Womens Dress:
Business Professional
and Casual
X420 Discussion Session #81
Business Casual for
Business Casual for
Women
Women
Appropriate attireknow diference between
Appropriate attireknow diference between
business casual and casual attire
business casual and casual attire
Fewer than 1/3 of all white-collar workers still
Fewer than 1/3 of all white-collar workers still
required to dress formally
required to dress formally
4 out of of those dress down one day a
4 out of of those dress down one day a
week
week
!ain ed"e in business with appropriate attire
!ain ed"e in business with appropriate attire
#e sensiti$e to your industry
#e sensiti$e to your industry
%ress the part for the role you play
%ress the part for the role you play
&o 'uits((
&o 'uits((
&o) suits still important
&o) suits still important
#usiness casual - bla*er
#usiness casual - bla*er
or cardi"an sweater and
or cardi"an sweater and
a coordinatin" skirt
a coordinatin" skirt
#usiness casual is &+,
#usiness casual is &+,
same as casual attire
same as casual attire
A woman-s attire must
A woman-s attire must
say that she means
say that she means
business with .authority/
business with .authority/
0ho 1ares(
0ho 1ares(
A woman must look the part
A woman must look the part
Appearance may make or break her
Appearance may make or break her
career
career
First impression continues to make a
First impression continues to make a
lastin" impression
lastin" impression
2eco"ni*e the $alue of company-s
2eco"ni*e the $alue of company-s
business casual "uidelines
business casual "uidelines
#asics of #usiness 1asual
#asics of #usiness 1asual
A classic suit A classic suit
A na$y or black bla*er A na$y or black bla*er
and skirt and skirt
A cardi"an sweater A cardi"an sweater
A plain white or cream A plain white or cream
blouse in silk or rayon blouse in silk or rayon
or a tailored tee or a tailored tee
0ith a li"ht colored 0ith a li"ht colored
3acket or sweater wear 3acket or sweater wear
a darker colored a darker colored
blouse4 blouse4
5ants and 5antsuits
5ants and 5antsuits
5antsuits are "reat 5antsuits are "reat
in$estments on in$estments on
business casual days4 business casual days4
,rousers and a bla*er ,rousers and a bla*er
or a cardi"an sweater or a cardi"an sweater
are also appropriate4 are also appropriate4
,will pants in black) ,will pants in black)
na$y) or khaki are na$y) or khaki are
appropriate4 appropriate4
6f you are unsure if 6f you are unsure if
slacks are appropriate) slacks are appropriate)
simply mirror the simply mirror the
hi"hest-rankin" female hi"hest-rankin" female
in your company4 in your company4
+ther 1hoices
+ther 1hoices
#asic skirts in black)
#asic skirts in black)
na$y) khaki) or taupe
na$y) khaki) or taupe
'kirts should be
'kirts should be
same len"th as
same len"th as
business professional
business professional
skirt len"th or lon"er
skirt len"th or lon"er
A lon" skirt makes a
A lon" skirt makes a
feminine statement
feminine statement
for business casual
for business casual
#elts) 'hoes) and 7osiery
#elts) 'hoes) and 7osiery
1oordinate with the other items worn 1oordinate with the other items worn
1lassic leather pumps or 8ats in black) na$y) 1lassic leather pumps or 8ats in black) na$y)
taupe) or bur"undy taupe) or bur"undy
7osiery should be the same shade or li"hter 7osiery should be the same shade or li"hter
than shoes and hemline than shoes and hemline
0ith short-slee$ed 3acket or top skin-toned 0ith short-slee$ed 3acket or top skin-toned
hosiery is a must hosiery is a must
9ake black) na$y) or bur"undy handba" and 9ake black) na$y) or bur"undy handba" and
briefcase the smallest si*e possible to still be briefcase the smallest si*e possible to still be
functional functional
:ewelry
:ewelry
:ewelry should be the
:ewelry should be the
same as business
same as business
professional--"old-
professional--"old-
tone or sil$er 3ewelry
tone or sil$er 3ewelry
is best
is best
#asic is best--follow
#asic is best--follow
the rule of 13
the rule of 13
A woman can-t "et
A woman can-t "et
into trouble bein"
into trouble bein"
dressed in a simple)
dressed in a simple)
ele"ant manner
ele"ant manner
7airstyle) 9ake-up) and
7airstyle) 9ake-up) and
Fin"ernails
Fin"ernails
7air should be or "i$e 7air should be or "i$e
appearance of shoulder appearance of shoulder
len"th or shorter len"th or shorter
9akeup should 9akeup should
accentuate features accentuate features
rather than 3umpin" out-- rather than 3umpin" out--
eyes and lips important eyes and lips important
communication tools communication tools
Fin"ernails should be Fin"ernails should be
well maintained with well maintained with
subtle polish or the subtle polish or the
natural look natural look
9istakes in #usiness
9istakes in #usiness
1asual %ressin"
1asual %ressin"
%ressin" too casually %ressin" too casually
4 of the most commonly made 4 of the most commonly made
business casual fau; pas< business casual fau; pas<
&ot wearin" hosiery &ot wearin" hosiery
0earin" a skirt that is too short 0earin" a skirt that is too short
0earin" slee$eless or halter tops and 0earin" slee$eless or halter tops and
see-throu"h blouses see-throu"h blouses
0earin" stretch pants 0earin" stretch pants
7ow to decide what is appropriate 7ow to decide what is appropriate
=ook "ood =ook "ood
%ress up a notch %ress up a notch
,hinkin" an out>t inappropriate means ,hinkin" an out>t inappropriate means
it probably is it probably is
%on-t wear business casual attire when?
%on-t wear business casual attire when?
&ot yet in$ested in business casual attire &ot yet in$ested in business casual attire
0hen talkin" about salary or a performance 0hen talkin" about salary or a performance
appraisal appraisal
0hen unsure of out>t 0hen unsure of out>t
0hen out>t is not cleaned or pressed 0hen out>t is not cleaned or pressed
0hen unsure about an or"ani*ation-s dress code 0hen unsure about an or"ani*ation-s dress code
on a $isit on a $isit
0hen interactin" with potential clients or 0hen interactin" with potential clients or
international clients international clients
Are 3eans appropriate(
Are 3eans appropriate(
0hen the hi"hest-rankin" woman or 1@+ wears 0hen the hi"hest-rankin" woman or 1@+ wears
them to work them to work
And) only if they are cleaned) pressed) and in "ood And) only if they are cleaned) pressed) and in "ood
condition condition
0hat %oes a 0oman-s 5ersonal
0hat %oes a 0oman-s 5ersonal
Appearance 'ay About 7er(
Appearance 'ay About 7er(
2espect for herself and others
2espect for herself and others
7ow much attention to detail she has
7ow much attention to detail she has
6nterest in professional future
6nterest in professional future
Business Professional
Business Professional
Dress
Dress
0omen must look ri"ht to
0omen must look ri"ht to
"et foot in the door
"et foot in the door
+nly suits(
+nly suits(
'ome companies ha$e
'ome companies ha$e
unwritten rule for suits
unwritten rule for suits
only
only
6n other companies)
6n other companies)
business professional dress
business professional dress
can mean suit) dress)
can mean suit) dress)
pantsuit) or bla*er and skirt
pantsuit) or bla*er and skirt
#usiness 5rofessional #asics
#usiness 5rofessional #asics
'uits in black) na$y) "ray) and taupe
'uits in black) na$y) "ray) and taupe
#ri"hter colored 3ackets and skirts from
#ri"hter colored 3ackets and skirts from
business casual may be blended into
business casual may be blended into
business professional
business professional
'kirts that are calf-len"th are appropriate
'kirts that are calf-len"th are appropriate
A bla*er and coordinatin" skirt is
A bla*er and coordinatin" skirt is
appropriate when policy is more rela;ed
appropriate when policy is more rela;ed
=on"-slee$e classic style dress in a "ood
=on"-slee$e classic style dress in a "ood
color
color
#lack) "ray) na$y) and tan are "ood color
#lack) "ray) na$y) and tan are "ood color
choices--pro3ect authority
choices--pro3ect authority
A$oid 8oral desi"ns and other prints
A$oid 8oral desi"ns and other prints
#louses<
#louses<
'olid colors
'olid colors
1ream) white) and other
1ream) white) and other
muted as well as bri"ht
muted as well as bri"ht
colors
colors
1otton) silk) and blouses
1otton) silk) and blouses
made of man-made >bers
made of man-made >bers
that ha$e quality look
that ha$e quality look
#louses of "ood quality)
#louses of "ood quality)
styles) and colors
styles) and colors
#est fabrics<
#est fabrics<
A
0ool) "abardine) cotton)
0ool) "abardine) cotton)
and silk
and silk
A
9an-made fabrics that "i$e
9an-made fabrics that "i$e
the same lookscrunch
the same lookscrunch
test
test
#elts) 'hoes) and 7osiery
#elts) 'hoes) and 7osiery
9atch or be compatible with out>t
9atch or be compatible with out>t
1lassic leather pumps with closed heel and toe 1lassic leather pumps with closed heel and toe
#lack) na$y) taupe) and bur"undy4 #lack) na$y) taupe) and bur"undy4
7eels -- 1 B to 3 inches hi"h 7eels -- 1 B to 3 inches hi"h
7osiery same shade or li"hter than shoes and 7osiery same shade or li"hter than shoes and
hemline -- %ark hose with same color lon"-slee$ed hemline -- %ark hose with same color lon"-slee$ed
suit suit
Accessoriesleather) classic) black) na$y) taupe) or Accessoriesleather) classic) black) na$y) taupe) or
bur"undy bur"undy
5urse/ briefcase compact and functional--small as possible 5urse/ briefcase compact and functional--small as possible
14 carat "old or sterlin" sil$er
14 carat "old or sterlin" sil$er
Accentuate professional attire
Accentuate professional attire
@liminate a piece when in doubt
@liminate a piece when in doubt
'implicity is key
'implicity is key
Follow the rule of 13
Follow the rule of 13
&o dan"lin" earrin"s
&o dan"lin" earrin"s
1lassic-style watch with black) "old)
1lassic-style watch with black) "old)
or sil$er-tone band
or sil$er-tone band
:ewelry
:ewelry
@asy to maintain hairstyle
@asy to maintain hairstyle
7air len"thappearance of shoulder len"th
7air len"thappearance of shoulder len"th
or shorter
or shorter
9ake-up--accentuate features
9ake-up--accentuate features
@yes and lips are important communication
@yes and lips are important communication
tools
tools
Fin"ernails--well maintained) subtle polish
Fin"ernails--well maintained) subtle polish
colors or natural look
colors or natural look
@ye"lasses
@ye"lasses
!lasses denote serious/intelli"ent
!lasses denote serious/intelli"ent
1onser$ati$e frames
1onser$ati$e frames
7airstyle) 9ake-up) and
7airstyle) 9ake-up) and
Fin"ernails
Fin"ernails
Appropriateness
Appropriateness
%ress up a notch %ress up a notch
rather than down a rather than down a
notch notch
!i$e e;tra ed"e by !i$e e;tra ed"e by
lookin" "ood on her lookin" "ood on her
way up ladder way up ladder
Cuality clothes Cuality clothes
6n$estment 6n$estment
,hinkin" an out>t ,hinkin" an out>t
inappropriate-- inappropriate--
probably is probably is
0hat %oes a 0oman-s
0hat %oes a 0oman-s
Appearance 'ay About 7er(
Appearance 'ay About 7er(
2espect
2espect
Attention to detail
Attention to detail
1redibility
1redibility
Achie$e professional "oals
Achie$e professional "oals
Business Dress Codes
Business Dress Codes
1ompany manual
1ompany manual
%istributed to potential and present
%istributed to potential and present
employees
employees
Followed
Followed
@nforced
@nforced
%ress by and for e;ample
%ress by and for e;ample
Dnowled"eable
Dnowled"eable
'ensiti$e to own industry
'ensiti$e to own industry
%ress the part for the role you play
%ress the part for the role you play
'ources<
'ources<
What Does Business Casual for Women
What Does Business Casual for Women
Mean? What Does Business
Mean? What Does Business
Professional Dress Mean for Women
Professional Dress Mean for Women
Today?
Today?
Ann 9arie 'abath) founder of
Ann 9arie 'abath) founder of
At @ase) 6nc4
At @ase) 6nc4
@EA=FA,6+&
@EA=FA,6+&
CF@',6+&'
CF@',6+&'
1. I found the presentation material easy to understand.
2. This discussion session increased my knowledge on
the su!ect presented.
". I will e ale to use some of the information from this
discussion session in the future.
#. The presenter was well prepared for this session.
$. This presentation should e repeated in future
semesters.
%&'( %&'(
a. &trongly )gree a. &trongly )gree
. )gree . )gree
c. Disagree c. Disagree
d. &trongly Disagree d. &trongly Disagree
e. Don*t +now e. Don*t +now
