Business Casual

author: Mei Ng
Casual Fridays. Some love it. Others fear it. Dressing business casual can cause so many problems because it’s hard to define. First we must define business formal (i.e., dressing for court) before we can move to business casual.
Men. Business formal means wearing a matching suit, a nicely ironed shirt and a tie. Ladies. Business formal also means wearing a matching suit and a nice blouse or collared shirt. A matching suit means a jacket and pants or skirt are made from the exact same material. No exceptions.
Now… business casual is simply business formal without the jacket (and tie, for the men). Business casual means, if there was an unexpected client meeting or run to the court, you can put on a matching jacket and tie and run out the door. Guys, make sure you have a neutral color tie handy. If you are a dressy casual dresser (explained below), always have an extra suit in the office. You don’t want to be the one associate the partners leave behind because you are not dressed for the occasion.
Save your dressy casual dress for Casual Fridays (do these still exist?). According to www.bitterlawyer.com, dressy casual means you find a nice top and pants in your closet, and your done.
Although these are the rules of thumb, always check with your employer first.
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