Casual is not that casual

One of the most confusing phrases you will encounter in business is "business casual." For many businesses, this is now the norm, and you'll figure it our fast at your place of business. But it is a confusing phrase in another environment, and especially if you don't have a lot of rings around the trunk. That meeting, conference, party, etc., that advises "business casual attire" might mean something different than your "casual Friday" at work or your preconception of casual. For example, what you wear on a date, to a wedding, to a cookout, and pretty much anywhere probably isn't business casual.

As a rule of thumb in life you can always overdress and then dress down (take off the tie, the jacket, roll up the sleeves, etc.) if need be. That same modus vivendi applies for many behaviors, actually. But business casual means not jeans and not a suit but somewhere in between, and usually falls into two basic categories for males (I am clearly not qualified to comment on any female behavior, especially wearing clothes): Bill Gates or Old Richard Gere. Bill Gates usually wears khakis and an oxford shirt, but if it's hot a collared polo shirt works. Old Richard Gere is a jacket with a colored shirt, open one button, two at most, with pants with a crease (that is meant to be there). Casual shoes (not sneakers or sandals) in both cases. Some people might also go with a dress shirt and tie, but I personally like the jacket and shirt, as it is much classier, and the tucked in collared shirt in the summer is good. Never under any conditions wear a short sleeve dress shirt, particularly with a jacket or with a tie, unless you are in the computer field.

By the way, why does the guy in picture have a farmer's tan with white hands? Yes gloves, but why? OK, I'll get off the fashion kick. Never in my life did I think I would ever tell anyone how to dress, and by now you've figured out why, as I'm pretty clueless. In fact, I try to dress just well enough so as not to be noticed.