Sheakley Updates

Dressing the Part

Ella Baker
Dressing the Part:
Reading time 6 Mins
Published on Sep 10
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Matching your dress code to your company’s needs

Dress codes refer to the type of attire that employees are expected to wear to work each day. Typically, the dress code you choose for your employees will reflect the type of work you do, the industry to which you belong, and the expected norms for businesses of your kind. There are typically four types of corporate dress codes: business formal, business professional, business casual, and casual. Here are some general tips for your employees in each category.

Business Formal

If your company regularly conducts high level client meetings or you run a law firm, you might want to consider a business formal, or boardroom attire, dress code. The highest level of professional dress, business formal is often associated with executives, Fortune 500 companies, and politicians.

In workplaces with a business formal dress code, men are expected to wear tailored suits, generally in solid, neutral colors, with a buttoned-up shirt, tie, and polished dress shoes. While other dress codes allow for more personal self-expression, business formal dress codes typically require shorter hairstyles, discourage facial hair, and forbid visible tattoos.

For women, business formal generally requires modest pant- or skirt suits with buttoned-up shirts, pantyhose, and conservative closed-toe heels. Business formal dress codes typically dictate well-groomed hair for women, usually kept short or worn up.

By far the most rigid of dress codes, business formal is typically reserved for white collar companies that primarily provide services, not goods, to clients or customers.

Business Professional

Business professional conveys the neat, conservative, and traditional message of business formal dress codes with more room for personal expression. Sometimes referred to as business traditional, this dress code is common for many service businesses, like accountants and banks.

Men in business professional workplaces are still expected to wear conservatively colored suits but have expanded options for patterns like stripes or checks. Buttoned-up shirts are still a requirement, though men can choose from an array of light-colored shirts with coordinating patterned ties. Some business professional offices allow for sports coats to be paired with dress slacks for more casual days or settings.

In business professional settings, women are typically expected to wear pant or skirt suits with a collared buttoned-up shirt. Typically, a wider array of colors or patterns are acceptable and statement jewelry may be worn. Women may also opt for pants or skirts with a coordinating jacket in lieu of a traditional suit.

Business Casual

One of the most common dress codes, business casual allows employees to express more of their personality while still presenting a professional appearance. A lot more leeway is given for color, accessories, and patterns in business casual settings. Since business casual can be a ubiquitous term, employers will need to ensure that their HR staff adequately conveys the guidelines to employees. If an employee is in doubt, encourage them to check with HR about specific outfits or items of clothing.

Men in business casual workplaces should expect to wear buttoned-up shirts in any color, and patterns are acceptable too. Shirts may be worn with or without a tie. Pullovers and sweaters may be worn over a collared shirt in cooler seasons. Men should wear dress slacks or pressed khakis, though sports jackets are not required. Business casual dress code often means more hairstyle options for men.

For women, business casual gives the option of business separates, like dress bottoms worn with a cardigan or simple jacket. Blouses in an array of colors and patterns often replace buttoned-down shirts in business casual offices. Hairstyle options for women are laxer in these offices, including less restrictions on colors, highlights, and allowing for ponytails and long braids.

Casual

One of the fastest growing dress codes, casual offices often face a tough hardship – how to ensure that employees don’t get too casual or sloppy in their attire. Even casual attire should still be pressed, neat, and appropriate for the type of work that your business does.

Casual attire for men often includes more casual pants, like khakis, and colored polos or crewneck sweaters. Unless specifically allowed by your dress code policy, jeans should be avoided. Sneakers and loafers are commonly worn by men, as are more casual accessories like brightly colored watches. Hairstyles for men are generally more relaxed in casual workplaces, allowing for longer hair and ponytails.

Women in casual workplaces can expect to wear fitted tops and blouses paired with less dressy skirts or pants. Again, jeans should be avoided unless specifically allowed by the dress code policy. Women have more freedom with hairstyle options, included length, style, and colors. More casual jewelry and accessories, like bracelets, scarves, and large earrings are also acceptable.

Parting thoughts

When you hire a new employee, make sure that your HR staff communicates the dress code to them. Typically, new employees will try to emulate the style of dress they’ve seen others in the office wearing during their interviews or tour of the workplace. Expect new employees to dress slightly better during their first few days or weeks of employment – they’re trying to make a good impression.
As the number of millennials in the workforce continues to grow, office dress codes have begun trending toward more casual-friendly attire. While full suits and pantyhose may be going to the wayside, it is still important that employers and employees maintain a certain level of decorum in the workplace. No matter how lax your dress code, you should make sure that your employees never wear anything that they wouldn’t wear to a meeting with a client and jeans with tears or visible wear.
As a general rule of thumb, if it’s something that management wouldn’t wear, your employees shouldn’t wear it either. The dress code you set for your employees is a reflection of your company – for better or for worse – so don’t be afraid to spend time on considering this topic to ensure that you make the right choice for your business.

Sheakley’s HR experts are here to help

Business attire is important because it sends messages about your company and your employees to customers, clients, and potential partners. Draw attention to the quality of your work by creating a dress code that reflects your company’s identity and work style. Sheakley’s PEO experts take the guess work out of office attire by helping you craft an industry appropriate dress code in your company handbook. Having Sheakley as a partner allows you to meet the needs of your employees, while remaining focused on the daily demands of your business.

Schedule your free consultation with a Sheakley PEO professional today. For more in-depth information about PEOs, download our What is a PEO e-book today. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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