Dr. Dana Loewy

 Casual

 Business

casual
 Business formal

?!?
a.k.a.

 Professional

 Unprofessional

And what is “casual Friday” exactly?

…a recent article made these main points:
 If you are confused about
“business casual,” you are not alone.
 Play it safe and embrace
“business formal.”
 If you want to get to the
C-suite, dress formally.

 Definitions:

• Casual
• Business casual
• Business formal
 Accessories
 Grooming
 Images

to test your knowledge

 His

no-nos:

• Casual shirt/short sleeves
• Rolled-up cargo pants
• Sandals
 Her

no-nos:

• Capri pants
• Open toed beach shoes of

a rather striking color
• Unbuttoned and untucked shirt  Her

blunders:

• Revealing sun dress
• Too much skin
• Flip-flops
 His

blunders:

• Jeans
• Biker key chain: Is that

safe??
• The tie doesn’t help.

Are these office workers wearing interview attire?
 No. Only suits are interview attire.
Period.
 Nice examples of business casual, though. Business casual here?
--Not quite.
 SHE: Bare skin, no jacket, skin-tight top
Good: nice slacks and shoes  HE: Fine if he wore a sport coat, not a leather jacket  Good: dress slacks

 Ties

not expected
 Business or sport coat appropriate  Stylish, solid colored dress pants (no khakis or jeans)
 Long-sleeved solid or striped dark shirt
 Dark socks
 Matching belt and dress shoes (no sneakers)

 Business

skirt or pants
 Conservative blouse or sweater  Blazer or vest is appropriate  Flat or low heels
 Neutral hosiery
 Understated belt, scarf, and accessories

Spot the casual wear!

Spot the casual wear!

Suits for men and women
 “Power colors”:
Charcoal, gray, dark blue  Subtle “classic” patterns, such as pinstripes, glencheck, and herringbone
 High-quality fabrics
 Well-tailored and fitting
 Tasteful blouses/dress shirts with suit

WOMEN
 Skirt or pant suits
Note: In conservative firms, only skirt suits are allowed.
 Appropriate skirt length: at knee or below
 No slits in skirt!
 No clingy, tight, or seethrough clothing
 Collar says power (blouse)

WOMEN
(AND MEN)

Glencheck

Herringbone
Pinstripes

SUITS FOR MEN
AND WOMEN

MEN

QUALITY SHOES

LOOKING
SHARP,
BUT…

…BUTTON
YOUR COAT

…REMEMBER
TO WEAR
YOUR
JACKET!

 Starch

and press your shirts or blouses.
 Keep your suits crisp: watch for wrinkled, rumpled clothes.  If you sweat a lot, bring spare shirt/blouse.  Wear shirt/blouse only once; then launder it.
 Watch for dirty or frayed collars and cuffs.
 Guard against odors (moth balls, smoke, sweat, etc.!)

 Watch

for stains, fuzz, hair, and other debris.
 Remove loose threads and labels.  Keep the color of your dress shirts conservative, i.e. white.
 Pick conservative ties, something a bank VP might wear.  Choose quality: a cheap suit and shoes will cost you!

YES!
NO…

YES
NO

NO!

Women:
 Wear black or brown leather shoes, belt to match.
 Keep shoes polished, clean, and scuff-free.
 Stay away from fads, unusual colors or shapes.
 Avoid open-toe or open-heel shoes.
 Wear quality conservative shoes, sensible heels.
 Many professionals will judge you by your shoes.

NO…
YES

NO

NO!

Men:
 Wear black lace-up leather shoes, belt to match.
 Keep shoes polished, clean, and scuff-free.
 Stay away from fads, unusual colors or shapes.
 Avoid open-toe or open-heel shoes.
 No cowboy boots, unless you are from Texas, working in Texas.

Tasteful accessories (nothing extreme)
 No phony Rolexes or fake diamonds (zirconias)
 Professional-looking briefcase or file folder; no cheap plastic
 Women’s handbag that signals quality; color should match shoes exactly.
 Small earrings for women (one pair); none for men
 No visible tattoos and body piercings


 Shower

and use deodorant.
 Go easy on after-shave, cologne, or perfume.
Rule: Your scent should not be overpowering in a closed elevator.
 Stay

away from cheap, “stink pretty” scents.
 Men: Get a fresh hair cut, a close shave; trim mustache or beard neatly.
 Women: Remove facial hair; shave legs if wearing skirt; groom hair neatly (no “big hair” or hair hiding the eyes or the face); use cosmetics and makeup sparingly!

And…
 Keep those nails neat and clean.
 Women: Don’t overdo the nail “art.”
SP error not mine!

…have we forgotten anything?

Employers in the U.S. have a legal right to ask employees to adhere to dress codes:
 "A

person can be fired because the company doesn’t like your shoes” [. . . ]
 “People say ‘This is America. We should be able to do what we want.’ But I tell them that once you walk into a private employers workplace, your rights are limited.”
--Robert D. Lipman, Manager,
New York employment firm Lipman & Plesur, LLP
Source: http://www.dba-oracle.com/dress_code.htm

It's not sexual discrimination to require separate grooming standards and dress codes for men and women:
 "In

1998, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in
Harper v. Blockbuster Entertainment upheld
Blockbuster’s dress code that mandated male employees to cut their long hair, but not female employees." --Robert D. Lipman, Manager,
New York employment firm Lipman & Plesur, LLP
Source: http://www.dba-oracle.com/dress_code.htm