Business Casual for Women in the Summer (for Lucy)
lucyhundley asked:
Hello! I (young, twenty-ish woman) am looking at a variety of jobs in Virginia that have a “business casual” attire. Can you help me define what this means in terms of my wardrobe pieces?
Also, Southeastern Virginia is know for its humidity and heat in the summer- can you recommend business-appropriate attire that is stylish and (somewhat) modest but also cool enough to withstand the summer heat in the office? (Often ACs cannot keep up with the day time highs…)
Read on for my response!
So many people don’t truly understand dress codes, or they stay within the dress code wearing appropriate items BUT they look terrible because the clothing doesn’t fit appropriately. My suggested goal would be to aim for looking put together and polished, while avoiding denim unless you are told otherwise. Also, FIT IS EVERYTHING! Avoid baggy and too tightly fitting clothing!
About.com has a great article on business casual in the work place. Here are a few excerpts from the article that I feel really highlight what you should avoid:
Clothing that reveals too much cleavage, your back, your chest, your feet, your stomach or your underwear is not appropriate for a place of business, even in a business casual setting.
Even in a business casual work environment, clothing should be pressed and never wrinkled. Torn, dirty, or frayed clothing is unacceptable. All seams must be finished. Any clothing that has words, terms, or pictures that may be offensive to other employees is unacceptable.
Casual dresses and skirts, and skirts that are split at or below the knee are acceptable. Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. Mini-skirts, skorts, sun dresses, beach dresses, and spaghetti-strap dresses are inappropriate for the office.
I would also add NO FLIP FLOPS to that list. Nice sandals are acceptable to me, but maybe not to your boss. Check if there is ever a question.
Catalog flipping/website perusing is a good way to look at business causal outfit ideas and pairings. Some sites that I think portray good business casual (as long as you remember not to show as much leg/chest/arms as some of their models):
BananaRepublic.com | AnnTaylorLoft.com | JCrew.com | Nordstroms.com | Talbots.com | Polyvore.com
As for the heat, it is not difficult to find work appropriate options and stay cool. I would look for a lighter weight short sleeved blouses and dresses. Skirts are a life saver in the summer! Sleeved blouses and long(er) skirts are going to ensure you stay work appropriate. While going sleeveless isn’t a complete “no-no”, I’ve seen way too many women showing their goodies at work and it just seems sloppy. For dresses and tops that might be a little slouchy or too revealing, top off with a light weight or half sleeve blazer, or a cardigan and belt combo. The trick is to keep the fabrics light weight, so if layering is a must, it won’t be miserable.
