Part 3: Business Casual with the Emphasis on Business

There are numerous great books and DVDs on this subject. At Office Dynamics we sell one book that I believe to be one of the best. It's called Casual Power by Sherry Maysonave.

Here is some information to get you started that I use in my workshop on this subject.

General Guidelines:

1. Dress appropriately for your line of work, career goals, geographic location and body type. Know your industry. Someone in a creative field like advertising or the media has more room for experimentation than someone in a traditionally conservative field like banking or insurance.
2. Understand that neatness is extra important on casual days.
3. Use colors that enhance your natural hair, skin, and eye coloring.
4. Dress with intent!
5. You don’t have to spend a lot of money. It’s a matter of pulling your look together and wearing clothing that works well with your body frame/shape.
6. Stay clear of trendy clothes for work.
7. Perfume is acceptable. Just don’t overdose!
8. Women need to consider length and body coverage of their clothing.
9. Accessories should enhance your appearance, not be a distraction to your appearance.
10. Learn to control your emotional state when getting dressed.
11. Play up your positive physical attributes.
12. A sport coat or jacket can add just enough polish to keep an outfit from looking unprofessional.
13. Take a critical look in the mirror before walking out the door. If the clothing seems more appropriate for a sporting activity, cleaning the garage, or going out to dinner on the weekend with friends, it’s too casual.

Casual Casualties! (According to several Image Consultants)

• Too Anything! (Too much make up, too much body piercing, too many tattoos, too much jewelry, too tight, too short, too skimpy, too low, too many patterns, too frilly, too colorful)
• Shirttail out
• Wrinkled clothes
• Unkempt hair
• Scuffed shoes
• Political or cause-related T-shirts; humorous attire or accessories
• “Underwear is not Outerwear”
• Shorts
• Tank tops or sleeveless shirts; halter tops
• Flip-flops, sandals, dirty sneakers
• Jogging suits, warm-ups, wind suits
• Poorly coordinated outfits

"Key players in the corporate arena are masters of communication and corporate vision. 
The truly successful are aware that everything about their personal presentation and their 
corporate trappings must be coordinated and polished to project a message of congruency.”
                                                                                                                -- Gloria Starr, Image Consultant