Business Casual v Smart Casual Dress Codes

 Levels of dress code depend on the appropriateness for the profession, occasion and location. 

Making Sense of the Business Casual – Smart Casual Dress Codes

So you’ve been invited to an event and the dress code states Business Casual or Smart Casual but how can casual be used in the same sentence as business or smart when the attributes of each appear to be quite different?

With so much information available on the internet and media sites it feels a little overwhelming I find that it also helps to go back to basics.

to understand the elements of any outfit in terms of design, fabric, and colour choice as well as how you will accessorise your outfit because this has an influence on the overall impact. So in order to inform those elemental choices you first need to consider:

1. The actual intention of the dress code and what message that dress code will portray. For instance relaxed dress codes can make you appear more approachable and friendly with your colleagues. So the intention might be to promote office camaraderie and team dynamics.
2. Your company norms and environment whether that is generally very formal such as a legal firm or more informal such as a creative agency or very casual such as a hi-tech company. Which will indicate just how casual you can go.
3. Whether you will be client facing, leading or giving a presentation and whether you will need to maintain an air of authority or approachability with your attire.
4. Your own personality, style archetype, values and exactly how you wish to be perceived with the message your own image is conveying to the world.

The Four Levels of Office Dress Codes:

To help get a clearer perspective we can go back to basics and take a look at the original levels of dress code which actually has just four categories because this will help us to see where the descriptive wording has changed over time but the elements of the dress code category have remained the same.

Let’s take a look at the attributes of each of the two dress code style categories we are concerned with today, the business casual and smart casual, and what that means in terms of outfit planning because this will help us to understand what we need to know to make the best outfit choices.

The Fundamentals of Outfit Planning

• Appropriateness for the occasion in terms of attire, culture, your role at the event
• Location and weather
• The level of tailoring because the more tailored a garment the more professional you will appear
• The level of authority in your role as some styles and colours command more authority
• The cut of the garments because sharper cuts and angles are more business like
• The drape of the fabric as the softer the drape the more casual you will appear

The Business Formal Dress Code

Business suggests formality, transactions, meetings, being sharp. In terms of clothing this would be a matching tailored skirt suit for women and a tailored suit with a shirt and tie for men, completely formal.

It is the tailoring and structure of the suit especially the jacket that gives an air of authority. As does the colour – darker colours are more formal and the fabric used.

The Business Semi-Formal Dress Code Also known as The Business Casual Dress Code

Smart suggests neat and tidy, elegant, intelligent, sophisticated. In terms of clothing this would be mix and match jacket and skirts or trousers for women, equally mix and match jacket and trousers for men, semi formal.

Casual Dress Code

Casual suggests informal, relaxed, temporary, leisurely, sporty. In terms of clothing this would mean completely unstructured, leisure wear, weekend wear, including jeans and t shirts, completely informal.

How to Combine Business with Casual.

The Business part of Business Casual means that we need to have a tailored jacket.

Make-up and grooming must be

The Casual element of the Business Casual dress code means that the jacket can be softly tailored and does not have to match the skirt or trousers.

1. Formal Business which means tailored matching suits in deeper colours. High quality fabrics and impeccable grooming.
2. Semi Formal Business also known as Business Casual where you still need an air of authority and credibility. Which means tailored jacket and shirts with or without a tie. The jacket does not have to match the skirt or trousers,
3. Informal Business also known as Smart Casual the intention of which is to be approachable and friendly with softly structured pieces that can have some subtle colouring or small scale patterns and prints.
4. Business Resort where there might be a business conference or meeting in a resort hotel or other relaxed environment. This does not mean holiday wear! You still have to maintain a professional credibility.

How to Adapt Dress Codes for Yourself

1. Know your personal style

How you like to express yourself, what type of clothing you are comfortable in. There is such an abundance of choice in terms of fabrics and finishes that you will be able to dress according to any protocol within your own true comfort zone whilst projecting the most appropriate image for you and your company or organisation.

1. Understand your industry dress codes and protocols. From creative environments to boardroom executives the level of authority and approachability will differ.  The higher the level of structure and tailoring to the garment, the higher the quality of the fabric, and the deeper the colours the higher the authority. As you move down to semi tailored jackets with no lapel, cardigans, mix and match suits, patterns, prints and more natural, lighter or brighter colours you have less authority. Wearing neutrals that enhance your eyes, hair and skin tone like caramel, camel, beige, will help you look more approachable.
2. How to make a cohesive look with your outfit. That it harmonises with your colouring, balances your proportions and expresses your personality. The latter can be done by adding the right discreet accessories, this is still work and bold, flamboyant accessories whilst expressing your personality will detract from anything you are trying to say and will become the only thing you are actually remembered for.
3. The fabrics, colours and styles that you choose should tell a story. Unlike high fashion fads and trends business wear should tell a consistent, coherent, and congruent story for each level of dress and should be harmonious with your own inherent qualities, so we see the real you not just your outfits. Classic, elegant and traditional are the style archetypes that tell a similar story and can be easily adapted for that high power air of authority, efficient and professionalism. Romantic, alluring, dramatic high fashion avant grade will not work in the high powered business environment. Though you might be able to adapt with very careful consideration and attention to detail.

As you move to more casual outfits it can become a little easier to express other styles but with careful consideration to the overall impact. More creative environments will, no doubt suit the casual smart attire. Also more suitable for in office desk work, not client facing, casual social meetings or informal meetings with colleagues.

The Business Casual Checklist for Women:

The checklist for men’s outfits is similar: 

Business-casual pivots around a tailored jacket which informs the colour scheme for the whole ensemble, with or without a tie. Socks and shoes should co-ordinate – the rule is to follow the colour of the trouser for selecting the appropriate colour of socks. Very smart beautifully finished T-shirts can be worn under the jacket. This is a look for when the gentleman wants to appear more approachable and friendly such as politicians, formal group training (if a suit is not required), when the dress code is relaxed but you still need that air of authority.

Smart-Casual whilst not centred around a jacket should still have a collar or lapel finish to the neckline. Small to medium patterns or stripes on shirts and smart knitwear may be worn. Good for working in the office not client facing, informal meetings with colleagues, working from home depending on the amount of remote integration and the level of online meetings. 

The choice of colours is important to understand and should be selected from you own personal colour palette. So that you project an authentic, credible, charismatic image unleashing the power and beauty of the real you.

If you’d like to learn more about how to select the right colours take a look at our range of services which include a personal colour analysis as part of the programme.