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Original poster

WTF is “business casual”?

35 replies

OublietteBravo · 12/05/2019 17:04

The dress code for my course this week is “business casual.” What does that even mean?

I don’t normally have to wear anything particularly smart for work (non-scruffy jeans and trainers is totally normal attire in my workplace). I do have some quite formal business clothes (the sort of thing you’d wear in court), but nothing much in between.

Getting to/from the course is going to involve a lot of walking (probably 4 miles in total), so I’d like to avoid wearing heels if at all possible (is this possible?)

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 12/05/2019 17:06

It means not jeans, but not suits.

I imagine that dark, flat coloured jeans with self-coloured stitching would be ok though.

Original poster
OublietteBravo · 12/05/2019 17:14

Hmmm. Would I look really out of place in a dress then?

DH suggests chinos and a shirt, but (a) I suspect that only works for men; and (b) I don’t actually have any chinos.

OP posts:
Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 12/05/2019 17:14

This is my office dress code. For us it mostly means trousers (ankle grazer / wide leg for me) and tucked in top / blouse with cardigan or jumper. Shoes wise it's usually loafers or brogues. Definitely don't need heels.

I wouldn't wear blue jeans (even dark blue), but frequently wear black skinnies. However when I am, I make sure my top half is a bit more crisp to compensate. Eg, with my wide leg trousers I'll just tuck in a scoop neck t-shirt, but with the skinnies, I'll wear a blouse

Nacreous · 12/05/2019 17:16

I used to wear stretchy Jersey dresses for business casual but I was an accountant in a big firm so it was a fairly formal business casual set up...

Gentlemanwiththistledownhair · 12/05/2019 17:16

Nope, I would think a dress would be fine. A tailored dress with suit jacket is too much, but I have a couple of wrap dresses I frequently wear with my loafers / brogues

Thinkle · 12/05/2019 17:16

Agree, it means chinos, shirt, no tie for men. But harder to define for women. Assume your formal business includes a jacket or blazer. Can you pair this with smart jeans? Crisp white T or shirt underneath.

ChippyMinton · 12/05/2019 17:16

Wear trainers and change when you get there.

SaltSpoon · 12/05/2019 17:17

I'm a woman, and I would wear slacks/chinos and a well-fitting top/blouse for business-casual

olderthanyouthink · 12/05/2019 17:17

I think I'd wear my dark wrap dress and brogues... not sure if that's right but I can go to work in trashed converse and ripped jeans (not completely shabby looking though)

managedmis · 12/05/2019 17:17

This is how I dress.

I wear: black skinnes, shirts, blazer, heels.
Skirts and tops.
Dresses.

On Fridays we are allowed Shock to wear jeans, which I wear with shirts, and a 'nice' top, with boots or heels.

Rainbowshine · 12/05/2019 17:18

I interpret it as black navy or grey trousers and a top. I usually wear flats with this and it’s done me fine in a number of different organisations from larger companies through to tiny start ups.

Thinkle · 12/05/2019 17:19

How many people on the course? More than 20 and you don’t need to worry, there will be such a range of interpretations.

Notageek · 12/05/2019 17:19

Ladies Smart casual is a nightmare , black or dark ‘smart’ jeans and shirt / blouse or smart tshirt and cardigan or thin jumper with a nice necklace .. Shoes rather than trainers (take them in a bag and change?) . Dress would be ok if you think gastro pub type wear . I was chatting to someone at work and she swore anything could be smart casual with heels.

PCohle · 12/05/2019 17:20

I agree that chinos and a shirt is bang on business casual for men.

I think for women a dress would be fine. Not a suiting dress with a matching blazer, but a dark jersey dress or similar.

If you want to wear jeans I would pair them with a a blouse, blazer and heels to make them more polished.

BlackCatSleeping · 12/05/2019 17:21

DH suggests chinos and a shirt

Oh, my goodness! That's such a man thing to suggest.

I just wear black trousers and a blouse.

BlackCatSleeping · 12/05/2019 17:22

I don't think jeans are appropriate for business casual, even smart ones.

Original poster
OublietteBravo · 12/05/2019 17:23

OK. I’ve definitely got a pair of brogues. So that’s a start!

I might have a pair of black skinny jeans somewhere. Unfortunately the only wide-leg trousers I possess are too long to be worn without heels, so aren’t really feasible.

OP posts:
Original poster
OublietteBravo · 12/05/2019 17:27

I’ve got a navy jersey dress - this one - would that be OK?

OP posts:
BlackCatSleeping · 12/05/2019 17:29

What's your businesswear like?

I think a skirt and blouse or a dress would be ok too.

I'd probably err on the side of too smart rather than too casual.

SaltSpoon · 12/05/2019 17:29

That dress is amazing.

Original poster
OublietteBravo · 12/05/2019 17:30

Probably 15-20 people on the course. No doubt at least 80% men.

OP posts:
BlackCatSleeping · 12/05/2019 17:30

Wow! Beautiful dress!

Do you have a cardi you could wear with it?

Dafspunk · 12/05/2019 17:32

Just wear what you’d normally wear to work. It’s a course that presumably you or your company are paying for - they’re not going to kick you off for wearing jeans and trainers.

TabbyStar · 12/05/2019 17:33

If the course is not at your workplace does it matter that much if you're wearing the wrong thing? IME people turn up to courses very casual, I've never seen business casual specified, but then I guess different businesses have different norms, it just seems strange to have to dress smarter for a course than normal work!

notatwork · 12/05/2019 17:40

Business smart is a suit or dress and jacket and heels.
So business casual is a dress without jacket or trousers/skirt and top.
Not jeans.
Basically office wear but not banking wear Smile. It's what most office workers wear every day.