Professional (Business) Attire & Business Casual Attire

In the business world, the way employees look says a lot about the company they work for. The image you present is molded by the impressions all of us give when interacting with company representatives, visitors, other members of the public, and even with one another. The purpose of this report is to educate you and offer a more definitive description of what constitutes professional, business attire, as well as what is acceptable for business casual.

Professional Attire for Women
Appropriate business attire for women includes: dresses, suits, and dress skirts that reach to the top of the knee; dress pants with dress blouses. Hosiery is required with skirts at all times, along with dress shoes. As far as dresses and skirts, there are some rules to follow as far as color and style. Select modest style dresses and skirts. Long slits are a no, no. Colors to choose are black, gray, navy blue, and any earth-tones. Examples of inappropriate business attire includes: anything sleeveless, denim clothing of any kind, dresses/shirts with long slits, low-cut blouses, stirrup or spandex pants, shorts of any kind or length, crop tops, hats, sundresses, leather pants, extremely casual shoe styles commonly worn for sports or the beach, deck/boat shoes, sandals, and sneakers.

Professional Casual Attire for Women

Appropriate business casual attire for women includes: skirts, which are no shorter than to the top of the knee; blouses, sweaters, polo-style shirts, jumpsuits, khaki pants, which are neither too loose nor too tight, and which are not too faded, frayed or otherwise distressed. Boots, dressy sandals, and pumps are examples of acceptable footwear. Examples of inappropriate attire are: novelty tee shirts (those with printed writing, slogans or numbers), shorts, spandex pants, crop tops, tank or halter tops, sweatshirts, sweatpants, hats, sundresses which are backless or have straps less than 1 inch in width, leather pants, and flip flops.

Professional Attire for Men

Professional business attire for men includes: suits, sports coats, dress pants, dress shirts with collars, dress shoes (can be polished) and dark socks (matching pants or shoes), and a tie (nothing crazy). Examples of inappropriate business attire includes: denim clothing of any kind, Dockers style pants, flight jacket/windbreaker-style coats/jackets, shorts of any kind or length, hats, extremely casual shoe styles commonly worn for sports or the beach, deck/boat shoes, sandals, and sneakers.

Professional Casual Attire for Men

Appropriate business casual dress for men includes: dress slacks, "Dockers" style slacks, sports shirts, polo shirts, and sweaters. Clean topsiders and loafers are examples of appropriate footwear. Examples of inappropriate attire include: shorts, novelty tee shirts (those with printed writing, slogans or numbers), sweatshirts, sweatpants, tank tops, cropped tops, hats, and flip flops.

In summary, please keep in mind that clothes are not conservative and proper for work if the fabric, style or fit is too revealing or too casual. Business Casual is the opportunity to dress less formally, but still keep a professional appearance. It is not an opportunity to wear clothing better suited to the beach, home, yard, gym or party.  After all...We Are Our Image!

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ATTIRE CHECKLIST — FEMALES

In professional environments, do not use fabrics of leather, fleece, denim, crepe, satin, and velvet (to name a few).   Use this checklist as a guideline for CDC competition.

1. Blouse (color; is color appropriate; neat; if shirt-tailed it must be tucked in; a sweater top is too casual; must be short sleeve or long sleeve--no sleeveless or half sleeve unless kept under a blazer all day)
2. Skirt (no long slits; appropriate color; appropriate length; neat)
3. Pants (color; style; neat; no jeans or jean-like pants, no slits, no hip-huggers)
4. Pants Suit (color; style; neat)
5. Pantyhose (if worn, pantyhose should be appropriate color; should match pants/skirt in color; no visible runs)
6. Shoes (clean; match outfit; suede shoes; dressy boots; no spiked heal; no platform shoes; no backless; no sandal-like shoe; open-toe shoes are now acceptable)
7. Jewelry (not too much; one earring per ear; 1-2 rings per hand)
8. Hair (appropriate color/style for business; combed)
9. Make-up (light)
10. Nails (not too long; appropriate color if used; clean; manicured; no party designed nails)
11. Semi-finished look--vest; a sweater is a casual look
12. Finish--DECA Blazer, blazer (color; style; neat; an outerwear jacket is not a blazer)

PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ATTIRE CHECKLIST — MALES

In professional environments, do not use fabrics of leather, fleece, denim, crepe, satin, and velvet (to name a few).   Use this checklist as a guideline for CDC competition.

1. Shirt (collared; neat; style; no mandarin/Nehru collars, must have undershirt)
2. Tie (appropriate pattern, color, length to top of belt)
3. Jewelry (not too much; no earring in ears; 1 ring per hand)
4. Belt (matches pants or coordinates with pants)
5. Pants (dress pants; neat; style; length)
6. Socks (match color of shoes or pants; never wear white)
7. Shoes (dressy shoes that can be shined or dressy boots)
8. Hair (appropriate style/color; combed; neat)
9. Nails (short; clean; manicured)
10. Finish--DECA Blazer, Sports Coat or Suit Jacket (color; style; neat)