Business casual for women is a dress code that blends professional attire with a more relaxed style. It is a step down from traditional formal attire, while still being appropriate for a workplace setting or dressy event. Business casual wear is a combination of business formal and casual styles, and it describes the vast majority of office outfits. However, different industries, organizations, and even cities have varying expectations, and there is no one-size-fits-all definition of business casual for women. Below are some tips from workplace experts to help women decipher the tricky distinctions between business casual for women and other professional styles of dressing for work:
- Opt for closed-toe flats or heels.
- Choose tailored pants, slacks, or chinos.
- Wear blouses or tops that arent too low-cut.
- Well-fitting slacks or tailored pants in neutral colors such as black, navy, and gray.
- Comfortable pants such as chinos.
- Classic blouses, sweaters, or collared shirts made from high-quality materials.
Some clothing items that are not appropriate for business casual wear include jeans or denim, low-rise pants, capri pants, shorts, or anything ripped or distressed. When it comes to finding women’s business casual, both physical and online retailers have a wide variety of possibilities. Popular stores for business casual include Amazon, Zara, Asos, Nordstrom, Lululemon, Uniqlo, Everlane, Gap, J. Crew, Allbirds, Ugg, Massimo Dutti, Muji, Sezane, and COS.