| Business casual attire |
| On this page: |
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When to
dress "business casual" |
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Guidelines
for men & women |
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Specifics
for men |
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Specifics
for women |
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Grooming
tips for men and women |
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| When to dress business casual |
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Some career fairs and job fairs — attire
should be specified in the promotional materials for each fair.
Note that some fairs suggest or require interview
attire. Do your research in advance. |
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Most employer
information sessions. These are typically evening sessions
held the day prior to an employer's first interview day on campus.
Information sessions held in a classroom on campus or conducted
as a presentation to a large group don't require you to be quite
as strict in your attire as a reception-type event. Some employer
information sessions are conducted as receptions on or off campus,
perhaps in a hotel facility. In some cases interview attire,
or business attire which is more formal than business casual may
be called for. This can depend on the industry and the type of employer
hosting the event. If you are in doubt, ask the employer before
attending. |
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The invitation, flyer or notice says
to. A no-brainer! |
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When in doubt, ask the host / sponsor
about attire for a function you will be attending. It is never
wrong to politely inquire about appropriate attire. |
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| Business casual guidelines
for men and women |
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Business casual is crisp, neat, and
should look appropriate even for a chance meeting with a CEO. It
should not look like cocktail or party or picnic attire. Avoid tight
or baggy clothing; business casual is classic rather than trendy. |
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Basics:
Khaki pants, neatly pressed, and a pressed long-sleeved, buttoned
solid shirt are safe for both men and women. Polo/golf shirts,
unwrinkled, are an appropriate choice if you know the environment
will be quite casual, outdoors or in a very hot location. This
may not seem like terribly exciting attire, but you are not trying
to stand out for your cutting edge look, but for your good judgment
in a business environment. |
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Shoes / belt:
Wear a leather belt and leather shoes. Athletic shoes are inappropriate. |
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Cost / quality:
You are not expected to be able to afford the same clothing as a
corporate CEO. However, do invest in quality that will look
appropriate during your first two or three years on the job for
a business casual environment or occasions. |
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Details:
Everything should be clean, well pressed, and not show wear.
Even the nicest khakis after 100 washings may not be your best choice
for a reception. Carefully inspect new clothes for tags, and all
clothes for dangling threads, etc. (as with interview attire). |
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Use common sense.
If there are six inches of snow on the ground and/or you are rushing
to get to an information session between classes and you left home
12 hours earlier, no one will expect you to show up looking ready
for a photo shoot — they'll just be happy you made it.
Just avoid wearing your worst gym clothes and jeans. If you
show up at an event and realize you're not as well dressed as you
should be, make a quick, pleasant apology and make a good impression
with your interpersonal skills and intelligent questions. |
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| Specifics for men's
business casual |
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Ties:
Ties are generally not necessary for business casual, but if you
are in doubt, you can wear a tie. It never hurts to slightly
overdress; by dressing nicely, you pay a compliment to your host. You
can always wear the tie and discreetly walk by the room where the
function is held; if no one else is wearing a tie, you can discreetly
remove yours. |
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Shirts:
Long-sleeved shirts are considered dressier than short-sleeved and
are appropriate even in summer. Choosing white or light blue
solid, or conservative stripes is your safest bet. Polo shirts
(tucked in, of course) are acceptable in more casual situations. |
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Socks:
Wear dark socks, mid-calf length so no skin is visible when you
sit down. |
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Shoes:
Leather shoes should be worn. No sandals, athletic shoes or
hiking boots. |
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Facial hair:
Just as with interviews: Facial hair, if worn, should be well-groomed. Know
your industry and how conservative it is; observe men in your industry
if you are unsure what's appropriate or are considering changing
your look. |
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Jewelry:
Wear a conservative watch. If you choose to wear other jewelry,
be conservative. Removing earrings is safest. For conservative
industries, don't wear earrings. Observe other men in your
industry to see what is acceptable. |
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| Specifics
for women's business casual |
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Don't confuse club attire with business attire. If
you would wear it to a club, you probably shouldn't wear it in a business
environment. Also, most attire worn on televison is not appropriate
for business environments. Don't be deluded. |
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Pants / skirts:
Women can wear casual pants or skirts. Neither should be tight. Fabrics
should be crisp; colors should generally be solid; navy, black,
gray, brown and khaki are always safe bets. For the most business-like
appearance, pants should be creased and tailored; neither extreme
of tight or flowing. If you are pursuing a conservative industry
and are in doubt, observe well-dressed women in your industry on
the job, at career fairs, at information sessions, etc. |
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Skirt length and slits:
Your skirt should come at least to your knees while you are standing.
While you are seated, your thighs should be covered. If your skirt
comes to just below the knee, a slit to just above the knee might
be acceptable. A very long skirt should not be slit to above the
knee. Generally slits in the center back of a skirt — to facilitate
walking a stair climbing — are acceptable. Slits to facilitate
a view of your legs are not appropriate for business purposes. Slips
should not be visible. |
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Shirt / sweaters:
In addition to tailored shirts or blouses, tailored knit sweaters
and sweater sets are appropriate business casual choices for women.
Cotton, silk, and blends are appropriate. Velvets and shimmery fabrics
suitable for parties are not appropriate. Fit should not be tight.
Cleavage is not appropriate to business and job search occasions. |
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Jewelry / accessories:
Wear a conservative watch. Jewelry and scarf styles come and
go. Keep your choices simple and leaning toward conservative. Avoid
extremes of style and color. If your industry is creative, you may
have more flexibility than someone pursuing a conservative industry. |
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Cosmetics:
Keep makeup conservative and natural looking. A little is usually
better than none for a polished look. Nails should be clean
and well groomed. Avoid extremes of nail length and polish
color, especially in conservative industries. |
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Shoes:
Should be leather or fabric / microfiber. Appropriate colors are black,
navy and brown (to coordinate with your other attire and accessories);
white and pastels are not appropriate. For the most conservative look,
toes should be covered. Sandals which are neither extremely dressy
or extremely casual might be appropriate. Thin straps and high heels
are not appropriate. Chunky heels and platforms are not apropriate.
Make certain you can walk comfortably in your shoes; hobbling
around a job fair in shoes that are pinching your feet does not convey
a professional image. |
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Hose:
Not essential for business casual, but are recommended if
your skirt is knee length (rather than calf length) and in more
formal environments such as hotels. |
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Purse / bag:
If you carry a purse, keep it small and simple, or carry a small briefcase
or business-like tote bag in place of a purse. A structured bag tends
to look more professional that something soft or floppy. Purse/bag
color should coordinate with your shoes. A briefcase is certainly
not necessary for most business casual events. Leather, microfiber
and fine wovens are appropriate. Canvas and straw are not appropriate. |
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| Grooming
tips for men and women |
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Hair:
Should be clean and neat. |
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Shoes:
Should be in polished condition. Make sure heels are not worn. |
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Details:
No missing buttons, no lint; and don’t forget to remove external
tags and tacking stitches from new clothes. |
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Hands:
Clean fingernails. |
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Fit:
Clothes should be clean, neatly pressed, and fit properly, neither
tight nor baggy. |
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Smell:
Perfume or cologne should be used sparingly or not at all.
No odors on clothes.
Don't smell like smoke. |
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Padfolios:
Preferred over a bulky briefcase. A small briefcase is also appropriate,
but if you have no reason to carry a briefcase, don't; you risk
looking silly. |
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Bookbags:
Appropriate to carry to an information session held on campus (after
all, you are a student). For career fairs and job fairs, bookbags
are generally checked at the door, and you should carry a padfolio
only.
Don't carry a bookbag to an event held at a hotel. |
