Advice for... business casual

M asks:

I'm starting a new job in two weeks. The office that I'll be working in classifies their dress code as Business Casual. I did ask if jeans were appropriate (since I saw people wearing them during my interviews there). "Jeans are okay, but we dress Business Casual..." was the reply? I've been unemployed for two years so my casual wardrobe is pretty much non-existent. I'm not sure where to start to rebuild my work wardrobe. What key pieces should I start with so that I'm not repeating outfits on my 2nd week of work? I'm a 24P and lately I feel like the shirts I see in Lane Bryant or Avenue are just getting tacky! I'd like to stick to classic pieces...

Ah, business casual. Here's the thing - I work from home and I have never worked in an actual office. I know, go ahead and hate me. But lack of experience won't keep me from having an opinion (never has!)

Here's a good rule: look at what your boss or direct superior is wearing and model your work wardrobe after that. People in management have likely been with the company for a while and are more inclined to adhere to the company standards in terms of dress code and office culture. And there's the old saying - dress for the job you want. Chances are, you want to move up so you might as well dress the part.

If jeans are OK then please, for the love of all that is good and right, don't wear casual jeans. Shop for jeans that look like trousers. So that means simple, dark denim with no trendy details like sequins, special fading, embroidery, etc. If a person standing 15 feet away from you would think that your jeans are regular dress pants, you're on the right track.

The good news is that wide leg, trouser jeans are in style right now and those are totally business casual appropriate if you pair them with a nice knit or button up top. Here's an ultra simple, versatile outfit I'd wear if I actually wore anything besides PJs for work.

The red jacket from Avenue pops without being too trendy or too stuffy. It's kind of a retro classic look. I'd layer it over the scoopneck, tie sleeve top from Kiyonna so if you get warm with the jacket, the top underneath works on its own. The wide leg, trouser style jeans from Old Navy come in short, regular and long lengths and are definitely appropriate for a business casual office. I am obsessed with the black patent Liz Claiborne bag from QVC. It's big, so you can carry all your stuff but the size isn't overwhelming. The patent, pointed toe shoe is the ultimate in versatile and can be worn with endless outfits. If you're looking for a more casual shoe, the Sofft Pilar flat, also in black patent, isn't too casual and they're comfortable to boot. And finally, with the jacket's shorter sleeves, you definitely need bracelets. I have these bangles from Lane Bryant and they're just right for this type of look.

This outfit is super simple and can be broken up to wear with other things. The jacket could go with a pencil skirt or dress pants, the jeans can be worn casually with a tee on the weekend, the heels can go with a dress, etc. etc. Look for simple pieces that have stylish flare and quality accessories that go with everything. Easy!

I'd also look for wide leg trousers in neutral colors like black, charcoal, etc. I like the Right Fit Houston pants a lot and they come in a petite length. Later, you might invest in a pricier suit with a jacket and matching pants and skirt. Button up blouses are always an easy choice. For shirts, I'd personally go for interesting colors and subtle patterns, rather than solids in neutral colors.

I think the temptation would be to buy a bunch of shirts and pants in neutral shades and just wear a shirt/pants outfit every day. While this is an easy solution, it's not the most exciting. Don't be afraid to express your personality with interesting colors, trendy pieces in moderation, etc. I'd invest in classic pieces and then liven things up with inexpensive, trendier pieces thrown into the mix.

Good luck with the new job, M! You'll knock 'em dead.

Got a question? Need advice? Ask me here.

Comments

[Becky]

I wouldn't recommend jeans for a business casual office, except on Fridays. Business casual usually means you do have to dress up, but you don't have to go the full suit route. I second Colleen's suggestion of wide leg trousers, button up blouses, and jackets over nice tops. A nice sweater works in the winter too.

[Colleen (Pretty Pear)]

I wouldn't normally recommend jeans but M said specifically that she saw people in jeans and that she was told jeans are OK. I wouldn't wear them every day, though and definitely not if there was an important meeting or clients around, or anything like that.

[Carrie]

There's a great jacket/blazer at LB, http://tinyurl.com/2rv4aj, that would look great with the trouser style jean, or with a pair of basic trousers. It would also look great worn with a turtleneck underneath if you're in colder weather. I work in an office that is business casual, and I try to err on the side of a few basics (particularly pants), blouses (I particularly like the empire-waisted tunic style tops lately; with the variety of colors and patterns, they feel a little dressier than a traditional button-down top, although beware of patterns that are from the 80s or too bold) and then mixing & matching. I have some pants that have a fine checked pattern, some that are tweed, and some that are plain black, also helpful for mixing & matching. The most important thing, I've found, is to not dress too trendy (or you'll look too young in the office, and won't be taken seriously). Clothes do make an impression.

[tadpoledrain]

Might I suggest a few sweater sets in complementary colors? (Land's End has them in Women's sizes up to 3X, although not in petite.) They are super easy on days when you want to look professional without too much effort, but you can also mix them up to make them more interesting. And they go with practically anything you might want to wear on your bottom half. You can wear them just as a set, or you can mix the colors to get a different set, or you can wear the cardigan part with a different shirt (like a solid color or striped button-down, if you can find a button-down that doesn't give you boob gaping), or even a dress, or you can wear the shell part with a more structured jacket.

[Crystal]

I work in a business casual office and the advice to look to your manager to set the tone is very good advice.

Check out Talbot's outlet section (http://www.talbots.com) for good deals on classic clothes. Some cities have outlet stores with even better prices (Houston TX is one).

[a.]

I like an office that will let the definition of Business Casual include regular, non-trouser jeans and a sweet-ass jacket with cute flats. This is my outfit of choice and I like that it allows me to wear some really dressy jackets and jewelry without looking too fussy.

[elissa]

a., jeans, an awesome jacket, and cute flats (and a cute purse or bag too!) is my go-to look as well! Luckily, my office is pretty casual, so I end up looking polished in comparison. Where do you shop for jackets? Lately I haven't been having much luck finding anything... everything is either dowdy, tacky or like something I already own.

[emily]

I work in a business casual office and we get to wear jeans only on fridays. my staples for the rest of the week include lane bryant lafayette trousers, long sleeved tees with fitted vests, cropped fitted jackets, and cardigans. i like layering at work since the temperature depends on how many people are in the office. more people = more hot air. :) and of course a huge array of fun flats and funky jewelry can make kind of neutral clothes pop. Sometimes you can get away with wearing denim on days other than friday if it's in the form of a denim skirt with black tights and turtleneck, for example, or a cropped denim jacket over a tee and khaki pants. Good luck with the new job!

[emily]

elissa, try maurices, i just got 2 short sleeved fitted blazers on 75% off clearance for $10 each!

[a.]

I tend to find my best jackets when I least expect it, on a clearance rack or TJ Maxx when everything else there is really ugly. LB has some good jackets from time to time, then really long dry spells of crap.

I just put a little jacket retrospective up on my site after thinking about this!

[M]

Thanks Colleen! Great suggestions. I love the coat and the jeans from Old Navy. I think I need to order both. ;-)

I showed up for work today, and was WAY overdressed in black dress pants, a button down blouse and heels. Everyone with the exception of one or two people had on jeans. Even management was casual (khakis and a sweater)...so jeans it is! Wooo!

M, aka Molly - who's off to order a assortment of casual clothing online. ;-)

[M]

I forget to ask this is my above post...
Does anyone else buy two sets of jeans? One for flats and one for heels? I normally wear shoes with a heel, since Im so short, but I keep seeing sooo many flats that I love. No chance of wearing them any of my pants, unless I hem them, and then they are too short to wear with heels! :(

[lnz]

I have jeans in different lengths. I have a pair of jeans that I have to wear with tall boots, then I have a few pairs that can only be worn with flats, etc. It kind of makes planning outfits a pain because I can't just throw any jeans/shoe combo together to match a shirt, but I do like that my jeans are never too short (fashion crime #1 in my eyes) or so long that I'm tripping over them.

[joan]

Just an fyi on the wide leg trouser from Old Navy featured on this page. I ordered a pair, I would normally wear a 20 average, but they run big all over and are also a little too long, so I sent them back for an 18 short, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the new pair will work. I really liked the light weight denim/chambray fabric, it will be great for warmer weather.

[joan]

Just got the size 18 short length in the trouser today. They fit perfectly. They just hit the floor at my heel. Which is what I like. They'll be good with flats or a short heel.

[Sarah]

I do the nice pants/shirt combo just about everyday at work, and the Houston pants from Lane Bryant have been heaven sent.

I need to add more variety to my mostly dark collection of pants, so I ordered the Secret Slimmer trouser from LB in Khaki Ice (a.k.a. light gray, a shade the Houston doesn't come in). These had a flattering cut when I tried them at the store, but they only had my size in the black so we had to order them.

If anyone has any other suggestions for light colored pants (or other colors that aren't black, charcoal, dark brown or khaki!), I would welcome these.

[Marc]

While the majority of this advice tends to be geared towards women, I assume a man can make use of some of it, right? I mean looking to your boss is obviously not gender specific, but some of the other bits of advice I'm not sure about (can you tell I don't have a mind for fashion at all?).