Breaking Down Business Casual

IMG_2698

Hello hello hello! Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. I just want to take a quick second to thank everyone that has supported me in this and say that I have had SO MUCH fun doing this, and my husband has become quite the camera man! (lol)

So today I want to focus on some easy and modest business casual looks. If you’re in the job hunting part of your life or your starting to think about that OR you are like me and still trying to nail down exactly what business casual means, then this post is for you!

Business attire get expensive and FAST! I have been fortunate enough to be able to find a majority of my dress pants at a second hand shop or store and let me tell you, if you can, that is the way. to. go. That being said, I will reference some of my favorite pieces at the actual store, which for the investment, they can be worth the price (maybe just try and hit a sale, ya know?).

There is much speculation on what business casual dress actually is. Wikipedia says this. I am going to go with their first definition as my guideline because I’m pretty sure my employer took their dress code right from Wikipedia 😉

business casual states that it includes khaki pants, slacks, and skirts, as well as short-sleeved polo shirts and long-sleeved shirts, but excludes jeans, tennis shoes, tight or short skirts, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.

Let’s get started with a list of basics that you can mix and match and tailor to your place of work. This might sound boring, but trust me, there is plenty of room for creativity and embellishment.

Basics

  • Black, Grey and/or Tan dress pants –> these are my favorite
  • A White Blouse
  • Black or Tan flats (Depending on the color scheme you like more… tan goes with black and brown, so that’s a win win) –> these are very reasonably priced and I have personally walked in them all day with out so much as an ache or blister.
  • A few boat neck (my personal favorite right here) or embellished neckline tops made of thick cotton (this is not a t-shirt, I believe the reference in the definition to a t-shirt is probably saying don’t wear your AC/DC concert shirt tucked into trousers) This section could include polos if you are into that. I am not a fan of them on myself because my entire 7th/8th grade wardrobe was a rainbow of polos. No I did not have to wear a uniform this was by choice. (yes..YIKES)
  • A White and a Black long sleeve top (offices are ALWAYS cold.. that’s a fact)
  • A Black and a Grey turtleneck
  • An a-line skirt AND/OR dress in either a pattern or a neutral color (obviously a neutral or solid color will be more versatile)
  • Black kitten heels –> I have ALWAYS had wonderful luck with Bandolino kitten heels (and I’ve always gotten them second hand)
  • A dressy cardigan or even a blazer in a neutral color (Black, Tan, Navy) –> try this one.

This might seem like a long list but you probably already have a few of these items, so that is a good start. I stuck to a VERY neutral pallet, mostly because these basic items are forgettable if you will. A.K.A – No one will remember you wore those pants Monday AND Thursday, ya dig?

Creatives

Here are a few ways you can set yourself apart even with a very neutral wardrobe and you will see in my pictures how small deviations off the list of basics can give you a very distinct style even in the business casual world! 🙂

  • Hair!
  • SHOES!
  • Shiny things like jewelry!

Tailored items

A good white blouse is a wonderful investment. Take care of it and you will have it for a long time. This one is from The Limited.

DSC_0718

tailored_jacket

This fitted Ann Taylor jacket hits right at the waist and is the perfect work appropriate denim. Paired with flats or kitten heels this is a timeless look. I purchased this on thredUp for under $20.

DSC_0737

Here I swapped my skirt and blouse for a simple A-line sleeveless dress and kitten heels. This is the perfect work-to-evening attire if you have somewhere to go after work and it’s comfy too!

IMG_2686

IMG_2687

Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! Statement jewelry and even simple understated jewelry will help define your unique business style.

DSC_0732

Think of how much of an accessory your hair is! This is enough to add pizazz to any look! (PS- is a hair tutorial something anyone would be interested in in the future? Let me know in the comments!)

DSC_0741

Swippity Swap

three_swap

top_swap

So, what do you all think? Does business casual seem less daunting now that you have a few obtainable visuals?

Let me know in the comments! Thank you again, for reading!

Keep on keeping on,

modest blondie secondary logo 4

6 Replies to “Breaking Down Business Casual”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *