I’ll be honest here, I haven’t worn a suit in many, many years. My life in the corporate 9-5 world lasted approximately 5 years. My first job out of college was working at Norfolk Southern as a revenue accountant. This was a traditional corporate job in that I had to wear a suit every single day.
My closet was stocked with Express and Loft. Super great, affordable office wear and still to this day is my go-to for pieces like that. And on “jean day” which was a charity event that you had to pay to participate in, I was reprimanded for my skinny jeans.
But don’t worry, the miserable upper management who hated me wore them anyway. I hated it. They hated me. It was mutual.
After a few months of interviewing, working on my pathetic blog at the time, and interning at an online high-end designer boutique, I finally got a job as an account executive at Alternative Apparel. I skipped to work every day. I loved it so much.
The casual office environment and culture, combined with working on a brand I truly loved and wore, were a dream come true. I worked there for four years working my way up to the southeast sales rep. Even as a sales rep, meeting with clients regularly, I was still quite casual with my work outfits.
Finding the balance of business casual outfits, or just casual work outfits if you’re even more casual than that, can be a challenge. Where is the line in how casual you are allowed to be? And what is really appropriate for business casual, or simply casual office wear? It’s usually a perfect balance of casual and slightly dressy, so let’s dive in on what to wear for casual office outfits.
Casual Work Outfit Ideas
Company Culture
Everyone’s company culture is going to affect exactly what casual work outfits may be. Some of you may be working from home but still need to be somewhat put together for Zoom calls. This may mean a nice sweater, blouse or cardigan. And those of you going into an office, your company culture may be really laid back where jeans are appropriate. Or maybe your casual work culture is just no suits, just suiting pieces, separates and so on.
Now that I’m a few years into blogging full time, I have an extensive closet of comfy tees, jeans and loungewear. Sure this is great for me, but you the reader have spoken and I have listened. So many of you have requested more 9-5 office casual work outfit ideas.
Still casual enough, comfy and stylish. Because I’m all about the effortless stuff here. Fashion doesn’t have to be fussy or uncomfortable. You can easily elevate an outfit effortlessly with just a few things here and there.
And when thinking of what to wear to the office, I want to easily show you how to effortlessly elevate, feel stylish and not break the bank.
What Is Casual Clothes For Work?
Casual clothes for work can mean a few different things based on your company’s dress code. Here are some categories to consider when choosing casual pieces for work.
Casual Work Tops
Try nice t-shirts that have structure or shape to them. Something with a heavier weight that feels more elevated than your favorite thin tee. No graphic tees of course. Blouses, knits and sweaters are always a great choice to balance out a more casual bottom. Classic button downs are a great casual work top to wear too.
Casual Work Bottoms
If your company allows jeans, I would always recommend sticking to darker wash jeans, and always avoid crazy fading or any rips. Stick to clean lines like a straight leg, or trouser style wide leg jean. Trousers are great and can be paired with a casual work top like an elevated tee with a sweater over the shoulders. Chinos or cotton bottoms are great too when styled right.
Casual Work Shoes
Casual shoes really can just mean, we don’t need to be wearing a pump every day. Wear your favorite loafers or flats, boots and even slim clean lined fashion sneakers. Think classic white sneakers that are streamlined and clean.
Casual Work Dresses and Skirts
Say goodbye to the pencil skirts, you can definitely wear something a bit more casual to the office like cotton midi skirts, silky satin skirts and wool or tweed ones. Just keep length in mind and avoid anything too short. For dresses, stick to office appropriate shapes and cuts, but you can definitely wear more casual and fun pieces here.
What Dress Is Business Casual
It can be a fine line of what dress options can be business casual. As for the length, right above the knee is ideal. You can maybe go slightly shorter, especially if wearing tights. But right above the knee is the safe spot, and then anything longer is great. It’s also all about silhouette. Try a wrap dress with knee high boots, or a classic shift or sheath dress for a more business forward style. For fall and winter, knit and sweater dresses are great.
Wrap Dresses
Shift Dresses And Sheath Dresses
Knit and Sweater Dresses
Casual Work Wear Ideas
Your casual work outfit ideas can vary from a nice blazer with jeans, to trousers with a more casual top and jacket combination. Plus, getting use out of those chinos, skirts and dresses. Here are some of my favorite casual work wear ideas.
Casual Work Outfits With Blazers
One of my favorite ways to easily dress up or a down a look to make it a casual work outfit is swapping out your slacks with jeans. This is also why I love the Express Columnist pant. It has a similar silhouette to my favorite jeans making it really easy to swap out with casual tops, or swap out the pants for a pair of jeans.
Always add a blazer when doing a jean so that it’s pulled together and still work appropriate. If your office doesn’t allow jeans, just swap the jeans for the columnist pant! It’s a great way to mix and match!
TIP: If you find a dress pant you love so much, buy two pairs. I used to hem one for flats and keep the other for heels. It made getting dressed super easy. Hemming is super inexpensive and worth the $5!
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Business Casual Outfits With Jeans
When choosing jeans to wear for business casual, it is so important to think about washes. For truly business casual, you’ll want to opt for dark wash or black. You can sometimes get away with an ecru style as to me these feel like a nice cream trouser. If your office is more casual, than business, you can definitely do a lighter wash. Just stick to no major fading or any rips.
Casual Work Outfits With Dresses
Dresses are such a great way to pull a casual work outfit together. I love a good midi skirt length which makes it office-appropriate but also on-trend.
For a more casual feel, add a denim jacket if your office allows it. Add a bootie, or colorful heel to make it feel more casual and less stuffy! This long sleeve plaid shirt dress is just perfect. Pair with a loafer for an even more casual and comfortable look!
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Dressing Down Trousers For A Casual Office Environment
Instead of wearing a full suit to the office, try just wearing your trousers but dressing them down. This can be as easy as swapping out your pump for a fashion sneaker or sandal. And instead of your blazer, swap it for a more casual third piece like a denim jacket, or a sweater over the shoulders. It’s all about balance, remove one piece of the suit, and swap it with something more casual.
Casual Work Outfits With Wide Leg Crops
One of my favorite silhouettes for bottoms are my wide leg crop jeans. Whether they’re denim for those true casual work days, or white canvas to even a more polished fabric, these are always a great option! Pair them with a button-down blouse, a sweater, or even a tee topped with a blazer. They’re really so versatile and I have to say, super comfortable!
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Casual Work Outfits With Jumpsuits
I love a good jumpsuit and have 100% fallen in love with the ones from Madewell (shocker). But they truly are great! They’re like a dress, but not. For a casual work outfit with jumpsuits that also feels cool and street style but perfect for the office is this one that I love!
Just be sure you keep your length in mind like your dresses and skirts. Always keep things at or around the knee. Don’t be doing a romper, jumpsuit, or crop is perfect for an appropriate office style.
I also realize all of the below are paired with a denim jacket. Don’t do that. Try a white blazer for summer, or a pop of color to switch it up. Adding a blazer really ties it all together. But if your office is casual, a denim jacket can usually work depending on your dress code.
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Business casual can be really subjective based on where you work, and even where you live with the temperatures. I think it’s always best to err on the side of caution and go more business, than casual, when you’re in doubt.
