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TRENDS FOR BUSINESS DRESS

Casual dress in the workplace has become widely accepted. According to a national study conducted by Schoenholtz & Associates in 1995, a majority of the companies surveyed allowed employees to dress casually one day a week, usually Fridays ( Tartt, 1995, 23). The trend continued to climb as shown by the 1997 survey by Schoenholtz & Associates. Fifty-eight percent of office workers surveyed were allowed to dress casually for work every day. About 92 percent of the offices allowed employees to dress casually occasionally (Sutphin, 2000, 10). Decline in Trend The trend to dress casually that started in the early 1990s may be shifting, states Susan Monaghan (2000, 34): Although a large number of companies are allowing casual attire every day or only on Fridays, a current survey revealed a decline of 10 percent in 1999 when compared to the same survey conducted in 1998. Some experts predict the new trend for business dress codes will be a dress up day every week. What accounts for this decline in companies permitting casual dress? Several reasons may include: 1. Confusion of what business casual is. Employees may slip into dressing too casually (work jeans, faded tee-shirts, old sneakers, and improperly fitting clothing). 2. Casual dress does not portray the desired image of the company. 3. Employees are realizing that promotion decisions are affected by a professional appearance. Guidelines for Business Dress Companies may hire image consultants to teach employees what is appropriate business casual dress. They help plan the best business attire to project the corporate image. Erica Gilreath

(2000), the author of Casual Dress, a guidebook on business casual, provides excellent advice on how to dress casually for business success. She presents the following advice: Do not wear any clothing that is designed for recreational or sports activities, such as cargo pants or pants with elastic waist. Press pants, skirts, shirts, and other clothing. Wrinkled clothing does not present professional image. Do not wear sneakers. Be sure clothing fits properly. Avoid baggy clothes or clothes that are too tight. In summary, conscientious employees need to plan their dress carefully. If business casual is appropriate, its best to consult the experts on business casual to ensure a professional image.

REFERENECES

Gilreath, Erica. Dressing Casually with Power. http://www.dresscasual.com (23 March 2001). Monaghan, Susan. Business Dress Codes May be Shifting. Business Executive, April 2000, 34-35. Sutphin, Rachel. Your Business Wardrobe Decisions Are Important Decisions. Business Management Journal, January 2000, 10-12. Tartt, Kelsey. Companies Support Business Casual Dress. Management Success, June 1995, 23-25.