Business Casual for Warmer Weather

I just love it when spring comes to Minnesota!  The sunshine and warmer temperatures seem to put everyone in a good mood.  People are no longer huddled up against the cold and rushing for their bus or car - they have time to stroll at a slower pace, give eye contact, and smile more.  The parkas and sweaters go into storage for a few months and out come the summer clothes.  And this my dear colleagues is the time of year when we need to take an honest inventory of what we are wearing to work.

Intelligent Career Management says that the preferred style of dress across industries and positions tends to be conservative in nature.  Alas, in summer, many folks forget this and drift to an ultra-casual style that is at best unprofessional, and at worst distracting and/or even unattractive.  And, while I try as hard as possible to avoid sweeping gender generalizations in my work, it pains me to admit that women are more likely than men to err in this area.  If you happen to be searching for a job and going on interviews during summer, this is something to be especially careful of because how you dress says a lot about your sense of judgment.

I have my own pet peeves about summer business attire and I have polled a few of my clients about their's.  Interestingly enough, what I found was that many of them will never tell a candidate or an employee that they think their clothing is getting in the way of their career, but they will remember and factor it into hiring/promotion decisions.  So here, in a nutshell, is what your boss won't tell you about your summer attire:

For Women

• Flip-flops are absolutely unacceptable under any circumstance.  They scream "I am at work under protest - I would rather be on vacation."
• Dressy sandals can sometimes be okay if you have nice looking feet and a professional pedicure. If you do not have time to get a pedicure or re-fresh the one you got 3 weeks ago, then cover your feet up.
• Bare legs are acceptable if they are tan.  If they are bruised and veiny, keep them covered.
• Spaghetti straps are a no-no as are most tank tops.  Generally, the shoulders should be covered.
• Once the turtlenecks are put away for summer, lower necklines can be okay, but showing any cleavage (any at all - even a hint of it) is not okay. 
• White trousers, skirts and tops are cool and refreshing in the summer - but ask a trusted colleague to tell you honestly if your undergarments are showing through.
• Suntan lotion is not appropriate perfume for the office.
• Shorts typically do not belong in the office.  Not even knee-length Bermuda shorts.

For Men

• Golf shirts should have collars and plackets that lay flat.
• Shorts - never
• Sandals - never
• Mandals - never
• Don't be too quick to skip the short-sleeve undershirt in favor of a "beater" or nothing just because it's warmer out.  Many men find they are actually cooler with a tee-shirt under their shirt, and they can help casual clothes look a little more professional by minimizing the appearance of perspiration.

You may not like these tips.  You may feel that they are discriminatory, or that people should accept you for the work you do and not for what you look like.  You may think that I am old fashioned and that Gen X'ers and Gen Y'ers have established a new protocol in the workplace.  You may be right - I may just work for old fashioned clients.  My intention here is not to discuss the philosophy of dress and appearance in the workplace. I am just telling you the truth about what I hear managers say, so if you are thinking about moving up in your career, these are tips might be helpful for you. 

What do you think? Do you have any tips for successful summer dressing that you would like to add?  Please leave us a comment and share what's on your mind!

Comments

[Johnben Loy]

My twist on the undershirt thing: if it's dry, go without, if it's humid, put it on. Many men in Malaysia wear undershirts because it is so humid there.

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Great post! I enjoyed reading every bit! Keep it up!

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i like this part of the blog:"I just love it when spring comes to Minnesota! The sunshine and warmer temperatures seem to put everyone in a good mood. People are no longer huddled up against the cold and rushing for their bus or car - they have time to stroll at a slower pace, give eye contact, and smile more. The parkas and sweaters go into storage for a few months and out come the summer clothes. And this my dear colleagues is the time of year when we need to take an honest inventory of what we are wearing to work." is very good

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Why aren't men allowed to wear a nice pair of sandals? During the hot summer months I enjoy walking around with my sandals even to work. But I'll never be caught wearing socks underneath :)

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I think that the dress depends especially on the type of job that you have. Sometimes, I see some guys in the front of the building where I work, and they just seem so informal, even though they work in very formal jobs.

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This is an interesting article. Wish I had read this sooner. Thanks for sharing.

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For example, I entered a workplace that was a hotbed of hostile

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As someone about to enter the "real world" I found this post extremely helpful. The place I will be working at is very laid back and allow us to work in a very casual atmosphere. The hardest part for me will be having to wear something other than flip flops, which is a main staple in my closet. Other than that I look forward to starting the next chapter of my life. Again, thanks for the great insight!