Business Casual Vs. Business Professional: What’s The Difference?

Dress codes are notoriously confusing, and this goes for workplace dress codes as well. Some of the most common – and most commonly confused – workplace dress codes are business casual and business professional, and it’s important to know what to wear for each one.

In this article, we’ll go over business casual and business professional dress codes and what is expected for each one.

Key Takeaways:

What Is Business Casual?

Business casual is a common professional dress code that encourages people to dress comfortably but neatly.

Even though every company will have slightly different business casual standards, here are some commonly agreed-on identifiers of business casual clothing:

• Professional clothing. Although it is less formal than many workplace dress codes, business casual still requires you to dress professionally, wearing clothing items such as

  • Blazers

  • Cardigans

  • Sweaters

  • Vests

  • Button-up shirts

  • Nice blouses

  • Polos

  • Dresses

  • Skirts

  • Khakis

  • Neat, nice-looking jeans (sometimes)

  • Dress pants/slacks

  • Larger or more unique accessories

  • Flats

  • Heels

  • Loafers

  • Dress shoes

• Neat, tailored clothing. Just because “casual” is in the name of business casual doesn’t mean that you can show up in a t-shirt and ripped jeans. Business casual still requires you to dress presentably in clothing that fits well and is free of stains and wrinkles.

  Here are some more clothing items you should never wear if the dress code is business casual:

  • Flip-flops

  • Ripped, distressed, patched jeans

  • Jeans with designs

  • Shorts

  • Tank tops (sleeveless blouses are often acceptable)

  • Tshirts

  • Workout clothes

• Designs that reflect your personality. Business casual dress codes typically allow for more expression through color, patterns, and accessories rather than the dark, neutral colors that business professional dress codes require.

• Comfortable, practical clothing. Business casual dress codes are especially common in industries that require a significant amount of physical movement, so your clothing should reflect your needs.

  Warehouses, schools, and restaurants are examples of places where workers need to look presentable but still be able to move freely.

What Is Business Professional?

Business professional is a common workplace dress code that encourages employees to dress formally in dark, neutral colors.

The specifics of this dress code will vary from company to company, but here are the general attributes of business professional clothing:

• Formal, professional clothing. Business professional dress codes usually call for classic businesswear, including

  • Suits

  • Dresses

  • Pencil skirts

  • Sport coats

  • Slacks

  • Ties

  • Button-up shirts

  • Formal blouses

  • Nice belts

  • Heels

  • Flats

  • Dress shoes

  • Cufflinks

  • Simple jewelry

• Well-fitted, clean, wrinkle-free clothing. A suit that doesn’t fit you or is dirty, stained, or wrinkled isn’t business professional. You don’t need to get all of your clothes custom-made or professionally tailored, but you do need to make sure they don’t look awkwardly baggy or tight on you.

  Even if they don’t fit you perfectly; however, the most important thing is to keep your clothes clean and ironed to show that you put effort into looking your best.

• Neutral colors. Most business professional clothing is black, navy, or gray with accents of white or pastel colors. In many places, the business professional dress code is starting to include more colorful clothing, but if in doubt, stick to the classics for your main pieces. You can add a pop of color with your accessories, blouse, or tie.

• Clothing that represents you and your company well. At the end of the day, professional dress codes are put in place to establish a company culture for workers’ appearances, just as a uniform would.

  Typically, the goal of implementing a business professional dress code is to ensure that everyone is representing the company as trustworthy and professional to clients, customers, and colleagues, so keep this in mind when you choose your clothing.

Business Casual vs. Business Professional FAQ

1. Is business casual the same as business professional?

   No, business casual isn’t the same as business professional. Business casual dress codes are less formal than business professional, focusing more on functional, comfortable clothing that still looks nice. Khakis, slacks, dresses, blazers, sweaters, and loafers all fall into this category.

   Business professional, on the other hand, is more formal than business casual and typically requires clothing such as suits, sport coats, slacks, and dress shoes.

   There is some crossover between the two categories, as business casual can include more formal pieces found in business professional. However, business professional dress codes usually emphasize dark, neutral colors, while business casual encourages brighter colors and patterns that reflect the wearer’s personality.

   Both dress codes require employees to look polished, neat, and dressier than they’d normally be for a day at home.

2. Does business professional include jeans?

   No, business professional does not include jeans. While a business casual dress code can include jeans, business professional does not. This dress code requires more formal clothes such as:

   • Suits

   • Ties

   • Dresses

   • Blouses

   • Sport coats and blazers

   • Slacks

   • Dress shoes.

   When choosing clothes for a business professional dress code, you should avoid even borderline-casual clothing such as jeans, cotton t-shirts, and loafers.

   Many companies in the law, government, or finance industries have business professional dress codes because they want their employees to appear serious, trustworthy, and respectful, so keep this in mind as you choose your business professional clothing.

3. Do you need a suit jacket for business professional?

   Yes, you need a suit jacket for business professional. Even if your work environment considers slacks and a sport coat or blazer business professional, you still need the jacket to ensure your outfit is within the dress code.

   The business professional dress code is the most classic workplace dress code, as it can be summed up as “a suit and tie.” You may be able to take off your jacket while you’re working, depending on your office culture, but you should always come in with a jacket and have it ready to put back on.

   For women, these rules aren’t quite so strict. While a pantsuit or dress suit is always in line with business professional, so is a pair of slacks and a nice blouse – jacket optional.

   However, a blazer or jacket will always add an extra amount of professionalism to an outfit, so if in doubt, include the jacket.

Author

Abby McCain

Abby is a writer who is passionate about the power of story. Whether it’s communicating complicated topics in a clear way or helping readers connect with another person or place from the comfort of their couch. Abby attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she earned a degree in writing with concentrations in journalism and business.