dress codes are supposed to be professional, it\u2019s logical to wonder \u2014 what is business professional attire? Business professional attire is the midway point between business casual and formal. It\u2019s traditional, like business formal, but allows for more flexibility with how you show off your style (like with statement accessories or patterned clothing).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to wear business professional attire: <\/strong>client interactions; formal presentations; business travel; more traditional work environments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Business Formal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Suits, pantsuits, and formal dresses make up this dress code, one that\u2019s common in traditional, conservative working environments. Business formal means business, and items that show personality and vibrancy are far less common with this attire. Think of what characters wear in TV shows and movies like \u201cSuccession,\u201d \u201cIndustry,\u201d \u201cBillions,\u201d or \u201cThe Wolf of Wall Street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When to wear business professional attire: <\/strong>high-level meetings with executives; board meetings; formal industry events; international business; conservative work environments<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Determining the Dress Code<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With so many types of business attire, how do you know what to wear to an interview<\/a> or for your first day? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery company\u2019s description of what is acceptable for the office is different,\u201d Angela Denae Lynch, personal stylist at Angela Denae Style Studio, says. \u201cThe first step is to ask the hiring manager if there is a dress code or to explain what people on the team usually wear to work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>>MORE: <\/strong>What Is a Hiring Manager (and How to Talk to One)?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There’s no harm in asking \u2014 even if it may feel awkward, it shows that you want to respect the company culture<\/a>. Before one of my first summer internships, I almost let the hiring manager hang up the phone before I asked about dress code because I was embarrassed to ask. But it was worth it! She gave me a run down of not only what type of business dress code she expected (smart casual), but what that meant to her (“no jeans, but comfortable and personal”). I quickly put away the pencil skirt I was originally planning to wear and opted for linen pants and a more comfortable shirt instead \u2014 and instantly felt like I fit in when I arrived at the office the next week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also take hints from the company\u2019s website or LinkedIn<\/a> to see what employees wear in company photos. Or, if you have contacts at the company, reach out to current employees for insights on the dress code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amanda Wood, CEO and founder of The Haute Edit, a styling services company, recommends looking for norms in the industry, too. For example, finance<\/a> is typically a more formal industry than marketing<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Expert Tip<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pay attention to the fit of your clothing. Regardless of the dress code, properly fitted attire can greatly enhance your professional appearance. Clothes that don’t fit well can make you appear sloppy or unprofessional, while well-fitted garments convey confidence and attention to detail.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

How Has Business Attire Changed Since Remote Work Became Popular?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since the pandemic, 12.7% of employees work from home full-time, and 28.2% work a hybrid model, according to Forbes<\/a>. This means that more than a third of people have some sort of remote flexibility at work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does this have to do with business attire? If you’re like me, you’ve probably worn sweatpants or even pajamas for at least some hours while working from home. As more people adjust to hybrid or in-person schedules, business attire still follows the same general categories, but what\u2019s popular in each dress code \u2014 and what dress codes most companies follow \u2014 has become more casual and focused on personal style in many industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA new dress code has emerged of basically, \u2018please look professional, you\u2019re representing the company, but you can dress more casually,’\u201d Wood says. \u201cSmart casual has become the norm: not as many suits, (but if wearing a suit, sneakers are fine), jogger style office pants, and nice jeans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lynch says, \u201ccomfort has definitely become the priority since the pandemic,\u201d and her clients are trying to level up their comfortable outfits with a touch of style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re looking to elevate their Zoom outfits, create a hybrid work capsule wardrobe, or just wear pieces that don\u2019t make them feel like they rolled out of bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t

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Career Readiness<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Learn how to land your dream job, from how to leverage your story and career mapping to networking and resume advice.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSkills you’ll build:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWriting, speaking, pitching, resume writing, interviewing\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Dressing for Work: Dos and Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You know the dress code, but do you feel confident in your work wardrobe? Here are a few more tips from our style experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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