| Ahh, business casual dress. Don't you love | | | | business casual dress |
| dressing more comfortably at work? Well, be | | | | 1. Neatness counts. You don't have to spend a lot |
| careful. Business casual dress may diminish your | | | | of money to look good. You can look sharp by |
| chances for success. As Dilbert cartoonist Scott | | | | always wearing clean, pressed, tailored clothing. |
| Adams, quipped, I love the business casual look | | | | 2. Quality counts. Instead of buying several trendy |
| for the way it combines unattractive with | | | | outfits, invest in one good quality jacket or suit. |
| unprofessional while diminishing neither. | | | | Update your accessories, and change your blouse, |
| Have you noticed that in some offices, business | | | | shirt or tie. You'll save money in the long run |
| casual leads to mass confusion? You may be | | | | because it will cost less per wear. |
| overjoyed when your office institutes casual | | | | 3. Accessories make or break the outfit. Choose |
| Fridays, or perhaps you wear casual clothes | | | | good quality accessories, such as a briefcase or |
| every day. But you, or others in your office, may | | | | purse. Shabby accessories can ruin an outfit. |
| not be sure what this means. Some staff | | | | 4. Grooming takes on a new dimension when |
| members look as if they should be somewhere | | | | wearing casual clothing. Business casual doesn't |
| else - perhaps out jogging or curled up on the | | | | mean you can forget to shave or bathe. Sloppy |
| couch. Some clothes are just a bit too casual for | | | | or grungy are not business casual looks. |
| work. | | | | 5. Have an emergency outfit in your office. Keep |
| Remember that at work you want people to | | | | a jacket (and tie, for men) available for an |
| focus on your professional skills, not your body. If | | | | unexpected meeting with your boss or a client. |
| you wear anything extreme - very short, tight, | | | | 6. Dress for your clients. Remember that you |
| low-cut or revealing, or that looks like sportswear | | | | represent your company. You are not dressing |
| or beachwear, people may notice your clothes | | | | for yourself. That's for the weekend. You are |
| rather than your work. A good business casual | | | | dressing to inspire confidence in your clients and in |
| rule to remember is that business casual is a | | | | your company. |
| notch or two below what you would wear to | | | | 7. When in doubt, dress up. It shows respect to |
| work on days without business casual. | | | | wear a suit to a meeting with a new client, or for |
| 7 Tips to project a professional image with | | | | a job interview. |