Business Casual is difficult?
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
You can never be over-dressed in these situations. For me, I would step it up. I'd wear a clean cut jeans (not everyday jeans), nice tucked in long sleeve shirt and nice shoes; optional a sport jacket or nice cardigan. If I was in a business where a business suit was the norm, I'd step it down with, a nice pair of pants, shirt (no ties) and shoes.
I'd rather be phishing!
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
We are supposed to be business casual. For me that means jeans and polo or t-shirt. If what I wear is more important than the work that I do, then I'm at the wrong company.
Keep your friends close. Keep Kill your enemies closer. The End
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
If you show up to a business casual event in a suit, just take off your pants, that will look casual and you'll get the business you deserve
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
So, my idea of business casual is dress pants, belt, a nice shirt, no tie, and nice shoes. But if the event were during work hours any day but Friday, I'd likely show up in a suit, even if you told me business casual. That's because I wear a suit 4 days a week and Friday is my "casual" day in which I wear a quality pair of jeans, dress shoes, button up long sleeve shirt, a jacket, and sometimes even a tie. Compared to some people I know, my casual day is more formal than their opinion of being dressed up. That is because of the customers I see on a day to day basis. I always need to look professional. If it was stressed that I should not overdress because of whatever reason, I'd likely ditch the tie and jacket at my desk. Otherwise, I'm wearing a suit and making you feel awkward. ;P
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
Depends on where you work, I suppose. "Busoness casual" is, following the usual usage of those terms, an oxymoron and thus undefined. And "undefined" means that it means whatever whoever runs the place means.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
Like so many things in the world today, people like to keep it ambiguous to "keep options open". Most events I have been to state "business casual", and the majority are always dressed "business attire" (suits). Generally, those are the folks who "try harder" to make a good impression. Generally, the nearer one is to the end of his career, the less dressed up he gets; while the younger, aggressive types dress fancier. It truly depends on how much desire exists to impress others. Most sources agree on many things, however. Jeans are not acceptable, nor are t-shirts. Pants should be neat and pressed, Khakis are acceptable. Dress shoes. The shirt should be button-down and pressed, but you can sometimes get by with a polo. Tie is optional; jacket is optional. A suit, while not "business casual", does not constitute "formal" either: formal is always tuxedo.
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Like so many things in the world today, people like to keep it ambiguous to "keep options open". Most events I have been to state "business casual", and the majority are always dressed "business attire" (suits). Generally, those are the folks who "try harder" to make a good impression. Generally, the nearer one is to the end of his career, the less dressed up he gets; while the younger, aggressive types dress fancier. It truly depends on how much desire exists to impress others. Most sources agree on many things, however. Jeans are not acceptable, nor are t-shirts. Pants should be neat and pressed, Khakis are acceptable. Dress shoes. The shirt should be button-down and pressed, but you can sometimes get by with a polo. Tie is optional; jacket is optional. A suit, while not "business casual", does not constitute "formal" either: formal is always tuxedo.
Greg Lovekamp wrote:
Generally, the nearer one is to the end of his career, the less dressed up he gets; while the younger, aggressive types dress fancier.
This works for me at 63. I wear jeans and a graphics t-shirt and nobody questions me. I work hard and help people every chance I get, so I think personality may also soften any reaction. Even among the young, only supervisors or higher dress for success on Fridays.
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Like so many things in the world today, people like to keep it ambiguous to "keep options open". Most events I have been to state "business casual", and the majority are always dressed "business attire" (suits). Generally, those are the folks who "try harder" to make a good impression. Generally, the nearer one is to the end of his career, the less dressed up he gets; while the younger, aggressive types dress fancier. It truly depends on how much desire exists to impress others. Most sources agree on many things, however. Jeans are not acceptable, nor are t-shirts. Pants should be neat and pressed, Khakis are acceptable. Dress shoes. The shirt should be button-down and pressed, but you can sometimes get by with a polo. Tie is optional; jacket is optional. A suit, while not "business casual", does not constitute "formal" either: formal is always tuxedo.
Originally a tuxedo was the casual dress option for men. Makes me wonder what will constitute formal wear in the distant future.
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Originally a tuxedo was the casual dress option for men. Makes me wonder what will constitute formal wear in the distant future.
Technically, I suppose you are correct. I have always just thought of tuxedos as having tails or not; tails being formal with tailless being semi-formal. I suppose true formal involves specific attire for specific times of the day, but in general, in the USA, the average tuxedo (without tails) is as about as fancy as anyone gets other than perhaps a groom and his groomsmen.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
You were right, the others were overdressed. The ones who wear a suit to everything are probably hoping to join the dark side (middle management). I just wear slacks, a dress shirt, and dress shoes to everything. Makes life easier. If I need to go formal, I can just throw on a tie and jacket (and take them off at the first opportunity). So dress slacks and shirt for work, jeans and t-shirt for play. I pretty much wear the same outfit every day, it's one of the advantages of being a guy.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
business casual for me is Jeans that hopefully have been washed in the last three months. Button up shirt which is untucked. Decent shoes and a watch. Gotta have the watch so I can pretend to look at it sigh and leave.
To err is human to really mess up you need a computer
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Like so many things in the world today, people like to keep it ambiguous to "keep options open". Most events I have been to state "business casual", and the majority are always dressed "business attire" (suits). Generally, those are the folks who "try harder" to make a good impression. Generally, the nearer one is to the end of his career, the less dressed up he gets; while the younger, aggressive types dress fancier. It truly depends on how much desire exists to impress others. Most sources agree on many things, however. Jeans are not acceptable, nor are t-shirts. Pants should be neat and pressed, Khakis are acceptable. Dress shoes. The shirt should be button-down and pressed, but you can sometimes get by with a polo. Tie is optional; jacket is optional. A suit, while not "business casual", does not constitute "formal" either: formal is always tuxedo.
In a business context a suit is considered formal business attire. Tuxedos are not appropriate business attire, that's for formal social occasions, you'd look ridiculous running around the office in a tux. In any case, tuxedos are archaic and need to die. Don't even get me started on white tie and, horror of horrors, opera slippers. It's like the wealthy are making fun of themselves. The only bit of this outdated fashion worth keeping is the dress boot. And speaking of which, I wish that women would bring back oxford boots and saddle shoes and throw those stupid pumps away. For that matter, I don't see why they can't wear oxfords the same as men.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
I am always too hot in Florida, so I wear shorts. For business, I wear PLEATED Shorts. When I got Married, I had the Tux pants CUT into Shorts... With the tails, I looked like I just had no pants on from behind... LOL. But Business Casual. That's a tough one. Polo Shirt, shorts I would assume. Probably could go with Tennis Shoes as opposed to dock shoes...
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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In a business context a suit is considered formal business attire. Tuxedos are not appropriate business attire, that's for formal social occasions, you'd look ridiculous running around the office in a tux. In any case, tuxedos are archaic and need to die. Don't even get me started on white tie and, horror of horrors, opera slippers. It's like the wealthy are making fun of themselves. The only bit of this outdated fashion worth keeping is the dress boot. And speaking of which, I wish that women would bring back oxford boots and saddle shoes and throw those stupid pumps away. For that matter, I don't see why they can't wear oxfords the same as men.
Many business functions occur in the evening in the context of a social gathering (though those events are in no way optional). Those "parties" are frequently "formal", or more appropriately "black-tie". You have some very strong opinions about the subject of attire. I think that is wonderful and perhaps personally agree on some points; however, be advised that the world will NOT bend to fit your whims, but a path to success usually consists of altering behavior to fit the established standards.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
- You can never be "over-dressed" - It was a "celebration" after all - Free drinks is a good reason to dress up - We sometimes have few chances to "dress up"; so, when we can, we do. - And you're in Germany! (I don't wear "runners" except for hiking ... and I hope the "kakhis" are at least not pleated in front...)
"(I) am amazed to see myself here rather than there ... now rather than then". ― Blaise Pascal
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Many business functions occur in the evening in the context of a social gathering (though those events are in no way optional). Those "parties" are frequently "formal", or more appropriately "black-tie". You have some very strong opinions about the subject of attire. I think that is wonderful and perhaps personally agree on some points; however, be advised that the world will NOT bend to fit your whims, but a path to success usually consists of altering behavior to fit the established standards.
You're right about that, and if I was angling for a management position I'd conform and accept my fate as a stuffed suit. Being a back-end programmer, though, I'm a step ahead just by doing laundry on a semi-regular basis. But fashions change, none more slowly than formal men's fashion but it does change over time, and usually due to the old being rejected for the new. So we don't wear hats anymore and vests are endangered, though both were essentially required for much of the 20th Century. So, someone has to get opinionated and push boundaries once in a while or we'd still be wearing waistcoats with fobs dangling about.
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So Yesterday , we had a small function from Workplace which was celebrating a successful product launch and completion for 5/10 years of few employees etc. The main idea was a informal meeting of colleagues and good food. The invitation said "Business Casual". Well When I arrived at the venue, I was one of the 3 guys who were in Business casual. Kakhi pants/ Long sleeve shirt or similar lines. Rest of the people were in suit and 100% formal. So my question is Business casual too much fuss? Or formal suit is also considered business casual?
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------ Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
Easy answer. Remember that you are in an environment of competitive people who are trying to one-up each other. (Love the corporate world and the even more hypocritical neo-corporate world!) The purpose of saying "business casual" is to weed out those who are foolish enough to fall for the bait and who forget that it's always about looking as-good-as-or-better than others. "Business casual" is a code for "dress better than others, but not flashy". Practical applications: toned down suit jacket or blazer, no khaki, no Hawaiian shirt. No guayabera outside of Latin America and Philippines. Think "going to visit someone in order to borrow a LOT of money".