What is business casual? rules?

[that_someone_special]

Ok so a restaurant we are going to with evvvverrrryone going to the wedding (no, not the reception) is business casual.

What exactly is that? What can people wear or not wear? My friends do not dress like that so the few people know about this are not happy

Are NICE jeans always a no-no even with a nicer top etc? This is hopeful wishing on my part.

 

[sillyberry]

I once received this from a company describing their dress code:

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Business casual attire, for men, means dress shoes (not topsiders), dress slacks (not khakis, cotton Dockers, or pants without a crease, for example), a long-sleeved dress shirt that can be worn with a coat and tie, and an accessible coat and tie.

Business casual attire, for women, means dressy shoes (including dressy boots, slides, flats and open-toed shoes, but not including casual sandals), pants suits, dresses, or dress slacks or skirts with jackets or functional equivalents. Dresses and skirts should be of an appropriate length. Women are not required to wear hosiery if it is appropriate for the rest of the outfit and is still professional.
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Outside the workplace, though, I always think of business casual as either a dress or slacks/skirt with a nice sweater or top for women, slacks/nice khakis and a collared shirt for men. Suits, ties, or jackets not necessary. No jeans (sorry!).

 

[that_someone_special]

Oh man. I hate dresses. THe only dress I will be wearing that weekend will be my wedding dress! I guess dress pants... blah. blah. I hate this.

 

[zoebartlett]

I once received this from a company describing their dress code:

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Business casual attire, for men, means dress shoes (not topsiders), dress slacks (not khakis, cotton Dockers, or pants without a crease, for example), a long-sleeved dress shirt that can be worn with a coat and tie, and an accessible coat and tie.

Business casual attire, for women, means dressy shoes (including dressy boots, slides, flats and open-toed shoes, but not including casual sandals), pants suits, dresses, or dress slacks or skirts with jackets or functional equivalents. Dresses and skirts should be of an appropriate length. Women are not required to wear hosiery if it is appropriate for the rest of the outfit and is still professional.
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside the workplace, though, I always think of business casual as either a dress or slacks/skirt with a nice sweater or top for women, slacks/nice khakis and a collared shirt for men. Suits, ties, or jackets not necessary. No jeans (sorry!).

See, I'd say that the list above is more business than business casual attire. I'd definitely consider khakis and dockers to be business casual for guys. I'd also consider pants suits to be business attire for girls, not business casual. Maybe that's me though.

If I was going to a restaurant that had a business casual dress code, I'd wear either khakis or nice pants, a nice top, and comfy (but nice) shoes -- no heels, but then again, I don't wear heels anyway. I'd even wear nice, dark wash jeans or black jeans -- most likely, without hesitation. I think you can dress up an outfit with jewelry, scarves, etc.

 

[elrohwen]

If a workplace was business casual, I would assume that meant khakis and no jeans, though in my current workplace everybody wears jeans and some even wear shorts, so it can mean a lot of different things depending on the company.

For a restaurant, I would assume no jeans for men (khakis would be better), but dark dressy jeans for women would be ok. Though no jeans at all would be a safer bet.

 

[sillyberry]

If it is a restaurant, you can always call and ask what is appropriate, specifically asking if nice jeans are okay. They might say yes, they might say no - the definition can be a moving target. But then you don't have to worry!

Zoe, I totally agree that what I posted was on the formal side, but it was a pretty formal (aka stuffy) law firm's definition of business casual. That's why I modified my answer!

 

[that_someone_special]

Good idea!! I will call!

 

[elle_chris]

I guess is depends, but in general Sillyberry is correct regarding "business casual" (at least from what I know it to mean). Only difference is ties aren't always required.