View Full Version : Define "business casual"
What the? I'm a blue collar kind of guy. Going to some sort of class at one of our corporate offices in the Springs. I was just advised by my boss that the dress code is "business casual".
I'm assuming my normal work clothes (FR coveralls, steel toe boots, hard hat, etc.) probably don't qualify. I would also assume that a pair of comfy jeans and a Harley-Davidson t-shirt are probably not appropriate either.
What qualifies as business casual to keep me in my boss's good graces?
Slack button down shirt sometimes a polo nice shoes no hats
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Not sure I even own slacks. Think I could get away with cargo pants?
OtterbatHellcat
08-21-2017, 18:23
ding ding to Gunners reply.
OtterbatHellcat
08-21-2017, 18:25
How much time do you have, Ray?
What about jeans if they are dark and like new? Marginally acceptable?
How much time do you have, Ray?
Leaving at 5 a.m. tomorrow. Just got the text from my boss right before I posted.
OtterbatHellcat
08-21-2017, 18:28
Oh..sheet.
Great-Kazoo
08-21-2017, 18:29
What about jeans if they are dark and like new? Marginally acceptable?
Why not. Unless they are intolerant of peoples clean, untorn clothing. To me, casual is clean jeans and a button style shirt.
What are they going to do, send you home?
OtterbatHellcat
08-21-2017, 18:29
Brand New cargos might work, and a nicer shirt.
What about jeans if they are dark and like new? Marginally acceptable?
No, that is casual casual.
Gunner nailed it. No shorts, no denim (top or bottom), button up shirt/polo, and casual dress shoes (no sneakers).
I would say you could probably pull off a nice pair of blue jeans but they would have to be a very nice pair no Wranglers are Levi's
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But it all honesty if somebody told me to wear business casual I would not wear any sort of denim I would do a khaki or slacks with a button-down I probably wouldn't even wear a polo
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I'll have to look through the closet after dinner and see what I have.
StagLefty
08-21-2017, 18:41
I have a casual wear belly boat for sale [Beer]
Nice cargo pants if you don't have slacks. Nice Polo shirt. Nice shoes.
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Thankfully with milinieals around now, t-shirt and jeans pass for business casual these days.
wctriumph
08-21-2017, 19:02
Dockers and a button down shirt, shoes, no sneakers.
Cheap enough at Walmart, probably get it all including socks for under $80 if you shop wisely. And it will be around the next time you need business casual.
OtterbatHellcat
08-21-2017, 19:03
Yep, there's still time for doing that.
Aloha_Shooter
08-21-2017, 19:17
Khakis or other leisure slacks would be preferable to jean but you can get away with jeans if they are nice looking (i.e., no tears, stains, etc.). Don't have to iron them but they shouldn't be wrinkled or rumpled. Button down shirt is preferable but you can get away with a polo or rugby shirt if it's clean and presentable.
Basically, it's comfortable wear but should look good enough that you'd be proud if someone took a picture of you in it and showed your grandparents.
As people mentioned above.
If you are paying for the tuition, you can wear whatever you want usually. I see some @ss clowns wearing entire suit n ties to their law school* or mba**. That is just as dumb as publishing "business" card as a student...
If it is related to your company, dress casual would make sense.
* going to court or law firm excluded.
** conference or meeting etc with potential employer or Corp collebration with school doesn't count.
Ray, business casual equates to "Suday-Go-Meeting" clothing. Khakis or Chinos (Navy or black cotton slacks) are fine for men, as long as they are not wrinkled, torn or dirty. A collared shirt of some sort (button down shirt is good, polos area bit more casual but may still be deemed acceptable- it MUST have a collar. If you wear it tucked in, you must have a belt that matches your shoe color. Shoes may be slip-ons, altough tassels are considered more casual than simple loafers. Because it's late August, you could get away with wearing cowboy boots as long as they are a neutral color. Brogans are also appropriate. Make sure your socks are also neutral color- you can't go wrong with brown or black.
No hats.
Walmart carries a pretty good selection of all of the above.
electronman1729
08-21-2017, 20:21
Jeans, and a Polo.
Luckily Im in FR's most of the day so I can kind of dress the way I want to.
DavieD55
08-21-2017, 20:33
http://lifeasahuman.com/files/2010/10/Business-Casual.jpeg
Great-Kazoo
08-21-2017, 20:35
Might as well shave while you're at it.
Might as well shave while you're at it.
And ruin the whole santa clause thing I have going?
spqrzilla
08-21-2017, 21:08
Clean underwear and socks....
What does your boss normally wear?
Dress to fit in unless you are the entertainment for the event.
Business casual has changed over the past decade. What TheGrey described is the current definition of business casual, especially west of the Mississippi River.
68Charger
08-21-2017, 21:13
I'd say it depends on how much you care what they think about what you're wearing...
In some places that really matters to the higher-ups.... but I'm more of a if-you-can't-get-past-what-I'm-wearing-because-of-what-I-accomplish-then-I-really-don't-want-to-work-for-you kinda guy.
I've had jobs where I had to wear a tie because "the customers", but I also was a contractor to a subsidiary of IBM (ISSC) with shoulder length hair... somebody asked my boss "when are you going to tell him to cut his hair?" His response was "he keeps putting down numbers like he is, and he can wear his hair however he likes".
But only works if you've earned it... or you just don't care.
KevDen2005
08-22-2017, 03:20
tuxedo t shirt
What does your boss normally wear?
My immediate supervisor typically wears jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. The guy above him (our area manager) usually wears a golf type shirt with a collar and jeans. Not sure about his footwear.
Anyhow, thank you all for the responses.
Not_A_Llama
08-22-2017, 08:26
Another fun trick - almost anything goes with a well-fitted suit jacket or blazer.
Scanker19
08-22-2017, 08:32
71739
http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/british-actor-tim-curry-plays-alien-transvestite-frank-n-furter-in-picture-id2633902
lostcolorado
08-22-2017, 10:03
I agree with most here. Khakis with polo or button down shirt. Almost anything on your feet but footwear can make a big difference.
Probably can get away with jeans if you wear a sports jacket. But I also agree denim should be avoided.
also, uniforms are usually acceptable. Such as scrubs for medical personal or logo shirts and work pants.
It depends on the company and the culture. This is Colorado after all, not New York or Chicago. Where I work, (Fortune 500 engineering company) our dress code is "business casual" and everybody wears denim pants. Some wear their shirts untucked, some even wear t-shirts. If we're having a customer meeting then most will step it up to slacks or khakis and dress shoes, but for an internal training event? Nah. As long as the denim is clean as mentioned, button down shirt tucked in, that's good to go in my book.
Well, I made it through. I wasn't the most dressed up person there but I was far from the worst. Several guys with jeans, including our instructor. Even a couple of guys with shirts without collars.
At least if I go down there again I know I'll fit right in with nice jeans, nice boots, and a polo shirt.
clodhopper
08-22-2017, 15:07
Late to the party.
While many gave the proper guidance for busi cash for many areas of the business world, the fact that you wear FR and a hardhat most days tells me you are in the construction or power industry. Business casual is different there. Your boss' boss is wearing appropriate in your industry.... nicer jeans, polo and some non-sneaker footwear. This is the most common arrangement for most meetings, trainings, site visits, etc. Khakis would be generally overdressed, but acceptable. If not a polo (generally with some company logo on it, doesn't have to be your company), then a buttoned shirts is fine. Chambray or denim shirts are acceptable if a logo is embroidered on the breast. Canvas style shirts are common. Polos are by far the most common. Sometimes you see khaki or brown colored carhartt pants instead of jeans. Shoes, just not sneaks. Any leather shoe, cowboy boot, hiking shoe, even work boots if in good shape.
But really, if it is a training for guys who generally work in a hardhat, there will always be a huge range of clothing styles. Sounds like you did fine.
I have been an engineer in the construction/mining industry for over 20 years. What I described is common in the Colorado area or mountain west. East coast is different.
Thanks, clodhopper.
Wish you would have posted that info yesterday. I had a suspicion that nice jeans and a polo would have been acceptable. I'm definitely a blue collar worker and work in the field in the natural gas industry. I figured as long as I was dressed "nice" it would be ok. I actually thought it was weird last night when my boss texted me about dressing business casual. Just because I had to go to one of the corporate headquarters buildings for some training shouldn't have meant they expected me to dress like the office guys that work there full time.
Oh, well. I survived.
hollohas
08-22-2017, 15:46
Another fun trick - almost anything goes with a well-fitted suit jacket or blazer.^This. I wore blue jeans to a wedding this weekend paired with nice cowboy boots, a button shirt and a suit jacket. I didn't feel under dressed at all.
I dress "business casual" in the construction industry (Sales). I wear nice blue jeans, nice boots and a button shirt everyday. I used to wear slacks and nice shoes but that doesn't work on a jobsite or even in most contractor offices. My customers always looked at me as if they only half trusted me. Blue jeans and boots make me look like less of an outsider.
Apologies, Ray! I see there are differing industry defiitions for "business casual."
Be glad you're not a girl. "Business casual" seems to have all sorts of nuances for women.
Apologies, Ray! I see there are differing idustry defiitions for "business casual."
Be glad you're not a girl. "Business casual" seems to have all sorts of nuances for women.
I took your advice to heart just the same. Even paid special attention to making sure my belt and shoes matched. [Awesom]
I took your advice to heart just the same. Even paid special attention to making sure my belt and shoes matched. [Awesom]
But you are from Texas so HOW BIG was your belt buckle? [ROFL1]
71743
All you need is a set of fancy shoes and a wooden handled pocket knife.
But you are from Texas so HOW BIG was your belt buckle? [ROFL1]
I thought stereotyping was considered politically incorrect these days?
[Flower]
hollohas
08-22-2017, 19:50
71743
All you need is a set of fancy shoes and a wooden handled pocket knife.A French knife? Yup, that'll fit right in with a bunch of hard hat wearing men.
Aloha_Shooter
08-23-2017, 08:43
I thought stereotyping was considered politically incorrect these days?
[Flower]
Nah, you can stereotype straight white men (especially from the South or West) as much as you want these days. SJWs do it all the time -- they just take offense if you draw generalizations on anyone who isn't straight and/or Christian as well as white European male.
Aloha_Shooter
08-23-2017, 08:44
71743
All you need is a set of fancy shoes and a wooden handled pocket knife.
I hate Opinels. My mother loves them but that rotating lock is horrible.
I took your advice to heart just the same. Even paid special attention to making sure my belt and shoes matched. [Awesom]
I bet you looked snazzy! :)
clodhopper
08-23-2017, 13:40
Thanks, clodhopper.
Wish you would have posted that info yesterday. I had a suspicion that nice jeans and a polo would have been acceptable. I'm definitely a blue collar worker and work in the field in the natural gas industry. I figured as long as I was dressed "nice" it would be ok. I actually thought it was weird last night when my boss texted me about dressing business casual. Just because I had to go to one of the corporate headquarters buildings for some training shouldn't have meant they expected me to dress like the office guys that work there full time.
Oh, well. I survived.
He was probably trying to suggest not wearing a t-shirt with a questionable graphic or foul language on it.
cfortune
08-28-2017, 21:17
At my job it means dress shoes, slacks/khakis, and a polo
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OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 16:43
But dude,.....it had some bedazzle on it. Cut him a break a little bit.
You can probably get by with nice jeans if you use a button up dress shirt combined with a good looking sport coat (unbuttoned) and dress shoes. Of course it's already over, and the boss has already sent emails around asking who the guy was wearing the hello kitty t-shirt.
Too little, too late.
That was me. It was my passive-passive way of saying "fuck you" to bossman because I'm a powerless beta who hates his job (and probably his life).
OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 16:53
Shut it, Skip.
You're good enough, you're smart enough...and doggon it, people like you. It's the truth.
Shut it, Skip.
You're good enough, you're smart enough...and doggon it, people like you. It's the truth.
Can you tell I've had a hard week suffering special people?
mattiooo
09-01-2017, 17:03
It is really contextual. One of the jobs I worked, it meant you could lose the tie and the suit jacket. Other jobs, it's meant casual trousers (but no jeans) and a polo. One job, it meant as long as you were wearing clothes, you were good. Seems to vary from region to region too.
OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 17:04
Yes, and that's okay.
Because I know you can handle it, and your friends here will help you as well. I hope you have Monday off due to the holiday.
OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 17:10
It is really contextual. One of the jobs I worked, it meant you could lose the tie and the suit jacket. Other jobs, it's meant casual trousers (but no jeans) and a polo. One job, it meant as long as you were wearing clothes, you were good. Seems to vary from region to region too.
If the actual wearing of the clothes was required, then that's pretty cool. I think every employer should have a random spin wheel where one day of the week is total commando....just shoes.....ha ha ha.
Talk about finding out your true co workers and their outlook on truly working together for the days objectives.
mattiooo
09-01-2017, 17:14
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjlAPEHm4Xs
OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 17:15
LOL
Yes, and that's okay.
Because I know you can handle it, and your friends here will help you as well. I hope you have Monday off due to the holiday.
Nope but that's okay, at least I get paid.
That reminds, I need to fire off an email about how pissed I am. Maybe I'll show up five minutes late. Yeah, that'll show 'em!
OtterbatHellcat
09-01-2017, 18:48
Do it on video cam while naked.
Tell them I said it was okay.
Do it on video cam while naked.
Tell them I said it was okay.
[ROFL2]
Aloha_Shooter
09-02-2017, 01:57
It is really contextual. One of the jobs I worked, it meant you could lose the tie and the suit jacket. Other jobs, it's meant casual trousers (but no jeans) and a polo. One job, it meant as long as you were wearing clothes, you were good. Seems to vary from region to region too.
Back home in Hawai`i it means you wear the CLEAN shorts (no board shorts!) and if you wear a tee-shirt, it's a relatively new one with still-crisp printing ...
[ROFL1][ROFL2][ROFL3]
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