It’s Time For “Business Casual” To Retire.

Covid-19 changed a lot about how we view the workplace. Where we worked, how, when, and with whom. Most of us went from daily office hours and business professional attire to a comfy couch with pajamas paired with a zoom call friendly blouse… if that. We learned that almost anything can be made into an email instead of a meeting, our clothes don’t make us any less productive, and a lot more job roles could be made into remote positions than we’d thought before. We also learned that we were all a lot more burned out than we realized, and have a serious need to reframe the work mentality as a collective in this post-pandemic world: dress code included.

“Business casual” is the go-to dress code for most workplaces in the US… but why? Tradition? Sexism? Maybe it’s simply generational. It’s certainly not rooted in productivity or morale boosting. We often find ourselves spending more than what we find on a single paycheck just to stay in line with what attire “business casual” demands. These millennials believe, like many other things, it’s time to make a change.

Without making the jump from business casual slacks and blazers to too casual tees or shorts, where does the new dress code fall? Many have deemed this new in between category of attire “Smart Casual”. From a quick google search, results from primermagazine.com tell us: “Smart casual is a pair of dark, slim jeans, a blazer, and desert boots. Smart casual is also chinos, a patterned shirt, and a bomber jacket. Done right, a smart casual look can work in “casual,” “business casual,” and even some “dressed up” environments while still standing out from the crowd.”   

There are so many benefits to relaxing the dress code measures at work. Employees feel more comfortable, and less focused on the items adorned to their body. With comfort comes more productivity, contrary to generations’ past beliefs that one must be dressed formally to be motivated professionally or be taken seriously by peers. In fact, studies have shown that 61% of employees are more productive when the dress code is relaxed. Confidence is also boosted by being in clothing you feel good about wearing. This brings about a more positive mood and outlook on not only their work environment, but their lives as a whole.

By adopting a smart casual dress code, employers can open their doors to more potential candidates when filling job roles. Instead, they risk losing out on a well-rounded, perfectly qualified individual who just couldn’t afford the amount on the business casual or business professional price tag. It simply isn’t a requirement to dress up or to an age-old definition of what success looks like in our clothing any more. Wearing nice jeans, comfortable footwear, and breathable tops does not mean you’ll be taken any less seriously, if your actual work is the focus of professional evaluation (as it should be).

Smart casual attire opens the door to a much wider variety of clothing choice, styles, and price points. Sneakers, jeans, and cardigans are here to make their big debut, while also keeping you confident, productive, and a lot more comfortable. It’s time to stop sacrificing our physical health for uncomfortable shoes that are doing more damage to our bodies in the long run, than they are making an impact on our professionalism at the office. Last time we checked, a shopping allowance to meet dress codes, and physical therapy from wearing “professional” footwear every day, aren’t standard benefits offered by employers.

Feminine Smart Casual Recommendations:
•Sweaters, polos, peplum shirts, comfortable but nice t-shirts, blouses, button-downs, flowy shirts. For strappy tops, a good rule of thumb is a three fingers' width for the strap. Dresses are also great! Modest sundresses or professional shift dresses work. Pullovers, zip-ups, sweaters, cardigans, lightweight jackets, and vests fit into this smart casual category.
•Jeans without rips or holes, longer skirts, khaki material pants, patterned pants.
•Ballet flats, wedges, sandals with a back, nicer tennis shoes, booties, boots.

Masculine Smart Casual Recommendations:
•Polos, sweaters, button downs, and nicer tee shirts that are simple, tasteful, and not graphic or negative in nature. Pullovers, cardigans, nicer zip-ups, and blazers are all great choices.
•Khakis, Jeans, colored pants, slacks (if you want to dress up). No shorts, rips, holes, or chains off the pants.
•Closed-toed lace-up shoes are best, or nice sneakers.