Casual Friday Preparation, Sneakers, and Jeans

This post is for those of us still working, and perhaps, with companies willing to relax professional dress on Fridays.  I see many who believe casual Friday is an invitation to wear whatever you want, just short of the pajamas you slept in the night before!  But, simply because, the boss says you can come dressed casual, doesn’t mean you should look like a Saturday at home.  I have seen a little bit of everything over my many, many years in the workplace, and I realize it depends upon your company and their rules (as well as your occupation):

I would like to recommend these things to keep in mind:

  1. I ask, as I do often, what does your choice of clothing say about you?  What first impression does your outfit give to perhaps a prospective client who just happened to drop by the office?
  2. Upper management may be more casual, but they have not turned off their eyes on Fridays.  If they are considering promotions that day, what will you look like to them.  Even casual wear can be done in a professional manner.
  3. Just because something is “fashionable” doesn’t mean it is a good choice for Casual Friday.  Specifically, leave the ripped jeans at home or for a social occasion.  Same with off-the-shoulder tops or too much bling.
  4. Gym pants, yoga pants, skin tight leggings, or loungewear is not appropriate for the office. These types of garments just say to others, I Don’t Care.
  5. Flip flops and sandals are not appropriate either…sorry if I am ruining your fun here.  But, a cute pair of sneakers, such as the leather ones I am wearing, works great.

Every company is different and once you understand their policy, there should be no problem.  My husband works for a large firm and they do allow shorts in the summer because it gets so hot here; however, my husband says, “Just because I can, doesn’t mean I should.”  It could be a career mistake to dress in shorts during an important meeting, and important meetings do not take Fridays off!

Finally,  Save the political statements on tee shirts for outside of work.  I know many want their moment to speak what they believe with their clothing, but just do it another time….if you want that promotion or bonus, that is!

I hope this helps some of you and doesn’t make anyone mad.  I could live in an outfit like I am wearing today.  I love a great jacket with jeans and flats for Casual Fridays.  This outfit is very neutral, but again, I like the look.  I work at a public university and most wear school tee shirts on Fridays…been there, done that.  I have really put tee shirts in my past and happy to do so.  Not my most confident look.

For those of you still working, what is your favorite style on casual days?  Please share and no matter your circumstances……………………………………………………………..

KEEP SMILING!!

8 Comments

  1. Your outfit is a great look. This post hit a raw nerve with me from my fulltime career days as an office manager. I recently retired but was there for over 35 years so I lived through every fashion trend. When we began casual Friday, it was taken way over the top, by mostly women, I’m sad to say. The powers to be asked me to get it under control. I felt like going into mom mode, but instead it took me an entire page to detail what was appropriate since common sense was not going to work. When people began dressing very casual for church, I remember telling my kids (who up until then wore dresses to church), I was fine with slacks and a nice sweater, but you carry yourself by the way you dress, and jeans and sweat pants will not cut it. I saw other teens slumping down in the pews like they were home on the couch watching TV. My daughters are grown with children and still dress appropriately. I have no idea what they did in college and I frankly don’t care because I didn’t have to see it!

  2. Hi Pam! Thank you for addressing “Casual Friday”! Like you, I am so over “t-shirts”. If it looks like a man’s tee, I never wear them – they SO do not flatter me! Of course if it is a stylish, fitted ladies “tee” that I know is part of an “outfit” or under a jacket, ruana, etc. – I wear those. (I’m sorry, but I think this may be the 1st time I haven’t agreed with you completely, but I DO wear sandals in warm/hot weather 🙂 We are very business casual here (agricultural industry), but I still am constantly surprised how people dress when they come to my office seeking employment! We all have different budgets and means, I know that…but people, please – take a shower, fix your hair, wear something appropriate (clean!).Just sayin’!

  3. I spent over 45 years working, and noticed how office attire got progressively more casual. Having gone through school at a time when girls had to wear dresses and skirts, no pants, and guys were in dress pants and dress shirts (public schools), the casual trend never did appeal to me. I believe people behave differently when they come to work dressed like it’s Saturday. The last place I worked had a strict dress code and I loved it. We were to appear professional at all times, no denim ever, no tennis shoes unless you were injured. Definitely no crops, shorts, sandals, t-shirts, etc. Depends on the industry, of course. Your look is professional in the photo. You are not in fitness shoes, you don’t look like it’s Saturday in the park. As with so many other things in life, casual Friday can be taken too far. You are exactly right, we need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves what our clothing choices are conveying. I love your husband’s statement that just because he can, doesn’t mean he should. I was always taught to dress for the job I wanted, or at least one or two levels higher. I took that to heart.

  4. I also would disagree on a total t-shirt ban. While I agree that I wouldn’t have worn a message tee or a sports tee at the work place, I did wear tops that were sold as t-shirts. They were fitted & made of high quality fabric. They were what were called shells back in the day. As to shoes, I remember what our HR director said when some of the ladies complained about not being able to wear flip flops or sandals. In the age of equality, men should be allowed the same latitude as women. Do you really want to see men’s toes in flip flops in the office?

  5. Ok ladies! I need to clarify! When I say I left tee shirts behind I mean the kind we wore to support colleges, causes, many message tees. I wear quality tees and tanks and chamisoles every week! Sorry I was not more direct….thanks for all the great comments on this!

  6. I have to agree that casual Fridays is often so abused and the abuser is the one doing the damage to themselves in how they appear to others. I never had a casual day at my work but my husband did allow his office that option. He really set the tone by wearing khakis, never jeans, Dockers and an Hawaiian shirt that was often of better quality and cost than his shirt and ties! It is often the office manager or boss that needs to “set the style” so to speak. His office soon became known for their somewhat competitive Hawaiian shirts. Boy, does he have a collection and in retirement now wears them almost daily. Here in California, flip flops are worn year round and I hate them. They always makes the wearer look lazy and unkempt slapping the floor with a sloppy racket, and in winter…are just stupid! Nice sandals, not beach wear can be appropriate.

  7. This is a sore subject with me. I was a college professor, and I dressed in what I would call casual chic. No suits or dresses but nice pants and tops and jackets. (My work wardrobe was EF for years.) I felt that it was important to dress more formally than my students, but I had colleagues who would show up in the classroom in graphic Ts, sweats, flip flops, etc. They always complained how the students didn’t take them seriously. One person often looked as if she had slept in her car after a day hiking or something. Drove me nuts. Now I’m retired! Yay!

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