Tag Archives: business casual

Business Casual Is Still About Business

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Business CasualWhen business organizations instituted “dress-down” or business casual days in the 1990’s, they created a dilemma which lives on today.  Never has there been so much confusion about what to wear to work.

Most companies do not have a clear policy on what is appropriate attire for casual days.  As a result, they watch their employees show up for work in everything from the sublime to the ridiculous.

If your company wants to have a casual dress day, put a written policy in place. Make sure employees are aware of the guidelines you have established.

There are few issues more difficult than trying to explain to employees what’s wrong with their choice of clothing.  If your policy says, “No jeans, tennis shoes or halter tops,” the problem should not arise.

When employees dress inappropriately, don’t ignore the problem. Most people want to do the right thing. It is unfair not to tackle this sticky issue head on. For those who take umbrage with you, perhaps you don’t need them in your employ.

“Business” is the key word in business casual.  Be sure that you and your employees know the difference between business casual and casual. They are not one and the same.

Your business apparel should always be what your clients expect to see. If you have to explain or apologize for what you are wearing, it is not appropriate.  When your client comes to your office and you find yourself saying, “Oh, by the way, today is casual day,” rethink what you wore to work.

If your organization already presents itself in a dress-down mode, you may not want to have a special casual day. That will only open the door to even greater challenges.

What you wear not only tells customers what you think of them; it also says what you think of yourself.

If this is a tough topic for you to address, Lydia would be happy to work with your employees on your behalf!  Call 912-604-0080 today.

Do Conference Casual And Professionalism Mix?

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As fall approaches, conferences and conventions loom large on our calendars. While some organizations use the summer months to take advantage of lower rates, most corporations recognize that their employees use this time to vacation with family and friends. Once the gong sounds on the Tuesday after Labor Day to mark the end of summer, it is back to business as usual.

The conference brochures and meeting notices start arriving, and you wonder what to pack.  Under “What to Wear,” you read, “The official dress for the conference is business casual. Wear what you are comfortable in.”  What in the world does that mean?  Those words provide no guidance at all.

Your attire speaks volumes about you.  When you are attending a professional conference, keep in mind that you are working, and this is all about business and professionalism.  This is not the time to throw caution to the winds and show up in your favorite jeans and that t-shirt you bought at the convention three years ago.  It’s fine to take your comfy sweats and old shorts, but save them for the workout room.

Think of the image you want to project, and make sure it reflects professionalism. While the true definition of business casual is to dress down one notch from business professional, you might relax the rule slightly for your meeting event, but only slightly.

While traveling to the conference, consider that you will be meeting people and making connections—of the business kind.  Make sure that everyone you encounter before, during and after the conference, forms a positive impression of you. Professional conduct and appearance are the keys to adding the polish that builds profits.

And if you are in need of a speaker at your next conference or convention—one who can address professional conduct–please contact me. I’d be delighted to join you.

Here’s to conduct professional!

professional speaker

Photo from Savannah magazine

Hire Lydia to work with your staff to improve customer service and employee relations through the use of those priceless and often over-looked soft skills called manners. Lydia is the “unstuffy” business etiquette expert who helps individuals and organizations add the polish that builds profits. We’re talking about your bottom line here.

Since 1996, countless people have benefited from her wisdom through keynotes, seminars and conference breakout sessions.  Her Southern charm and sense of humor have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

Business Attire for Men When Temperatures Sizzles

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Last week I wrote about how women should dress for work during the hot summer months.  At the risk of repeating myself, I pointed out out that women have more choices and  challenges than men when it it comes to deciding how to dress professionally when temperatures soar. When it comes to business attire for men and business casual, it is pretty straight forward. There are fewer choices.

In a strictly formal business environment, there is little choice. Bankers, brokers and financial advisers need to present themselves in a trustworthy and serious manner.  Having said that, it leaves no room for deviation.  The person who deals with other people’s finances needs to look the part by dressing in a business suit and tie. No matter what the thermometer reads, his attire should remain consistent. Behind the closed door of his office, he can remove his coat and loosen the tie, but when he steps out or a client comes in, it’s back to coat and tie.

If the office environment is informal or casual, here are my suggestions and cautions.

  1. The operative word in business casual is “business.”  If  man wants to be comfortable and yet maintain a  professional look, his best choice is to wear a full or long-sleeve dress shirt, tucked in of course, with a quality pant and matching belt and shoes.  His shoes can be a relaxed loafer or slip on shoe, well-polished and maintained. A tie kept nearby will allow him to dress up a notch if the need arises.
  2. If the work environment is less formal, short sleeve  shirts may be acceptable but do not say “business” the way long sleeves do.

No matter what the temperature or how casual the setting, the following are all no-no’s:

  1. Sandals and athletic shoes
  2. Collarless shirts
  3. Tee shirts with pictures or sayings on them
  4. Jeans of any kind
  5. Any clothing that is wrinkled or stained

It should go without saying that men who work outdoors have more license to dress down. Even they need to start the business day, neat and clean.

Business goes on as usual regardless of the temperature.  Keep in mind that your business attire is intended to show respect for your clients. It is all about the client, not about you.

professional speaker

Photo from Savannah magazine

Hire Lydia to work with your staff to improve customer service and employee relations through the use of those priceless and often over-looked soft skills called manners. Lydia is the “unstuffy” business etiquette expert who helps individuals and organizations add the polish that builds profits. We’re talking about your bottom line here.

Since 1996, countless people have benefited from her wisdom through keynotes, seminars and conference breakout sessions.  Her Southern charm and sense of humor have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

The Business Woman’s Wardrobe When It Sizzles

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What to wear to work is challenging enough during the year, but when temperatures rise, it is even more confusing, especially for the business woman. In last week’s blog, I talked in general terms of how to approach your workplace wardrobe in the summer.  This week I want to focus on the business woman’s wardrobe. The business woman faces more options than her male counterpart, and therefore has more room for error.

If a woman works in a strictly formal office, there is not much seasonal variation.  However I can offer a few tips for staying cool  and conservative.

  1. Choose suits of lighter colors and materials.  There are lots of cottons and cotton blends available.  Linen is cool, but not a good choice for the office since it wrinkles if you even look at it.
  2. Wear sling-back heels rather than the traditional pump.  Sandals and open-toed shoes are never acceptable in a formal office.
  3. Skirts that come to the knee are cooler than pants, but require stockings. I know that’s not good news for many women, but it is the professional look and stockings are now being made in lighter weights.

If the office environment is informal or casual, here are my suggestions and cautions.

  1. Wear short sleeves or cap sleeves.  Resist the urge to bare your skin and stay away from sleeveless.
  2. Skirts that are more than an inch above the knee are not acceptable. Go for the knee but you can forgo the stockings.
  3. Cropped pants of good quality and preferably with a cuff will work, especially when paired with a short-sleeve jacket.
  4. Dresses are comfortable summer attire.  However, sleeveless dresses and sundresses are not appropriate for the office.
  5. Lightweight or loose-weave sweaters are always good to wear over sleeveless.
  6. Sandals are controversial.  It really depends on how casual your workplace is. Just keep in mind that when you wear an open-toe shoe, your feet need to look well-cared for.
  7. If you are considering flip-flops, don’t . They are a definite  no-no.

A final suggestion for the business woman’s wardrobe:  Consider loose-fitting, but not baggy, clothes for relief from the heat. 

In general, stay away from sheer, sloppy or revealing. Remember that you are still in the office and not at the beach.

Here’s to summer survival!

professional speaker

Photo from Savannah magazine

Hire Lydia to work with your staff to improve customer service and employee relations through the use of those priceless and often over-looked soft skills called manners. Lydia is the “unstuffy” business etiquette expert who helps individuals and organizations add the polish that builds profits. We’re talking about your bottom line here.

Since 1996, countless people have benefited from her wisdom through keynotes, seminars and conference breakout sessions.  Her Southern charm and sense of humor have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.

Summer Business Dress – A Hot Topic

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Summer officially arrives on June 20th, and once again what to wear to work is a hot topic.  Understandably, we all want to be comfortable in the heat of the summer.  However, in their desire to cool down, some people forget that, regardless of the temperature, what they wear to work should always be professional.  Summer business dress is not to be taken lightly.

Now is a perfect time for every organization that wants to relax its dress code for the next couple months to put in place a clear policy for summer business dress.  Left to their own devices, many employees show more creativity in their attire than in their job.

Business dress is determined by four factors:   

  1. The industry in which you work.
  2. The job you have within that industry.
  3. The geographic region in which you live.
  4. What your client expects to see.

 If you want to implement a casual summer dress policy, make sure it fits your industry.  It’s a lot easier for the owner of the bike shop to dress casually in the heat than it is for the manager of the brokerage house.

Dress appropriately for your job. The person who works behind the scenes with minimal customer contact has more freedom with casual dress than the person who sits at the front desk greeting the public.

Geography plays a role in style of clothing and choice of fabric.  It’s not just temperature, but overall lifestyle, that affects clothing decisions.  Where you live affects how you dress from colors to fabrics to styles.

The most important factor to keep in mind when deciding what is appropriate business dress for the summer months is your client. What your clients expect to see when they come to your office or encounter you out at lunch on a workday is critical when you choose your summer business dress.  When bank employees come to work in polo shirts and khakis or sundresses and sandals, their customers may wonder if the organization has relaxed its approach to handling their money as well.

If you are a letter carrier or a UPS employee, shorts are the norm for summer. If you are a life guard, flip-flops are a natural.  Think twice before you or your employees shed your traditional attire and bare your flesh in the office. Does it fit your industry, your job and your clients’ expectations?

Business etiquette rules apply all year long. When you decide to adapt your appearance due to heat and humidity, make sure your summer business dress continues to reflect your professionalism.

Chapter Four of  my book, Manners That Sell-Adding the Polish That Builds Profits, deals specifically with business dress–everything from business formal to business casual attire. Order your copy today so you can be sure that what you wear to work sends the message you want your clients to receive.

Stay cool!

professional speaker

Photo from Savannah magazine

Hire Lydia to work with your staff to improve customer service and employee relations through the use of those priceless and often over-looked soft skills called manners. Lydia is the “unstuffy” business etiquette expert who helps individuals and organizations add the polish that builds profits. We’re talking about your bottom line here.

Since 1996, countless people have benefited from her wisdom through keynotes, seminars and conference breakout sessions.  Her Southern charm and sense of humor have made her a sought-after speaker and consultant.

Based in Savannah, Georgia, Lydia is available for national, regional and local speaking and training engagements. She has suitcase; will travel.

Contact her via email at lydia@lydiaramsey.com or call 912-604-0080. Sign up for her free monthly newsletter and visit her website, lydiaramsey.com.