BUSINESS ETIQUETTE:
Office Attire for Managers
Dr. Muhammad Ziaulhaq Mamun, Professor
Institute of Business Administration
University of Dhaka
September 2019
BUSINESS ATTIRE
GENERAL GUIDELINES
Right business attire is an important factor in career advancement. The business industry
requires the appearance of trusted business professionals, with a more formal dress code, as
they interact with the customers, suppliers and other businesses on a daily basis. They must
project the image of a trustworthy, knowledgeable business professional.
There are 3 main types of "business dress": Professional Dress, Business Casual and Campus
Casual.
1. Professional Dress
This is the most conservative type of business wear. It’s what you’ll be expected to wear in the
office if you work in accounting, finance, or other conservative industries. For women, this
means a business suit or pants suit, or dress and jacket. For men, professional dress means a
business suit or a blazer, dress pants and a tie.
2. Business Casual
This is a more relaxed version of "Professional Dress", but it doesn’t mean you’re actually
going to be "casual". This is likely going to be your office dress code if you work in a semi-
conservative workplace, but some interviews and events may also call for business casual.
Basically, business casual is a shirt with a collar and/or a sweater, khakis or dress pants and
nice shoes for women. Women can also sometimes wear a moderate length dress or skirt. For
men, business casual is a polo shirt or shirt with a collar and/or sweater, khakis or dress pants
and dress shoes. No tie is required.
3. Campus Casual
Campus casual is what you probably won’t be wearing to work. This is the technical term for
what you’re probably wearing every day – jeans, tee shirts, flip flops, sneakers. You may be
asked to wear campus casual to some very informal on-campus interviews and career days, and
some casual networking events. In general, you probably want to stay away from this in the
workplace and err towards more conservative stuff.
In the next two sections, we will take a closer look at the right business attire for women and
men. The suggestions include both professional and business casual.
Right Business Attire for Female Executives
CLOTHES
Slacks, Pants, and
Suit Pants
• Slacks that are similar to Dockers and other makers
of cotton or synthetic material, wool pants, flannel
pants, pants that match a suit jacket, and nice
looking dress synthetic pants are acceptable.
• Pants are good for site visits
• Capris and cropped pants are not appropriate
Skirts, Dresses, and
Skirted Suits
• Dresses, skirts, skirts with jackets, dressy two-piece
knit suits or sets, and skirts that are split at or below
the knee are acceptable.
• Dress and skirt length should be at a length at which
we can sit comfortably in public.
• Skirts should be knee length and not too tight
• Avoid high slits
Shirts, Tops, Blouses,
Suits and Jackets
• Shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, tops, and turtlenecks
are acceptable attire for work if they contribute to
the appearance of formal, professional dress.
• Preferred colors for shirts are white or light colors
• Most suit jackets or sport coats are desirable attire
for the office
• Sweaters include knit, sweater sets and cardigans
• You may wear a blazer or suit jacket with pants or
skirt
• Trendier or casual suits are also appropriate
• Jacket sleeve length should fall ½ inch below wrist
• Neutral Colors for suits: black, grey, brown, navy
Sarees and Salwar
Kameez
• If you are not comfortable wearing Western clothes,
you can always opt for traditional wear like sarees
and salwar kameez for office
• Keep the print simple and focus more on the cut
• A saree or a salwar kameez is perfectly suitable as
long as it looks professional and not like party wear
• Sarees are more preferrable when attending
important events like presentations, office dinners,
etc.
• Solid colors are more preferrable
Shoes and
Footwear
• Conservative walking shoes, dress shoes, oxfords,
loafers, boots, flats, dress heels, and backless shoes are
acceptable for work.
• Not wearing stockings or socks is inappropriate.
• Avoid open toed shoes or sandals
• Heels or flats are acceptable
• Wear basic pumps with a low heel, 1-2 inches high
• No stilettos or platforms
• Wear neutral hosiery or trouser socks
GROOMING
Hair
• A smart look is one that is above the shoulder
or worn up.
• Invest in a good-looking, easy care cut that is
currently in style.
• We should avoid styles that we have to keep
brushing back from our face.
• We should wash our hair every day, but never
arrive at the office with our hair still wet.
Makeup, Perfume, and
Hands and nails
Cologne
•• Especially
A professional “talk” with
if weappearance our hands, and
is encouraged we
should keep
excessive them ismoisturized
makeup and stay with
unprofessional.
• subtle nail remember
We should polish colors or a employees
that some coat of clear
are
polish.
allergic to the chemicals in perfumes and
• We have so
makeup, to make sure wear
we should that our nails
these are not
substances
too
withlong.
restraint.
ACCESSORIZING
Briefcases and
Jewelry
handbags
•• High
Both should
quality
Scarves, beand
costume
Hats as Head
small as
jewelry practicable
is fine, while
except for the
remaining
rings functional.
and they should
Covering be real gold or silver.
•• We
The can
bestwear
colorsonly
are one ring
black, on each
brown hand and one
and burgundy.
•• Hats are
earring not
in appropriate
each ear. in the office.
Carrying a flat folio or briefcase is preferable to a
•• Scarves
We mustn’t
large, and wear
Head
hard-sided Covers
flashy
one. that are
jewelry requiredthat
or bracelets for
jangle whenever we move your hand.
religious purposes or to honor cultural tradition are
• allowed.
Should be simple -avoid big, dangly earrings
• Wear only one pair of earrings
• Maximum of one ring per hand
UNACCEPTABLE BUSINESS CASUAL ATTIRE FOR WOMEN
• Bare-midriff tops
• T-shirts with potentially offensive words, terms, logos, pictures, cartoons, slogans or
graphics
• Flip flops, athletic shoes, tennis shoes, sandals, slippers, and any casual shoe with an open
toe
• Micro miniskirts
• Visible lingerie
• Spandex exercise clothing
• Sweat shirts and pants
• Short shorts
• Sun dresses
• Spaghetti-strap dresses or camisoles
• Tank tops
• Halter tops
• Shiny or see-through fabrics
• Ripped jeans
• Flowing, floor-length skirts or pants
• Multiple body piercings
• Visible tattoos
Right Business Attire for Male Executives
CLOTHES
Slacks, Pants, and
Suit Pants
• Jacket and pants must match
• The pant leg should touch the front of the shoe and
fall above the heel in the back
• A manager should wear formal pants in the office
environment during his work hour.
• Most offices don’t allow jeans at all, so it is better
not to wear them.
• Dark colored pants are recommended for a
manager, unless he chooses to wear a light colored
suit in general.
Shirts
• Managers should wear a tucked in formal shirt in the
office.
• Shirts can be both half or full sleeve but full sleeved
shirt is recommended for managers in the work
environment.
• White or muted shirt with collar
• The sleeve of shirt should extend ½ inch beyond the
suit jacket sleeve
• A solid color shirt is most used by managers.
• The combination of shirt and pants is also important in
the work environment. The most commonly used
combination is a light colored shirt with dark colored
pants.
Suits
• The color of the coat should match with the color of the
pant..
• Suit should be solid or have subtle pinstripes
• Jacket should be buttoned while standing and
unbuttoned while seated
• Avoid double breasted jackets
• Neutral Colors: black, grey, navy, brown
Ties
• The tie should not be of the same color as the shirt
worn by him.
• Conservative ties are preferred. Conservative ties are
dark colored, such as dark blue, dark red or dark brown.
• Ties with solid colors or subtle patterns such as stripes
and dots are preferred.
• Length: The tie should reach your belt
Shoes and
Footwear
• A pair of well shined formal shoes is recommended for
a manager.
• Sandals or Sneakers is absolutely prohibited in the work
environment because it portrays unprofessionalism.
• Polished, leather shoes
• Wear dark socks that match shoes and are calf length
Hair
• A manager’s hairstyle should create a good first
impression in the workplace.
• It should be short or medium, as long hair for men
is not well accepted especially in our society.
• The hair should be set properly and hair gel should
not be used for hairstyling.
GROOMING
