Casual Work Clothes for Women
Decades ago women were so thrilled to be entering the workforce they were happy to dress like men in boxy suits complete with floppy ties and clunky shoes. In the 80's and early 90's, designers finally caught up with the times and designed feminine suits for the office. Then wham! The Internet boom came along and introduced office casual clothing. Sure for men this is easy, they just grab a pair of khaki pants and a button down shirt and they're good to go. Ladies have it tougher.
Define Business Casual Please!
According to Wikipedia.org , businesss casual clothing :
- Looks relaxed yet neat and pulled together.
- Falls into the middle ground between formal wear (read: suits and dresses) and street wear (read: jeans and t-shirts).
Still stumped? Check out the eHow article on " How to Dress Business Casual."
Business Casual Basics
Here are a few of the basics you should have in a variety of colors for your business casual wardrobe. The best way to build a wardrobe is to start with a foundation color (for example, black pants) and then only buy tops and accessories that will go with those pants. This way, you never have to worry about bizarre colors or patterns clashing with each other.
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Pants
Business casual pants cover a range of styles. On one end, you can opt for tailored
khakis
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Skirts
A more fun, feminine alternative to pants. Look for
skirts
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Blouses
Cropped, fitted t-shirts aren't going to cut it! For the office, you'll need some stylish
blouses
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Jackets and Sweaters
Air conditioners in offices are notorious for being set to freeze. A good
jacket
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Dresses
Dresses
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Popular Brands
- Banana Republic: Fashionable looks for young and young-at-heart career gals. Each outfit is coordinated with underpinning, shoes and jewelry. Great for those without the time or energy to accessorize an outfit.
- Ann Taylor / Ann Taylor Loft: Lots of safe ideas for a head to toe interview look. Great for executives or mangers in a business casual environment. The Ann Taylor website will suggest complete outfits, if you want to leave your style to them.
- J Crew: Click on an item, such as a skirt, JCrew will then suggest a items (shoes, tops and a bag) that will "look great" with that skirt. Fashion forward suggestions.
- Nordstrom : Versatile looks for businesss.
- Eddie Bauer : Wide variety of sizes available (petite, tall, regular and women's). Clothing tends to be conservative.
How to shop:
- Check with your office HR department for guidelines: Are jeans allowed? What is the suggested skirt length?
- Make a list of the items you will need.
- Keep in mind colors that will flatter.
- Select versatile items. Many of these looks can also be worn on the weekend.
- Spend more on basics and classics. Hunt for sale items when it comes to trendy pieces.
External Links
- Monster.com discusses the new dress code in an article by Pat Boer.
- Virginia Tech's career development office offers comprehensive guidelines for businesss casual attire for interviews .
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