Guide To Business Attire (With Examples)
Updated July 31, 2023
Business attire is the clothing you wear in professional settings. You might decide how to dress depending on the scenario, such as an interview or for a meeting or the type of industry you work in. There are varying levels of business attire, ranging from “casual” to “business formal.” Based on the setting, you can decide which kind of business attire is appropriate.
In this article, we take a closer look at the different types of business attire, examples of clothing types and the situations they’re appropriate for.
Types of business attire
Below is an outline of the most common types of business attire:
1. Casual
Casual business attire is informal clothing worn not only in most business settings but also in many settings outside of work. You might wear casual clothing if you work in an informal office where others wear things like T-shirts, jeans and open-toed shoes. You should avoid wearing casual dress with clients and in interviews, even if the office is casual overall.
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Casual dress includes items like T-shirts, blouses, button-down shirts and sweaters on top. Bottoms might include jeans, khaki pants, cropped pants or shorts. Casual shoes can include sneakers, loafers, low heels or sandals.
Examples of casual attire: Casual dress includes items like T-shirts, button-down shirts, blouses and sweaters on top. Bottoms might include jeans, khakis, linen pants, cropped pants or shorts. Casual shoes can include sneakers, loafers, low heels or sandals.
Related: Understanding a Casual Dress Code (Plus Tips and Examples)
2. Smart casual
Smart casual is another form of casual business attire with a stylish twist. You might include more trendy pieces of clothing if dressing in smart casual. This type of business attire is appropriate for more flexible offices including informal settings.
You might also choose to wear smart casual in an interview for a more informal office. This way, you fit in with their informal dress code while still maintaining a clean, professional look that communicates that you care about your appearance.
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Smart casual includes items like blazers, sports jackets, dresses, sweaters, trousers, khakis, skirts, blouses, button-down shirts, polos, dress shoes, boots, heels, flats, scarves and jewelry.
Examples of smart casual attire: Smart casual might include items like blazers, sports jackets, ties, button-down shirts, collared shirts, dresses, sweaters, trousers, khakis, skirts, blouses, heels, flats, dress shoes, clean sneakers, jewelry, belts and scarves.
Read more: Guide to Smart Casual Attire (With Examples)
3. Business casual
Business casual is a common form of dress worn in many offices. While many classic business staples are used in business casual wear, there are casual elements included like khakis.
Business casual is appropriate for many interviews, client meetings and office settings. Because it is not very casual and also not very formal, this is usually an appropriate way to dress if you’re unsure about the setting.
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Business casual includes trousers, pencil skirts, slacks, khakis, blouses, button-down shirts, polos, sweaters and sports coats. Accessories may include simple jewelry, belts or ties. Business casual shoes include loafers, lifestyle sneakers (with leather or canvas), mules, flats, Oxfords, boots and heels.
Examples of business casual attire: Examples of business casual clothing include pencil skirts, slacks, khakis, trousers, blouses, collared shirts, button-down shirts, sport coats, blazers and sweaters. Accessorize with jackets, ties, simple jewelry and belts. Shoes can include flats, lifestyle sneakers (with leather or canvas), Oxfords, loafers, mules, boots or heels.
Read more: What Does "Business Casual" Mean? (With Example Outfits)
4. Business professional
Business professional is a traditional form of attire used in more conservative settings or companies with strict dress codes. You might wear business professional in industries like finance, government or law. Business professional clothes should be well-fitted and may be tailored to fit you specifically.
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Business professional typically refers to clothing choices like dark-colored (gray, navy) suits and ties, pantsuits, tidy dresses, skirts or slacks. Tops include button-down shirts (in colors like white or light-blue), blouses and a blazer.
Shoes should be closed-toe like an Oxford, loafer and classic heels no higher than 3 inches. Accessories can include minimal jewelry, matching belts and ties in a solid color or stripes. Avoid chunky, noisy jewelry, bold colors and busy patterns.
Examples of business professional attire: When dressing business professional, you can wear tidy dresses, slacks, skirts, slacks, dark-colored suits and ties. Business professional tops include neat button-down shirts or blouses with a blazer. Business professional shoes include heels, loafers or flats. You can accessorize with minimal jewelry and belts.
Read more: Business Professional Attire: Tips on How To Dress for It
5. Business formal
Business formal is reserved for the most formal settings such as award ceremonies, special dinners, benefits or other important evening events. Business formal is similar to “black tie,” but should be reserved to maintain professionalism.
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Business formal might include clothing choices similar to "business professional," including dark suits and ties, pantsuits, skirt suits or suit dresses. This dress code can also align with "black tie," so depending on the function, a long evening dress may be appropriate.
Shoe options include Oxfords or loafer shoes with clean lines, flats and heels. Avoid wearing brown shoes with a black ensemble. Accessorize a business formal outfit with belts, a tie clip and/or minimalist jewelry.
Examples of business formal attire: Business formal includes a dark pants suit, dark suit and tie, a black suit with a light button-down shirt, skirt suit or suit dress. In some cases, a long evening dress may be appropriate. Shoe options include formal flats, heels, Oxfords or loafers. Accessorize with jewelry, belts, a tie clip, or small cuff links.
Read more: What Is Business Formal Attire?
6. Gender-neutral professional dress
There are several ways of dressing for the workplace and different degrees of formality that do not adhere to a gender binary.
You can dress gender-neutral elements up or down depending on the situation for which you’re dressing. For casual dress, jeans, sweaters and shirts are all great options. For shoes, you might choose trendy sneakers, sandals or loafers.
For more formal forms of dress, you might choose slacks, trousers or neat chinos. Options for tops include sweaters, button-downs or shirts with cardigans. Shoes might include loafers, oxfords or stylish lace-up shoes.
Pantsuits are a great option for any formal setting. These can be paired with flat or slightly heeled oxfords or loafers.
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Gender-neutral attire can be dressed up or down depending on the situation for which you’re dressing. For casual dress, jeans, sweaters and shirts are all great options. For shoes, you might choose trendy sneakers, sandals or loafers.
For more formal forms of dress, you might choose slacks, trousers or neat chinos. Options for tops include sweaters, button-downs or shirts with cardigans. Shoes might include loafers, oxfords or stylish lace-up shoes.
Pantsuits are a great option for any formal setting. These can be paired with flat or slightly heeled oxfords or loafers.
Read more: Guide to Gender-Neutral Attire
Business attire tips
When deciding how to dress for certain situations, there are a few things to consider:
If you work in an office, pay close attention to the way people dress. While the office may be casual, you might notice that people in leadership positions dress slightly more formally. You may choose to dress similarly to the people who hold the position you would like to reach.
If you’re going to an interview, check the company’s “About Us” page and social media profiles for clues about their culture. They might have pictures or videos about their offices where you can see how employees typically dress. If you’re still unsure, ask your recruiter or another contact what they recommend you wear to be successful in the interview.
If you’re going to a business meeting, ask your colleagues who may know or have met with this same person about how their offices operate and how you can appear respectful and professional during your meeting with them.
In any setting, avoid overly large or busy accessories, heels that are four inches or higher, and any clothing with profanity or possibly offensive imagery or phrases.
You might use different styles of business attire for different settings or occasions. Pay attention to the dress code, if applicable. If not, look to other people’s styles of dress or ask around if needed. Dressing appropriately can help you be seen as a professional employee who cares about your success in the role.
Related: How To Dress for a Job Interview
Frequently asked questions
Why is professional attire important?
Professional attire contributes to several important elements of a business, including productivity, company image and employee morale. Here are a few examples of how a professional dress code can benefit the workplace:
Makes a positive impression on people visiting the workplace
Creates and maintains a cohesive professional image
Fosters a sense of belonging among team members
Boosts the confidence of employees
Encourages fair treatment of employees by supervisors
What are the common mistakes when choosing business attire?
While mistakes may arise when selecting clothes for work, there are plenty of easy ways to avoid them. Here are some common mistakes alongside solutions you can use:
Ill-fitting clothing: Taking measurements before ordering clothes online or purchasing custom-made clothing can help avoid this.
Stained or damaged clothing: Regular upkeep, such as frequently washing and repairing or replacing clothes, can prevent this.
Worn-out footwear: Regularly cleaning and polishing footwear can help to restore the appearance of shoes.
Improper grooming: Features such as hair and nails can be regularly cut, cleaned and styled to ensure a well-groomed appearance.
What is not appropriate business attire?
While appropriate business attire may differ from business to business, depending on dress codes, some clothing options are best avoided entirely. For example, ripped clothing, short skirts or shorts, transparent tops or trousers and generally tight clothing items are often not favored by businesses.
Is it OK to ask about the office dress code?
If you're unsure about the dress code at your workplace, it is best to inquire. Asking managers and the human resources (HR) team enables you to retrieve a clear response regarding acceptable business attire. You can either directly ask during your interview or email questions like What is the dress code for this role?
Does dress code improve performance?
Dress codes in the workplace can dictate how employees work. It can create unity among team members and boost confidence, motivating individuals to work better and ultimately enhancing productivity.
Are there any disadvantages of a dress code in the workplace?
One disadvantage of a dress code is that some people may experience discomfort due to the materials and fit of professional clothing. This can be overcome by choosing the correct size, soft fabrics and appropriate fit. You can also have your clothing personally tailored to suit you.
Another disadvantage is that a professional dress code may restrict self-expression because it commonly consists of basic, formal designs. Self-expression helps people feel more confident and can help them perform better at work. While work attire may be relatively uniform and generic, there are some ways you can add character to outfits. For instance, wearing your preferred colors and business-appropriate accessories, such as scarves, jewelry and belts.
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