Anyone who works in an office setting can relate to the annoying semi-annual company memos on dress codes, for the most part its just the same old common sense message, don't look like a homeless person, slut, beach dude, or hungover drunk. Pretty straight forward, but I'm still always shocked at the diversity of peoples choices in my office. This may not apply to everyone's work place, I work in a large setting and as a result am exposed to a larger group of workers than most of you, but here is the run down of our business casual choices I see on a consistent basis.
The Fresh Out of College - Couple of different ways this person can go. First, and usually for guys only, you see alot of cargo pant type khakis and questionably acceptable collared shirts. It takes about 6 months to a year on the job for the average prep/frat type graduate to purge their warddrobe of these fringe acceptable clothing syltes. The second fresh out of college option is for the guys and girls who are so eager to impress that they hit the job running with an over the top, GQ-esque warddrobe. This also takes 6 months to a year to disappear, because thats how long it takes grads to realize their entry level salary won't support drinking 3-4x a week and dressing like an Express cover model. The lesson as always, drinking always wins out.
Girls in Club Wear - To a lesser extent this applies to guys as well, though typical guy club wear of some douchey designer T-shirt will get you sent home in most places. Girls can get by on the fringe a bit more. You know the girls, clothes a bit too tight, too short, too revealing to be appropriate. Other girls hate these girls, and the single alpha males of the office try to walk the fine line between sexual harrasment and harmless flirting (then there is always that creepy older guy trying to mix it up too...don't do that dude). One of two things going on here, 1) This girl is a shoot off of fresh out of college girl, stubbornly trying to hold on to her party days and not blow the budget on two sets of wardrobes, or 2) They're not really interested in working here, just looking to catch the attention of an upper level manager and then quit to pursue their real passion, gold diggery and whoring.
The Consumate Professional - Just a well dressed guy or gal. Not much to say here, whether or not the person actually is professional on the job is another question, but it really doesn't matter. They look like they fit in, and for the most part thats all that counts.
The Slacker - Likes to push the casual level without really dipping too far into our next category (we'll get there in a minute). Matches the professionals when necessary but shies away from kissing too much corporate ass by pushing the limits other days. Typically can be found with the occasional untucked shirt, frayed or faded jeans when the company says only clean blue jeans with no signs of wear, shirts not quite buttoned to the top, or at all in the case of polos, maybe a few wrinkles here and there, wouldn't want to give the impression that he knows how to work an iron or anything. Also easily identified by the unorganized and messy cube, or as the guy blogging from his cube at work. It may be a double standard but there just aren't many girls that can pull this category off, they tend to end up looking like...
The Scrub - You pushed it a bit too far. Stains, overly baggy clothing, just an all out haggard appearance. Shoes with holes in the soles, brown belts with black pants, black belts with brown shoes, you name it. Girls who decide its ok for them to wear T-shirts because they can get away with anything, and $1.99 flip-flops from Old Navy. At least give some kind of effort here.
Thats all for today, Happy Turkey Day, check back Friday if you're as unfortunate as myself and have to work...or check back from home I guess if you really like the site (Though that sounds fairly unrealistic).
