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Business Casual???
Posted By: vpstapleycvw* on 8/11/2005 11:46 PM (CST) 250 Points
Hello Again Everyone,

What is the current trend for Business Attire??
I heard it was going back to the business basics of a long sleeve button shirt woth a tie and suit jacket.
Can anyone tell me??
Thank you as always,
Kelli-Anne

Posted by: psulion791 Accepted Answer
8/12/2005 8:02 AM (CST)
I am in a business casual setting: polo/button down and khakis/dress pants.

However, you are correct: business professional is making a comeback. This is especially true for those working in firms, or those who are often dealing with clients.

There is often an industry standard too. Technology fields are usually more apt to business casual, while business (acctg, finance etc.) are more traditional. The same holds true for departments within large organizations.
 
Posted by: fred.ramstedt* Accepted Answer
8/12/2005 9:15 AM (CST)
being the son of a rag man i have to tell you that in no uncertain terms i abominate business casual. i realize that maintaining wardrobes is an expensive undertaking but with the price of gas soaring, home values entering the stratosphere and all these new, high paying jobs the administration is off shoring i think we can all cost justify an exceptional waerdrobe even if it doesn't mean looking like paul stuart. the ibm dress for success model of the 50s and 60s means just that. there is no subtext there. if you're in a professional services environment, try to dress as well as your boss. if he's a slob, well, can he blame you for dressing better? if you're in a casual environment, well, my opinion is that unless you work in a levi's store or a gap or anywhere else denim is sold and moreover part of the corporate mantra, jeans are always unacceptable. sneakers too, unless, again, you work in a place that either makes them or sells them. is there somthing wrong with wearing a pressed shirt, khakis that are dressier than these no iron pos that don't breathe, something that may have cost you $115 and is made of gaberdine or moleskin? i'm not saying you need to be a mannequin in a polo shop or lurk in the back of brooks brothers where the shirts intersect with the socks and boxer shorts trying to fit in. be yourself, but be a dressier yourself. at the end of the day, if you're working in a surf shop, you have a lot of latitude when it comes to your physical presentation, but how many of us work in a surf shop, or sling hash in a kitchen.

if anyone and i mean anyone wants clothing advice i'm your man. people often tell me i would have bested even jeeves when it comes to doling out sartorial advice.
 
Posted by: fred.ramstedt* Accepted Answer
8/12/2005 9:20 AM (CST)
being the son of a rag man i have to tell you that in no uncertain terms i abominate business casual. i realize that maintaining wardrobes is an expensive undertaking but with the price of gas soaring, home values entering the stratosphere and all these new, high paying jobs the administration is off shoring i think we can all cost justify an exceptional waerdrobe even if it doesn't mean looking like paul stuart. the ibm dress for success model of the 50s and 60s means just that. there is no subtext there. if you're in a professional services environment, try to dress as well as your boss. if he's a slob, well, can he blame you for dressing better? if you're in a casual environment, well, my opinion is that unless you work in a levi's store or a gap or anywhere else denim is sold and moreover part of the corporate mantra, jeans are always unacceptable. sneakers too, unless, again, you work in a place that either makes them or sells them. is there somthing wrong with wearing a pressed shirt, khakis that are dressier than these no iron pos that don't breathe, something that may have cost you $115 and is made of gaberdine or moleskin? it's friday today and i am wearing a yellow button down, and hermes tie, a grey suit from j press and english shoes. my colleague, on the other hand, is wearing an unpressed ls shirt with the tails out, jeans and sneakers. i'm not saying you need to be a mannequin in a polo shop or lurk in the back of brooks brothers where the shirts intersect with the socks and boxer shorts trying to fit in. be yourself, but be a dressier yourself. at the end of the day, if you're working in a surf shop, you have a lot of latitude when it comes to your physical presentation, but how many of us work in a surf shop, or sling hash in a kitchen. still, we're in business to make money doing or selling whatever it is that we do or sell. that is the only reason any venture competes in the market. the question is who do you want to give your monet to?

if anyone and i mean anyone wants clothing advice i'm your man. people often tell me i would have bested even jeeves when it comes to doling out sartorial advice. apart from food and wine, clothing is the only subject on which i consider myself an expert. anything else, well, i'm just a mediorce hack.

i need to adjust my tie bar now.
 
Posted by: michael Accepted Answer
8/12/2005 11:34 AM (CST)
Our clients have been heading back to business attire. Unless we're selling out services to a farmer or oil rig developer, we're in "Customer Contact Apparel"

It also depends on whether customers visit your place of business. Those businesses who get customer visits often post a sign saying "Friday is casual day, but to participate in this day employees contribute $2 to american cancer society each friday"

Things like that keep employees happy and put a good spin on it for customers.

Micheal
 
Posted by: stevea Accepted Answer
8/12/2005 4:12 PM (CST)
My Dear Kelli-Anne

Being British, we professionals have no problems in understanding the required dress codes expected of us. I admit that the lower orders perchance suffer a quandary in wondering whether to wear their best suit to the office on the off-chance that a director might grace the building with his presence, or whether they should keep it in pristine condition for those occasions where one’s sartorial presence will determine one’s future progression from humble clerk to second under manager (filing)

We, the managerial class, dress easily in Black Jacket, pin-stripe trousers, grey waistcoat with gold watch chain, modest regimental or school tie and black bowler hat from Herbert Johnson of Bond Street. Shoes are by Lobbs of St James’s and are hand made. On the occasions where a touch of formality is mandated, perhaps due to a spot of lunch at the Savoy, a set of tails with black tie will usually suffice. Only parvenus will wear the top-hat, this being entirely inappropriate during the day time, unless of course one is attending Ascot.

Oiks can wear what they will but they don’t count.

One if the reasons why this simple dress code is so valuable is that no man knows how to dress unless he is told how to do so and at 6.30 in the morning, ones wife is not yet of a mind to give advice if navy slacks will look good with a Pringle jumper and a Harris Tweed jacket or whether a pair of Chino’s (Whatever they are) will go with one’s son’s baseball cap for that oh-so-important meeting with an American Hedge-Fund Manager.

As a result, if given the choice of how to dress of a morning, I end up looking like our gardener, which I suppose is OK for meeting those Hedge Fund Managers (Whatever they are)

Steve Alker
Unimax Solutions
(dress code: Yes please)
 
Posted by: chough Accepted Answer
8/13/2005 3:59 AM (CST)
It's a minefield! We've turned up to pitch for new business, in a big corporate environment, suited & booted, to be met by the prospective client team in ripped jeans & t-shirts. And they weren't a young start up either! We're pretty casual in our office, jeans t-shirts ar ethe order of the day (we are a design studio after all), but when meeting clients, whether in our enironment or theirs, I think it's repectful to don a smart shirt, clean shoes and a whistle. (a suit for our non uk readers!). I don't think a tie is particularly necessary these days, but I think the general rule of thumb is it's difficult to be overdressed, but quite easy to be underdressed. I keep a set of smart gear in the office in case of emergency meetings! This message is obviously written from a male perspective.
 
Posted by: SRyan ;] Member Response
8/15/2005 5:07 AM (CST)
The trend?  More and more of us are working from home.  Clean jammies and warm bunny slippers do just fine, thank you very much!  ;]
 
Posted by: fred.ramstedt* Member Response
8/15/2005 2:03 PM (CST)
well done and said, mr alker. i enjoyed your comments.
 
Posted by: ASVP/ChrisB Member Response
8/18/2005 5:48 PM (CST)
Steve Alker should get an award for his consistent, enduring and very English eloquence.

Makes me feel homesick, until I remember about the weather.

Simply excellent.

ChrisB
 


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