What Is Smart Casual Dressing?

Are you trying to figure out what to wear in your business casual workplace? The term "business casual" can mean different things to different people. If you want to get ahead in your career, you need to understand the difference between smart casual and sloppy casual. Take a step toward that promotion by asking the following question: what is smart casual dressing?

Appropriate casual attire

If you work indoors in any sort of relaxed office environment, chances are good you should wear smart casual clothes to work - even if your coworkers are decked out in ragged jeans and flip-flops. The old adage of "dress for the job you want, not the job you have" is true whether or not you are required to wear a suit and tie to work. In general, men should wear well-tailored trousers or khakis in a smart casual environment, while women can go with either dress pants or professional-length skirts. All shoes should have closed toes and classic color schemes. For the most versatility, choose black shoes or brown shoes that go with most fashion styles.

The denim debate

If you decide to wear jeans to work, choose a dark color and a conservative fit. In other words, men's jeans should fit at the wearer's waist with no boxer shorts showing. Women should look for trouser-cut jeans and should steer clear of skinny jeans, jeggings or overly trendy styles. Ripped and stained jeans are never acceptable in an office environment.

Rules for shorts

Shorts for men are tricky in the workplace, and they are probably best avoided unless you are participating in some sort of outdoor team-building event. Women can get away with city-length or walking-length shorts with hemlines that hit right above the knee, provided that they are paired with a dressier shoe, loafer or sandal.

These simple tips can help you avoid the dilemma of dressing too casually in the business casual workplace.