Casual Friday

Casual Friday is probably a day where most employees, particular those working in business formal settings, look forward to.  It is a day off from dressing up in a stuffy suit and really "let your hair down"--literally.  But can you ever truly go as casual as you want in a work setting?

I believe that the answer to that is no.  Work is still a professional setting, and should be treated as such.  Just because you can dress casual does NOT mean you should wear the same clothes you do to walk your dog in a park on a hot summers day.  In general, I feel "casual" should really mean "business casual", especially if you are in a business formal dress code setting.  If you are already in a business casual setting, you can relax a LITTLE BIT but not go too overboard.  Some examples of Casual Friday attire:

• jeans, in a DARK COLOUR such as black or dark blue, in a straight cut or trouser cut style
• an elbow length or longer sleeve shirt, that may have a logo on it such as what college or university you went to

What should NEVER be worn to work?

• anything that exposes your mid drift, cleavage, upper thigh or lower back
• sweatpants, sweat shirts, baggy t-shirts
• too much makeup or excessive perfume or cologne
• flip flops or sandals

Here's a clip from one of my favourite shows, The Office, with an example of what is UNACCEPTABLE to wear to work, even on Casual Friday.

How casual is too casual? What do you think is inappropriate to EVER wear to work, even on Casual Fridays? Leave a comment!

SOURCES:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QiwAf8ltuk
http://jerzygirl45.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/casual-54.jpg

Business Dress vs. Business Casual

According to Wikipedia, business dress code is more formal than casual but less formal than semi-formal.  This means a suit, which is a pair of trousers with a matching jacket.  The suit is typically dark-coloured and  worn with a long-sleeved shirt and a tie.  Woman would also wear a suit, with a blouse.  Companies that typically use this type of dress code are professions in law, finance, banking, broadcast journalism (news anchors), and many others.  Typically these jobs are high-paying, and the reason to keep the dress code so formal is to keep the company looking very professional to the public and their clients.

Business casual, on the other hand, is a more popular dress code used by employers.  There is no generally accepted definition of business casual, its guidelines very from company to company.  In most companies, the following guidelines are a good place to start: 

• For women: A knee length skirt or trousers of a non-jeans material combined with a top (such as a dress shirt, or sweater set) is considered acceptable. An informal dress with appropriate skirt length is also acceptable.
• For men: A combination of collared shirt (such as a dress shirt or polo shirt), cotton trousers (such as khakis or blue, green, brown, or black trousers) with a belt.  Jeans are sometimes acceptable business casual attire depending on profession. A blazer or business jacket can optionally be added.
• Unacceptable for either gender: rumpled or ripped clothing, T-shirts, miniskirts, underwear as outerwear, inappropriately revealing attire such as bare midriffs, and flip-flops. Many corporations also frown upon open-toed shoes and shorts.

In my opinion, business casual means dressing professionally, yet relaxed, neat and pulled together.  What do you guys think? What does dressing business casual really consist of? Leave a comment and let me know!






SOURCES: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Informal_attire
http://0.tqn.com/d/humanresources/1/7/y/C/BFFormalGroupAttire.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_casual
http://0.tqn.com/d/humanresources/1/7/C/D/BCcasualman.jpg

What is Appropriate?

Appropriate workplace attire is something we all will face in whatever career path you choose.  Every job and workplace has its own set of rules and traditions as to what is appropriate to wear to work.  For some, the choice is easier than others.  For instance, a doctor will always wear a white lab coat over their regular clothes, a policeman will wear a uniform and a cashier at McDonald's will always wear the company-appointed logo polo shirt.  But for most other professions, individuals are left to figure out the answer to: What is appropriate?  In the this blog and throughout the semester, with the help of online resources as well as the textbook Business Communication: Process and Product, I will attempt to answer this question.