The world pandemic is nearly over, and people return to the office again. The office demands a new look than the one you practiced at home. You may have been working in your pajamas from home, but it’s time to suit up again and look professional for your colleagues and clients.
Many entirely forgot how to dress when going to work. Some face this kind of challenge for the first time, but whichever category you fit in, you must know how to dress for the office.
There are generally two types of dress codes that one must practice when working from the office. These are the business casual vs business formal look. They differ, and you must know when it’s the time to use one over the other. Keep reading to see the differences and what to wear on various occasions.
What is the Business Formal look?
When dressing business formal outfits, you need to know what you’re aiming for. You’re aiming toward a fresh, clean, sharp, and business look. You need to look like you’re ready and capable of anything. To achieve this look, you must wear a shirt with a tie, a suit, business pants, and leather shoes.
The clothes and accessories should be dark, possibly black. Don’t forget a neutral belt that will connect the tie and the shoes, while the rest of the items are combined with different colors. This kind of look will make you feel and act in control.
When to dress business formal?
If you’re working with clients, dressing business formal is a must. It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with people who come inside your store or you’re about to make a contract with a multi-billionaire; all these people deserve your flawless business look.
When you’re dressed this way, people feel you know what you’re doing. Every CEO, manager, or person that needs to handle things must dress with a formal business look and ensure everyone sees them as the person in charge.
What is the Business Casual look?
The business casual look is a more laid-back approach to work and the office. CEOs and managers can still wear this style, but they need to be sure that they always have what is needed for dressing back formally again if needed.
The casual look needs no tie with the shirt and no suit, but it won’t hurt if one wears a sporty version. In business casual, you still need trousers, but you can wear various colors and styles. You can match them with all kinds of shoes and socks that can make a statement about your feelings or moods.
When to dress Business Casual?
When you’re in the office working with colleagues, it’s best to be dressed well enough for everyone to see you as a valuable asset around them, but you don’t have to push too much and dress like you’re about to have a meeting with valuable clients that deserve your top looks.
If you’re working in an office, you can wear jeans, shirts, and comfortable shoes. Still, it doesn’t mean you can go in shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt. You’re not at the beach but in the office, and some minimum style is still required.
What is the main difference between them?
When thinking about which style to choose, you need to consider the occasion. Although you can never go wrong with the formal business look, you should still feel relaxed at work. It’s not easy spending the entire day behind the computer working on spreadsheets in a tight suit.
Instead, you should enjoy the freedom of a light shirt that looks good and professional but still allows you the freedom of movement and feel comfortable while working. On the other hand, if you have important meetings, it’s best to dress formally.
Don’t forget the small details when dressing formally. Aside from the accessories we mentioned, you might want to think about sunglasses that will protect you from the sun and show class. Wear a wristwatch if you wish to make a complete impression, but don’t go overboard with items and accessories because you might risk looking like it’s too much.
Conclusion
When you’re thinking about how to get dressed, you need to know the occasion for it. You shouldn’t put on too much effort for an ordinary office day, but you should mind the details if you’re holding a manager position and have many meetings.
Choose your outfit, and make sure to leave the right impact. You’ll want to wear a suit and tie for dressing formally, while the casual look requires just a suit that doesn’t even have to be tucked in your trousers. The color choice and matching your shoes with your tie is essential when dressing formally but not as important when going casual.
