Outfits to Wear on Dress Down Days
Casual Fridays and other dress-down days can give you a refreshing change of pace in your workwear rotation. When you scale down the formality of your dress, you can feel more relaxed at work. Despite having this privilege at work, be sure to still keep your company’s image in mind. How can you keep your appearance neat and professional while still dressing down? What custom business workwear can fit well into this type of wardrobe need? Here are a few outfit ideas to wear on dress-down days.
The Case for Dress-Down Days
Dress-down days, which are also known as casual Fridays, are usually scheduled to reward employees after a long workweek. By the time Friday comes, employees usually want a reprieve. If you make this reward weekly, it gives employees something in which to look forward. This consistent perk also helps them feel appreciated. Also, dressing down gives people more freedom to collaborate and relax in preparation for the weekend.
What Does Dressing Down Mean for You?
For different work cultures, dressing down is relative to your usual daily attire. Casual Friday for one company can look different than another company’s dress-down day. If your business is used to wearing suits and ties during the week, then business casual for you can be scaled down to business casual trousers, button-down shirts without a tie, and skirts and embroidered dressy top for women.
However, if your company’s daily attire is business casual, then you can integrate more casual street fashion elements like jeans into your work wardrobe. To make sure your outfit passes the dress code, check with your supervisor to make sure your selections are appropriate for work. However, in whatever field you work, make sure your appearance is neat. Check your final appearance before heading out the door to ensure your look is still professional and appropriate for your workplace.
For Business Casual Work Environments: Jeans and a Polo
Wearing jeans to work feels like a treat, and they’re even easier to match with your favorite business casual tops. You can wear your jeans with a freshly pressed women’s or men’s short sleeve multi textured active polo shirt or blouse. The elevated style of your top will take your jeans out of the “too casual” zone. You can enhance the look by tucking in your shirt and wearing a belt. Also, consider wearing clean, professional shoes to tie in the look. It’s best to avoid sneakers or sandals, which can make your outfit look too casual for the office.
For Formal Work Environments: Business Casual
When your work has a standard attire of neckties, sports coats, and suits, dress-down days don’t mean you can wear jeans and a custom logo T-shirt. Instead, you should scale down to business casual. This means that you can trade-in your blazer and necktie and just wear a button-down shirt and slacks. For women, you can keep your custom women’s work blazer at home and comfortably wear a blouse and skirt or khakis.
Dark-wash jeans can also be acceptable in some work environments. You can also opt for neat and attractive jewelry and accessories. Everything should work together to pull the outfit together and still have a professional effect. Of course, you should also bring your custom suitcase to complete your ensemble. With this essential accessory, you can come to work prepared with all your materials.
Stick to The Theme
Some dress-down days are reserved for special occasions and carry a theme. Maybe it’s Halloween and costumes are allowed — to an extent. Check to see if you can wear the full ensemble or just a few accessories, like a cape or headbands. Maybe it’s Aloha Friday and everyone else will be wearing a Hawaiian T-shirt. These rules give you clear guidelines on what to wear. In these cases, stick to the theme but also maintain your professional sense of tidiness and modesty. For example, even if you plan on being Caesar for Halloween, do wear a shirt to work under your toga. When you keep in mind general rules for respectful office wear, you’ll do just fine.
Things to Avoid at All Times
There are certain pieces that may be better worn outside of the office. Examples include midriffs, flip flops, jeans with holes, skin-tight pants or leggings with a short top, pajamas, T-shirts with slogans, camisoles, sheer clothing, and shorts. If you’re unsure about your company’s dress code, ask your boss what the boundaries are.
These outfits define general guidelines for dress-down days at work. Have fun relaxing on these special days and bond with your coworkers!