Dress code in the workplace can be a touchy subject. You might think you know what the rules are when it comes to each “level” of dress code, but then your boss shows up in something unexpected and blurs the lines. The truth is, dress code is often not completely black and white. Because of this, we used this blog to address four levels of  dress code and what they really mean.

Professional/Traditional Business Attire

This is the highest level of dress code for the workplace. If you are attending a professional event as a woman, you should wear skirt suits or pantsuits with formal business blouses or tops, stockings, closed toe and heel leather shoes.  Appropriate business accessories include a briefcase, a leather folder, and a conservative pen. Women should also try to keep jewelry, makeup, and perfume subtle and elegant. If you are attending this type of event as a man, your options are suit and tie, upscale sports jackets with ties and a business shirt, and leather dress shoes. Appropriate accessories include briefcases, portfolios, and diaries. Men are encouraged to keep accessories like watches and cologne subtle. You should always wear professional attire when you go to an interview.

Smart Casual Business Attire

Smart Casual is just a step down from traditional, formal attire. If you are attending a smart casual event as a woman, you should wear a jacket or dressy sweater, dress pants or skirt with a blouse, shirt, turtleneck, hose, and dress shoes. Accessories that are appropriate for this level of dress code are the same as traditional business attire. Men should wear a sports jacket with a tie, dress pants, button-down or traditional business shirt/nice turtleneck and dress shoes. Utilize the same rules for accessories as described in traditional business attire.

Business Casual

More and more offices and events are switching from professional business attire to business casual. For women, business casual is nice pants or skirts, blouses, tops, sweaters, vests, occasionally an informal jacket, and attractive leather shoes and accessories. For men, business casual consists of khakis, dress, or Dockers-type pants, shirts or golf-type shirts with collars, sweaters, vests, occasionally an informal jacket and tie, and attractive leather shoes and accessories.

Casual Attire

Just because casual days are called casual, it is important to remember that the workplace is not the beach. On casual days, it is appropriate for women to wear casual pants, skirts, and jeans, blouses, tops, sweaters, vests, sweatshirts, casual shoes including sandals and athletic wear. For men, casual attire means casual pants and jeans, shirts with collars or not, sweaters, vests, sweatshirts, casual shoes including sandals and athletic wear. Shorts and leggings should be avoided unless management specifically states they are acceptable.

If you are unsure about what dress code you should be wearing to work or an event, the best thing to do is always ask. Pay attention to what those around you are wearing, and remember, it is better to be more formal than less.

Hope this helps! What dress code do you follow in the workplace?

Written by Kaitlyn Gahagen