How To Dress For Casual Fridays At Work

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Workplaces aren’t what they used to be — and that’s a good thing! Though professional attire is a must in virtually any workplace, what constitutes professional attire can vary wildly depending on profession, employer, and location. Even in more conservative workplaces, like a law or business office, some degree of relaxed or casual attire is permitted on certain days or during certain times of year.

How To Dress For Casual Fridays At Work

This is usually the case in the summer when the heat makes traditional professional attire unbearably warm. Although you’re unlikely to wear heavy clothes on casual Fridays, such days still require a wardrobe mindful of what’s appropriate in the workplace. Here are some dos and don’ts that apply to most casual dress days:

DON’T Wear Sweats, Pajamas, Or Lounge Wear

Just because you’re dressing casually doesn’t mean you should ignore what your clothes say about you and your work. One of the main reasons professional attire exists is to instill confidence in one’s appearance; professional attire is often designed to make you look your best. Wearing sweats, pajamas, or lounge clothes would only serve to make you look lazy in the eyes of others.

These kinds of clothes, by design, do not fit especially well and are not typically meant to be worn to the office. A good rule of thumb is to never wear anything to work that you would wear in bed or lounging on the couch at home.

DO Wear Jeans

Jeans are an excellent alternative to slacks or dress pants, which are typical in professional attire. Be mindful of the sort of jeans you wear though. Choosing a dark wash of jeans, as opposed to a lighter wash, looks more professional since the darker color mimics dress pants.

Distressed jeans, jeans with holes in them or those covered in paint splatter are generally unacceptable as they look messy. Fit is important too. Very baggy or skinny jeans are not going to cut it; boot cut or straight-legged jeans are going to be the most professional option.

DON’T Just Roll Out Of Bed

Casual Friday isn’t the same as just-woke-up-Sunday morning, meaning that while your wardrobe might be relaxed, your grooming shouldn’t be. Don’t neglect your appearance by not combing your hair or bathing, or by not applying makeup (if you normally do). You should always be sure to appear polished, clean, and attentive to your appearance because it matters.

Don’t just wake up, throw some clothes on and come into work that way. Always be sure to look your best, especially if you’re in casual attire since the details are even more important and visible.

DO Wear Appropriate Shoes

Flip flops are generally not allowed in the workplace since most people aren’t interested in seeing their co-workers’ exposed feet. Tennis shoes and sneakers are not always ideal either as they can dress a look a little too casually. Ballet flats (and certain kinds of sandals) are an excellent option for women, blending both style and comfort, while men should consider loafers as a casual alternative to more restrictive business shoes.

Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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12 Comments

1. 

   Terrel Shumway

   May 14, 2013 at 12:27 PM

   No matter what people say, they will *always* treat you differently, and usually better, if you are dressed up. Even if you aren’t in a brick and mortar office, *you* will feel different about your work if you are in sweats or worn-out jeans.

   Reply
2. 

   Doris Appelbaum

   May 3, 2013 at 9:27 PM

   You never know who is going to show up at the office – possibly your next employer.

   If you wear revealing items, you are asking for trouble.

   Learn to walk in shoes and items that fit well.

   Reply
3. 

   Paul Copcutt

   April 29, 2013 at 7:59 AM

   Several companies I know enforce a casual Friday policy but also connect the opportunity to dress down asking for a donation to a charity the employees have decided to support. the company is seen as doing something socially conscious while still able to maintain a level of professionalism and clients who see this and find out its for charity mind a whole lot less.

   Reply
4. 

   Beth Scott

   April 27, 2013 at 3:02 AM

   About 10 years ago the company I worked for was going through a merger. The new CEO decided that people were abusing Casual Friday and dressing inappropriately so, in his wisdom, he had a memo sent out to ban casual Fridays sighting that people had abused it. It was always last Friday of the month and only if you had no client meetings.

   It remains fresh in my mind the impact such a memo made, a knock to morale in a workplace adjusting to large scale change. Casual Fridays can be more important to staff than you think. The decision, which was made about 12 work days per year with no effect to the bottom line, was poorly timed and orchestrated. My understanding is that casual Fridays depend on your brand and image. If a company allows CF every Friday that is 1/5 of the year your image is altered.

   Reply
5. 

   Debbie

   April 26, 2013 at 9:09 PM

   I wish I could print this off and give it to almost every person that i work with! The abundance of tennis shoes, sweat pants and lounge pants I see on Friday is disheartening. Of course, these are the same people who typically don’t understand what “business casual” is either. One of my co-workers wears a yarn cap that looks like a monkey because her office is cold! So unprofessional and I work at a government agency.

   Reply
6. 

   Me

   April 26, 2013 at 7:50 PM

   For several years I worked for a company which allowed “casual” every day. I did the opposite. I dressed up every day; slacks, button down shirt, jacket, tie, shoes. I even wore a pair of buttoned-in, braided-leather braces. Not everyone knew my name but everyone knew I meant business.

   Reply
7. 

   Rachel Armont, SPHR

   April 26, 2013 at 2:15 PM

   Nothing irks me more than to walk in to a professional office and see flip flops, shorts, t-shirts, or sweat pants! What business wants to project that kind of image? I don’t mind nice jeans or open-toed sandals, but what are you telling your employer when you show up in your flip-flops?? I had to enforce our no flip-flop rule once, and I had the biggest fight on my hands. Why? Because they spent $90 on the flip-flops. I couldn’t believe anyone would spend that kind of money on something that barely qualifies as a shoe! I told them that the dress code is there for a reason, and if they could afford $90 flip-flops they could certainly buy some appropriate office shoes.

   Needless to say I wasn’t very popular among the ladies in the office. Fortunately for my employer, I wasn’t there to be popular.

   Reply
8. 

   Paul Hunter Jones

   April 26, 2013 at 7:17 AM

   I am not a big fan of Causal Friday (CF) or any other causal day. As an owner of a business I want to project an overall business image. My workers dressing down and trying to display “their own brand” runs counter to the company’s brand. Of course professional and administrative offices probably have very different views on CF. There is a perception that less work gets done on CF than on the other workdays. Maybe we should reevaluate the entire idea of CF in the context of better productivity and the projection of a more serious business image. Who wants to do business with a business that does not appear serious about doing business?

   Reply
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     Paul Copcutt

     April 26, 2013 at 3:20 PM

     Paul the personal brand does not have to run contrary to the corporate brand, you could even make it Fun Casual Friday – who can dress most corporately!

     Alternatively if there is an expectation of a certain dress code then allowing the employees to be brands within a brand can really pay dividends – see Starbucks or SouthWest for example.

     I talk on this all the time to large Fortune 500 companies, we call it 3D Branding – where the connection is made between personal, team and corporate brand customers and clients experience a fuller experience and remain more connected and loyal.

     Just my additional toonies worth

     Reply
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       Lipotso

       April 27, 2013 at 1:50 PM

       I am with you Paul…I strongly believe that the three brands go together…I also believe that at the workplace don’t dress too down…imagine a potential partner sees you on your “too down” day…first impresssions do last.

       Reply
9. 

   Paul Copcutt

   April 26, 2013 at 5:30 AM

   Comfortable is sensible but you also want to ensure that what you wear is a reflection of your personal brand.

   Choose a brand colour or an accessory that people start to notice as a signature of you.

   I have one client who always wears barrettes and you can almost pick her out from a sea of heads.

   Another client was in a casual everyday environment so Friday became really dress down! He did the opposite and dressed up, sometimes even three piece suit and cufflinks! – it was unusual and rebellious, but very on brand for him.

   just my toonies worth

   Reply
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     Bekki

     April 26, 2013 at 3:15 PM

     That’s a good idea, Paul!

     Reply