What is Now Considered Professional Business Attire?

Before the pandemic and working from home confined everyone to the house, businesspeople wore Business Casual dress or Elegant Casual dress. Then “Zoom dressing” from the waist up happened and the suit, jacket and tie or trouser suit for women disappeared overnight. 

Now most of us are back in the office in a professional environment and wondering what to wear to work. Your workplace may have a dress code, but managers tell me that in their company the dress code is no longer enforced, and a mish mash of casual styles prevails.  They say that with no dress code apparent, tights and leggings, jeans, sundresses and T-shirts are appearing too often at work.

Luckily, we have a solution! Our dress guidelines are based on the situation. Once that is clearly defined along with clear company dress guidelines, business personnel at every level never need be confused again. As a general rule, when you are trying to make an excellent first impression, it is better to lean more toward the tailored styles in order to show that you are serious about your job and are interested in advancement. 

Flexible Informal or Casual Business Dress Codes

In the interest of diversity, some companies and industries are less strict when it comes to their dress code. Many allow attire that is business casual and less formal than has traditionally been expected. In the strictest settings, Informal is like Semi-Formal, minus one element. For men, this might be losing the tie or jacket. Women can wear conservative dresses or sweaters as well as suits. It usually doesn’t mean jeans or khakis. Bulky bags, oily, unkempt hair, torn or soiled clothing, too tight, too low or too short and noisy jewelry are still generally frowned upon. 

Business casual can be clean pressed slacks including khakis and polo shirts and varied blouses and tunics for women. It does not include casual T-shirts, leggings, yoga pants, or jeans. Even if you work remotely from home, it is good to be prepared to appear more professional on camera in case you have video meetings.

Interview Dress

For the interview process check the culture and dress code of the company. The more advanced the position you’re applying for, the more strictly you will need to follow the business professional guidelines. This is true whether you already work for the company and are trying to get a more advanced position or if you are coming in from the outside. There’s an old saying, “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

LEVELS OF BUSINESS DRESS

FORMAL BUSINESS DRESS 

WHO, WHERE AND WHEN

Dressing for a performance review in a conservative company

Formal meetings with upper management

Formal first client meetings

Greeting important visitors

Leading a formal training or staff meetings

Galas, formal lunches and dinners

Photo shoots

Court appearances

Interviews 

You decide

Formal Business Dress for Men

• A tailored matching suit 
• Navy, mid blue or dark grey colors
• Barrel or French cuffs and 1cm. shows below sleeve
• Black, tan or cordovan leather shoes and belt
• Black or subtle patterned socks
• Dress shirts in broadcloth or non-crease cotton 
• Blue, white solids or thin striped, or tone on tone colors
• Starched straight collar with metal collar stays
• A silk tie with a Half Windsor or Four-in-Hand fits the collar spread
• The tie covers half or all the belt buckle
• Tattoos are covered and piercings removed
• No cologne or heavy aftershave as many are allergic 
• White pocket handkerchief if preferred

Formal Business Dress for Women

• A tailored matching skirted suit or dress and jacket
• In casual cultures a matching trouser suit works well
• Banish the black! Colors can be neutral such as gray, beige, camel, dark green, teal, burgundy, purple, blue, navy, brown and yes, black! Many women are now wearing more colorful suits.
• Skirt length is hemmed on or just above the knee
• A feminine shirt, a blouse with a collar or tie, or a cross-over surplice style
• Skin toned ultra-sheer pantyhose
• Closed- toe pump or sling back with a thin short or medium heel
• A polished but natural makeup and pale, one-color nail polish
• Cover tattoos and refrain from perfume, body spray, or cologne
• Tie long hair away from the face or twist into an elegant knot
• Smaller scale jewelry, such as gold, silver, pearls or semi-precious stones
• Remove piercings, such as nose rings

SEMI-FORMAL

WHO, WHERE AND WHEN

Follow up sales and client meetings

Follow up meetings with visitors

Follow up training or gatherings with a group

Networking meetings

Zoom meetings with clients

Interviews for relaxed cultures

Video or Zoom interviews

In less conservative cultures this style would be Formal

You decide where and when

Semi-Formal Business Dress for Men

• A tailored jacket, sportscoat or blazer in solid shades, tweeds, plaids or subtle checks
• Tailored trousers or khakis in wool, heavy cotton or blends
• Coordinated colors in darker neutrals such as gray, beige, navy, subtle checks. 
• Slim fit trousers are hemmed to the rim of the shoe
• Dress shirts in cotton, open necked button- down collar
• Mid toned colored shirts such as mid to deep blue or wider, thicker stripes and checks
• Leather belt in the same color as Slip-ons or Gucci loafers
• More colorful socks

Semi-Formal Business Dress for Women

• Unmatched softer styled jacket and slacks or trouser suit
• Skirts and blouses 
• Solid colors, small scale florals, or patterns
• Dresses, with sleeves hemmed from wrist to just above elbow
• Colors can be brighter such as purple, green, blue, teal, red, coral, turquoise, mustard 
• Skirt length is hemmed on or just above the knee
• A shell, blouse and collar or no collar
• Skin toned sheer pantyhose or well- groomed legs in hot weather
• Pump or peep toe with a thin, short or medium heel
• A polished but natural makeup and nail polish in one color
• Cover tattoos and refrain from perfume, body spray, or cologne
• Tie long hair away from the face or twist into an elegant knot or chignon
• Medium scale jewelry if preferred, patterned scarves
• Remove piercings, such as nose rings

INFORMAL

WHO, WHERE AND WHEN

Informal workshops and meetings 

Informal staff meetings, training or gatherings with your group

Zoom meetings with coworkers

Business lunches with coworkers

Administrative days in the office

You decide

Informal Business Dress for Men

• No jacket is needed
• Tailored trousers or khakis in wool, medium weight cotton or blends
• Button -down or straight collars, open necked, sleeves rolled up
• Polo shirts and Dress T-shirts with a finished, well-fitting neck band
• Mid toned colored shirts such as deeper blue, turquoise 
• Shirt fabric in cotton, linen or blends.
• Patterned shirts with wider, thicker stripes, checks, small patterns
• Shirts with contrasting inside collar band and cuffs
• Leather belt in the same color as Slip-ons or Gucci loafers
• More colorful socks
• Jeans on Casual days if allowed

Informal Business Dress for Women

• Slacks or skirts and blouses, sweaters or shirts 
• Solid colors or medium scale florals, or patterns
• A shell, blouse or longer tunic with and collar or collarless
• Sweaters, shrugs and sweater sets
• Dresses, with short sleeves in florals, patterns and prints
• Colors can be brighter such as purple, blue, teal, turquoise, red, gold, burgundy, mustard 
• Skirt length is hemmed on or just above the knee
• Flat shoes, trouser shoes, wedges, kitten heels or sandals in summer
• A polished but natural makeup and nail polish in one color
• Cover tattoos and refrain from perfume, body spray, or cologne
• Tie long hair away from the face, extensions or braids
• Statement or larger jewelry, scarves
• Remove piercings, such as nose rings
• Jeans on casual day if allowed

Color

You will notice that we are encouraging women to be creative and take on colorful business wear. As a guideline, notice what female TV anchors or hosts, top level executives, politicians, company and department heads are wearing. Professional women nationally and internationally are wearing color, rather than the traditional coffee and cream and navy and white to the office. Rest assured that black and white or back and color will always look credible and formal. However, unless your company has a well- defined dress code it seems that we are breaking free of the traditional color harmonies which now seem dated and dull.

Beyond the Wardrobe

Presenting yourself professionally at work isn’t just about the clothes. It’s also about how you carry yourself and how you interact with others. Your image is the whole package, and it can make as much difference in your career as your talent. At London Image Institute you can be trained to improve your professional image, or even train to become an image consultant yourself. Both Foundation and Advanced courses are available, in-person and online. To learn more, contact London Image Institute today.