Appropriate Looks for Women
Casual work attire for women should not be flashy or showcase the latest trends. Choose classic cuts that fit the body well. The fit of any clothing should not be too large (which can look sloppy and unkempt) or too tight (anything tight or suggestive is never appropriate for the workplace).
Key work wardrobe items that are appropriate for a relaxed environment for women include:
- Tailored shirts or blouses
- Tailored sweaters or sweater sets
- Knee length or just above the knee length skirts
- Dress pants or slacks
- Coordinated business separates
- Two piece dresses (dresses with coordinated jackets)
- Ladies' dress suits
Clothing Colors and Fabrics
In general, clothing colors should be kept on the conservative side. Solid neutral colors are appropriate for most items: grey, black, navy, and tan. If you love color and are looking for a way to liven up your look, colored or print blouses or shells can be worn under solid color jackets or cardigans.
Good fabric choices for women's business wear include:
- Silk and silk blends
- Cotton and cotton blends
- Wool
- Linen
- Gabardine
- Linen-blends
Twill, corduroy, and khaki can be part of a woman's casual work wardrobe as well.
Grey Areas
There are some items that fall into grey areas in terms of dressing down for work. These items may be considered appropriate but are dependent upon the specific environment, industry and woman's career position.
- Long shorts or city shorts may be acceptable in some business environments.
- Although three-quarter length or long sleeves are usually recommended, short sleeves and cap sleeves may be acceptable in many workplaces.
- While t-shirts are usually a big 'no-no' for men, tailored knits on women are acceptable in many workplaces because they have a dressier feel than the casual t-shirt.
- Jeans and denim skirts are usually considered 'relaxed casual' rather than business casual. If denim is acceptable in your workplace, opt for darker washes which seem less informal.
What to Avoid
Although there are certainly some undefined areas in the world of casual business clothing for women, there are some definite aspects to avoid. Tight-fitting, sheer or suggestive clothing, cleavage, and sleeveless clothing are typically inappropriate for business. Wild colors and patterns, sequins, glittery clothing, and non-standard fabric choices like leather pants are also out of place in most business casual environments. Other clothing choices to avoid:
- Tank or strappy tops
- Spaghetti strap or strapless dresses
- Plunging or deep v-neck shirts or blouses
- Mini skirts or micro minis
- Clothing with excessive frills or ruffles
- Clothing with raw edges
- Short shorts
- Casual t-shirts
- Casual jeans
- Flip flops
- Athletic shoes
- Most open toed shoes
Keep in mind the details of the clothing as well. A small center slit in the back of a skirt is appropriate; long side slits that expose the thighs are not. Even if you never err on the side of the too-short skirt, stick with a knee length and avoid long, billowy skirts that can make give off a sloppy appearance rather than one of a competent executive.
You also want to avoid any items that are stained, faded, or in need of repair.
Personalize Your Outfits with Accessories
One of the easiest ways is add a little extra style punch to your business wear is with appropriate accessories. Unique necklaces and earrings can add great visual appeal as can scarves, shoes, andhandbags. Many styles of chunky jewelry are fine, as long as they are not dramatically oversized or distracting (very long chandelier earrings, for example, are better reserved for social occasions).
Similarly, make sure your handbag is business appropriate. Avoid large floral or beachy styles and look for bags in leather, microfibers or other business-suitable materials that are in designs that appeal to you but that also exude a professional feel and a polished look.
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