Fashion Challenge: Brighten Up Business Casual
As I’m sure you guys know, fashion-wise, pretty much anything goes on a college campus – while here at CF, we’re always talking about dressing well for every occasion, it’s not like we’re forced to wear suits to our 9AM lectures. Because of this, it’s easy for us college girls to lose sight of how to dress for a more professional setting. I graduate soon, and although my new job doesn’t require business professional dress, I know that the time will come when I need to step it up from my typical jeans-and-cropped-jacket uniform.
Although business dress sometimes gets a bad rep for being boring or stuffy, dressing well for a professional setting doesn’t mean you have to let go of personal style. As with any new trend or style you adopt, it just takes a little experimentation to find out what works and what doesn’t.
Whether you’re already in the workforce, want to add pizazz to your intern attire, or just want to dress up a bit more for class, this week’s fashion challenge is to brighten up your business casual wear!
Tips & Tricks for Styling Business Casual Attire
- Everyone’s definition of “business wear” is different. Fortunately, we’ve broken the rules down for you in our post: How to Dress Professionally – Business Dress Code Basics. Also, see our tips for what to wear to work or an internship. In general, it’s usually better to overdress than underdress in a business setting, so err on the side of formality if you’re unsure.
- Neutral colors are your best friends. You can’t go wrong with trousers or blazers in black, navy, gray, tan, or brown. Mix and match these pieces for a solid basic outfit.
- Keep it looking professional by wearing closed-toes heels or flats. Peep-toe shoes and sandals are generally not appropriate for most business-casual occasions.
- Have fun with jewelry! The right earrings, a statement necklace, cocktail ring, or watch will add personality to your look.
- Have a favorite top for nights on the town? As long as it doesn’t show any cleavage (and isn’t sequined, neon, or cheaply-made), it will often look great underneath a blazer for business casual occasions.
- A simple dress looks amazing under a blazer, too! Add tights to make it more formal.
- To push some style boundaries, try a pair of high-waisted trousers.
- Cropped trousers have been popular in recent years as well. They’re easy to pair with pumps, but I’ve also seen them worn pulled down over high-heeled, knee-high boots.
Business Casual Outfit Inspiration
Outfit 1: Playful Business Casual
Turtleneck, Trousers, Necklace, Pumps, Earrings
A basic canvas of camel trousers and a cozy black turtleneck will keep this outfit looking professional, but add some fun with a pair of patterned pumps, a statement necklace, and stud earrings! The great thing about decking out an outfit with accessories is that they can easily be removed if the setting changes.
Outfit 2: Conservative Business Casual
Trousers, Blouse, Pumps, Watch, Earrings
An outfit like this is best if you are unsure of exactly how to dress – like I said above, it’s always better to go more formal than less in a business setting. This look is conservative and safe, yet anything but boring! You can’t go wrong with a pair of gray wool trousers and black pumps, but add a little personality with a ruffled blouse. Finish with a menswear-inspired watch and chandelier earrings. (Swap the flashy earrings for studs if it’s a truly conservative workplace or you aren’t sure.)
Outfit 3: Smart Casual
Trousers, Blazer, Blouse, Heels, Ring
First, a word of warning: Always double check with your internship coordinator or the people in charge of the occasion before wearing an outfit like this — in some settings, dressed up jeans are acceptable, but it some situations, they are a total no-no! That being said, I love how easy wide-leg trouser jeans are to dress up! Layer a cute top under a blazer, and finish with pumps and a cocktail ring.
Rocked the Challenge? Send Us Your Pictures!
Did you take your business casual wear and turn it into a sartorial statement? Take some snapshots and send them to fashionchallenge AT collegefashion.net along with your name, school, a description of what you’re wearing, and your blog URL if you have one. We’ll feature your photos here to inspire other CF readers! (Check out here and here for examples).
We can’t wait to check out the submissions!
What Do You Think?
Do you ever have to wear business casual outfits? What are your favorite ways to make them unique? Does your current job (or future dream job) require professional attire? What fashion challenges would you like to see in the future? Let us know with a comment!
Posted on on February 10, 2011 / Filed Under: Fashion Tips / Tags: Business, Business Casual, Fashion Challenge, Internships, Jobs, Work
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Deb
Business Casual has become my life during my internship. Kudos on the post and the ideas. I am a big fan of blazers and jackets. One of my favorite things to do, for the days closer to the weekend-when jeans are acceptable, is to put a pair of pressed jeans, frun.frilly shirt with a blazer. Like right now! 7 Jeans, Printed Tee, & Whtie Blazer!
Ashley
I’m a recent-ish college grad (’09) who works in human resources in a business casual environment and I have to say that those black pumps in the “conservative” outfit, while adorable, would be completely innappropriate for most conservative business casual environments – they’re just too high. Unless you’re in a more creative environment, it’s good to keep your pumps around 3″, max.
I think adding personality to outfits is always good, though – I know at my work a lot of times our interns disappear in a sea of boring slacks with button ups – the ones I always remember are the interns with a bit more pizazz, and being memorable is always good when asking for recommendations.
Milana
I like outfit too, but I would choose high heels without the platform – something more ‘down to earth’ hehe… :) Really like the shirt and the earrings combo!
Holly
I agree with the statement about the shoes being too high – they’re more for parties and going out than a business setting.
Also, I’m disappointed not to see any pencil skirts on this list! Cute skirts are an easy way to add a little personality to an otherwise boring work outfit! Just make sure they’re long enough (think knee-length).
My go-to business casual outfit is a cute top, blazer, pencil skirt, and nude 2″ heels. :)
sha mia
I like these outfit selections however its cool if ur jus wearing it on campus just to amp up ur style but I dont agree with wearing sky scraping heels in office settings. Depending on whether or not ur place of buisness is conservative or not.
Charlotte
Love this post!
I agree about the heels (plus no one I know would go to work an 8 hour day in those), but everything else is so true. I try to buy awesome basics and mix them up. My office is business casual, so if I wear slacks, I try to wear a cute top, or a sweater, rather than a blazer, if I go casual on the bottom, I wear a jacket/blazer up top to dress it up.
Nicole
Love it!
The outfits look great!
I was wondering.. do you know where to find nice and cheap shoes size 12? Because I always want to buy the awesome shoes you show here but i can never find anything on my size! i know it’s a hard one but in case you do.. let me know!
Lots of kisses! I love all the articles!
Chelsea
agreed with Ashley, the black platforms are most definitely NOT appropriate.
Cass
Cute, but the heels on outfit #2 are definitely not conservative business casual. Or even regular business casual. A 5-inch platform heel with patent and gold trim isn’t appropriate for most “business casual” offices. Maybe some less formal or fashion-y ones, though.
The necklace on the first outfit is very cute, though.
Tori
Love love love. Its scary how perfect the timing is. I have an event TONIGHT that says “business casual” and this definitely helped.
Steph
Great job!!
Another great idea I think would be interesting to see would be something about dressing for teaching. Students have to student teach or be classroom observers and it is always a challenge to look professional and fashionable, especially when working with young kids heels and skirts are usually NEVER an option!
Hannah
yeeah i agree, the shoes in outfits 1 and 2 are just not professional.
they say “stripper” more than “business casual.”
Elyse Davis
I have to dress business casual two or three days a week because i’m a Flute Performance major, and my professor requires that we dress nice for all of our appointments with him, lessons, master classes, chamber groups, etc. I have two pairs of slacks from H&M that fit me perfect. They were both pretty cheap, and I usually pair them with a skinny belt and a cute top, and usually my black blazer. H&M has some really good business casual clothing.
Katie
I really love that third outfit! And the watch from outfit two! This really helps me, because my job will be business casual.
Christine
Goodness. I think the platform stiletto trend is more stripper than chic. The first two pairs of shoes are completely inappropriate for any kind of daytime environment. The last pair is trendy without being over the top or a serious liability to one’s ankles.
Amber
I love this post! And it is very helpful since I will be going into the professional world in May. I would like to see a post on fashionable accessories (like briefcases or bags to carry to work) as I am now searching for a cute bag to carry my laptop, phone, keys, and work in!
Antoinette
love this, really can’t wait to wear some of these and put a twist to it.
Caitlyn
I think a part 2 to this would be awesome. A lot of college students have different kinds of jobs and interns where they have to dress business casual. I also agree about teaching. I’m observing with preschools and I have to spend a lot of time on the floor. Skirts+heels wouldn’t work for me. Some more ideas for different settings would be great.
Courtney - University of Idaho
I love these outfits, and found them really inspiring! You never know when you’ll have to dress up – even to an interview for a restaurant, coffee shop, or retail store (typical college jobs), it’s usually considered inappropriate to wear jeans. I think the heel height might be a bit racy for say, a legal office, but could be perfectly appropriate in an art department or more creative atmosphere, like some posters have said. Although if your trousers were long enough and just the fronts poked out from underneath, it really wouldn’t matter – just might be a bit uncomfortable at the end of the day! I personally LOVE the black floral pumps, for business casual or otherwise. Great post.
denise
Awesome post! As a newly promoted editor (yay!) of a local magazine, I realized I should not go on with my ‘scruffy reporter’ look and actually comb my hair before going to work. This article helps a lot–although I do have a question: Is it possible to incorporate boots into a ‘business casual’ outfit? I’m worried that it looks a little too casual, but I really don’t wanna let go of my boots.:S Help?
Krynn
I wear big heels for work quite a lot. I work in a smart casual office and find that high heels can look good. Trick is to wear them with trousers that flare a little, peep toes are great with flares. If wearing heels with a dress though its definitely black booties for me, opaque tights and black ankle booties with a knee length dress looks soo utterly gorgeous and smart for work!
beth
Actually, I think the shoes are perfectly fine. I work as a bank officer, in one of the nation’s largest banks, and I wear 4-6 inch heels on a pretty regular basis. As long as the rest of your outfit is smart and pulled-together, your shoes aren’t really a big issue, providing they’re closed or peep-toed AND you can walk in them without looking like a Clydesdale horse. Any one of those outfits would have been acceptable in my office (well, on the occasional day we get to wear jeans, maybe once a month.)
In fact, last Friday when we had a “jeans day,” I work dark wash boot cut jeans, a white lace-trim cam, and a nicely fitted V-neck black pullover sweater…with 6-inch silver glitter platform pumps, silver ball stud earrings and a menswear-inspired watch. Honest to goodness. My jeans were long enough that my shoes weren’t screaming “WOW!! LOOK AT ME!” they just peeked out when I walked, and I got so many compliments from both customers and management alike. Even my male co-workers thought they were pretty sweet.
You can make most any closed toe/peep toe high heeled shoe (well, maybe not red-orange patent leather Vegas hooker platform shoes, or Brooke Hogan clear hooker shoes…) work at work as long as you keep the rest of your outfit professional. I especially like outfit 2.
sudha
i like black earrings , but i don’t wear that much of heels thank you for giving suggestions