I am sure you have all heard the terms, “casual, business casual and business formal.” So, what exactly do these terms mean? What should you wear to work? I am here to help.
Understanding the dress code of your employer is important. You will usually be clued into your employer’s dress code during your interview or from HR/recruiting before you start. For almost all legal positions, you should wear a suit to your interview. This goes for OCI screeners and callbacks. After that, it is really up to you and what you think the vibe of your employer will be. Of course, even if your employer fosters a casual dress code, there will be some days or events where more formality is required. As litigators know, you will need to wear a suit when making a court appearance, for example.
Casual: A lot of the tech firms have gone casual. Think Facebook and Mark Zuckerburg’s famous gray tee and jeans. If your workplace has a casual dress code, this typically means well-fitting jeans, sweater and/or blouse.
You could even wear sneakers, but I would recommend “fashion” sneakers over running shoes. Think Vejas or Tretorn style. While jeans may be appropriate for work under a casual code, leave your ripped pair at home, at least at first. Sundresses could also be worn but make sure the dress is an appropriate length and cut.
Business Casual: A number of the large law firms have pivoted to business casual, with some even adopting a casual dress code. In business casual environments, men wear a button up shirt with khakis or slacks and dress shoes. Women typically sport slacks with a blouse, turtleneck, elegant sweater, or dress. Khaki or light-colored suits are considered business casual, as opposed to business formal.
Business Formal: Business formal is what you probably picture when thinking of the quintessential “lawyer.” For men, this is a dark colored suit with a modest tie and dress shoes matching the suit. Generally, when wearing a blue suit, go with brown shoes and a brown belt. Try to avoid excessively bright colors or eye-catching tie patterns. Stick with the blue, gray or black suit with a white or blue button-up shirt underneath. For women, business formal includes a pant, skirt, or dress suit with heels or professional-looking flats.
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