A McDonough Career Center guide to business attire
Business attire is the clothing you wear in professional settings and can vary greatly based on the setting. There are levels of business attire ranging from “casual” to “business formal.” This guide shares some best practices and general guidance. If you're uncertain or still have questions, ask a career coach and/or someone in the company or industry!
First impressions matter, whether it’s a job interview, a networking event, or your first day at a new job. Your wardrobe should reinforce your professional brand and be appropriate to the company culture and norms as well as for the work you need to do. The following tips will help you look professional and still feel comfortable and confident.
Here are a few universal tips to keep in mind:
Do's
Ensure that your clothes fit properly, are clean, and are free of wrinkles, holes, lint, and excessive fading.
Remember to be well-groomed and keep up with personal hygiene.
Show off your personality, but don't overdo it, "less is more" (e.g., 1-2 statement pieces are usually perfect).
Always use a padfolio and sometimes a briefcase to store belongings.
Don'ts
Avoid clothes that are ill-fitting (i.e., too large, small, tight, and baggy) or shoes that are difficult to walk in.
While it is nice to smell good, don’t use heavy perfumes or colognes.
Sacrificing comfort for style is not a good idea - ensure you can sit and walk comfortably.
Don't make assumptions! When in doubt ask a career coach.
Below is an outline of the most common types of business attire. Click the caret/arrow by each title for more details.
Business formal attire (also known as business professional) refers to a "crisp" dress code, literally: pressed, neat, and never wrinkled. Business formal is almost always the default for interviews regardless of industry.
When to wear it: Most interviews, more formal office environments, university or company-sponsored networking events
Clothing examples: In general, your clothing should be a neutral color like black, white, darker grey, tan, or navy.
Tops / Bottoms: Suits, pantsuits, skirt suits with a button-up collared shirt or blouse
Shoes: Dress shoes with or without a heel
Accessories: Ties, professional bags, portfolios, minimalist jewelry, leather belts (pro tip: should match shoe color)
Did you know? Business formal clothing can also refer to the dress code for formal occasions such as "black tie" or "evening dress" events. Think award ceremonies, corporate events in the evening, galas/benefit dinners, and award ceremonies.
Business casual is a frequent source of confusion for many because there is no clear or standardized definition. However, the basics of business casual are that wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and flipflops is too informal, and wearing a full suit is too formal.
When to wear it: Everyday office for many industries, interviews for companies in industries outside finance, law, government, consulting, or real estate, some networking events, some professional conferences
Clothing examples:
Tops: Collared shirts, short- and long-sleeved shirts/blouses, button-downs, turtlenecks, blazers, fine-knit sweaters
Bottoms: Chinos, dress pants/slacks, skirts
Shoes: Closed-toe shoes such as dress shoes, boots, loafers, flats, oxfords
Accessories: Professional bags, padfolios, minimal jewelry
Smart or dressy casual attire falls somewhere in between business casual and business professional. It opens up a lot more variety in your wardrobe, allowing your personality to shine through while maintaining a professional vibe.
When to wear it: Your go-to for an interview with a company that has a “casual” dress code. For everyday office wear, some companies have a business professional dress code but might find that people actually dress closer to smart casual.
When to wear it: Everyday office, interviews for companies with "casual" dress codes, coffee chats
Clothing examples:
Tops: Collared or short-sleeved shirts, button-downs, polos blazers, cardigans
Bottoms: Dress pants/slacks, chinos, suit pants, skirts
Shoes: Closed-toe heels, flats, or loafers, some open-toed shoes (no flipflops)
Accessories: professional bags, padfolios, jewelry
Casual dress is the least formal type of business attire. This is common among creative industries and tech companies. Although comfort is a priority, certain standards are required. You should still avoid tank tops, flipflops, workout clothing, and anything that is see-through, or ripped, tattered, and frayed. Your clothes still need to be appropriate and presentable for the workplace.
When to wear it: Everyday office among creative industries and tech companies
Clothing examples:
Tops: Nice t-shirts, henleys, sweatshirts, colorful blouses
Bottoms: Jeans, khakis, chinos
Shoes: Tennis shoes, boots, sandals
How to Dress for a Job Interview, Cawley Career Education Center
How to Dress for a Job Interview, Indeed
What to Wear to An Interview, Coursera