Business casual has changed from khakis, button-down shirts and jeans to T-shirts, running shoes and jeans. This shift has been driven by companies who want their team members to look professional and neat, as well as employees looking to be comfortable.
Business casual was popularized in the 1980s, during the tech boom. The business casual movement has evolved over the years.
History of Business Attire
Business casual is a casual yet professional style of dressing. The early 2000s saw companies began to realize the necessity for an updated dress code. This was due in large part to the current economic situation and the advent of the internet which made it much easier for employees to work at home.
The look of business casual has since evolved to incorporate various trends throughout the years. The rules may differ based on the field. Some industries, such as law and finance, still require formal attire. However, other industries such as creative and technology allow for a more relaxed style of business attire.
In traditional American workplaces, suits and ties were commonplace during the 1960s. The trend of power dressing for women also continued into the 1980s with the rise of shoulder pads and the imposing high-heeled shoes (Newsweek). The 1990s, however technology ushered in a more relaxed dress code, with Casual Friday as well as Dockers.
Dockers Khaki pants revolutionized the definition of business casual attire. The https://insidemen.vn/ popularity of this pants caused Levi’s to publish a “guide to casual businesswear,” which paved the way for companies to shift away from suits and ties.
Corporate Dress Code Evolution
Traditionally, corporate dress codes were firmly defined and strictly enforced. But, many businesses have found that an approach that is more flexible is the best way to attract and retain employees in an ever-changing workplace landscape. By encouraging employees to feel comfortable, business casual dress has increased productivity. This policy allows employees to mix and match outfits to meet their needs which reduces costs for wardrobe.
Flexible dress codes are also in keeping with the reality of working remotely. Employees can concentrate on their work without having to worry about the dress code they will wear for videoconferences. Additionally, casual clothes make it easier to share information across cultures and time zones.
Certain companies require their employees to dress business-like such as law firms and financial firms. Others are trying out with less formal dress code requirements and even informal Fridays in order to increase productivity and morale. Be aware of your employees’ preferences and their specific roles in deciding whether to relax the dress code at your workplace. You should also specify acceptable dress codes so that employees know who to contact should they ever have any questions or concerns. This will decrease the chance of confusion and violations like wearing jeans that are ripped to work or in inappropriate footwear. It will be much simpler to alter your dress code, as well as for your employees.
Casual Friday Origin
It is a little known fact that Casual Friday, the perk at work that we all love and know about was created in Hawaii. It was originally conceived in order to increase the sales of Hawaiian T-shirts, however the dress code change spread across the nation and eventually became the basis for today’s Business Casual Dress Code.
Casual day became more popular and by the beginning of the 90s, a lot of businesses provided it to employees as a perk. The idea was popular with tech companies, whose employees were already accustomed to wearing T-shirts and jeans. Since the advent of internet connectivity and the ability to work from anywhere, this trend became more prevalent.
As this trend in the workplace increased, HR managers had to establish guidelines that would walk the line between formal and casual attire. Levi’s was well aware of this and decided to increase their brand’s recognition through an effective marketing campaign. In 1992, the company distributed an informational booklet on business casual wear to more than 25,000 HR professionals. It saved Casual Friday and also made Levi’s Khakis the standard business casual style.
Although the concept of Casual Friday has evolved to become a standard in working life, it can be confusing for some employees. Forcing people to wear clothing that makes them uncomfortable leads to declines in productivity, so it’s important to establish clearly defined guidelines to ensure that employees are relaxed while still fulfilling the requirements of their employers. When developing a dress code for casual attire it is important to take into account the generations that differ. The younger employees tend to be more inclined to wear informal attire than the older employees.
Modern Business Casual Fashions
The work environment has changed since the introduction of hybrid schedules remote work, hybrid schedules and other emerging technologies. The changing trends in the workplace has affected both men and women, resulting in a new era of business-casual attire. These aren’t formal like traditional suits and ties.
While the more relaxed formal dress code promotes the creation of a welcoming and inviting workplace, it requires professionalism. Employers who uphold the dress code will be looking at employees who have dressed appropriately, without crossing the line into too casual clothing. This includes avoiding shirts that have cuts-outs, midriff-baring clothing and shorts with too much the cleavage. It is also important to avoid overly fashion-forward bags and jewelry.
For the business casual dresscode for business casual, a shirt that has solid or neutral-colored patterns which is tailored to perfection is ideal. It is also possible to pull up your sleeves to give a relaxed look. Men may choose to omit the tie as well.
MaryKathryn McArthur is the lead stylist at Short Story, an online retailer and personal styling service catering to women who are petite. She believes that the most important thing to navigating a business-casual dress code is finding the “balance between formal wear and casual wear” and still maintaining an elegant look.
