Casual Fridays are a great way to motivate employees and improve the overall morale of the office. It gives guys a chance to ditch the suit while ladies can enjoy not wearing a dress and heels to work. While the idea of casual days is a great one, unfortunately, that kind of freedom can also bring with it a lack of common sense. Employees might have their own ideas of what casual means and can get a little too extreme on these days. If you work in an office that implements casual days, remember that your appearance still matters. You certainly don’t want to be the guy who looks like he just rolled out of bed or the lady whose skirt is too short. It’s important to look professional and put together, even on casual days. Here are a few clothing items you should avoid wearing on casual days.
Ripped or Frayed Jeans
Jeans are a great option for both men and women but these days the word “jeans” encompasses an entire array of styles. Avoid wearing jeans that are ripped or frayed. Save these jeans for your weekend outing and go with a more sophisticated looking denim that is both comfortable and professional.
Workout Clothing/Loungewear
It might seem obvious but with today’s “athleisure” style being so trendy, it’s not surprising to have men show up in a tracksuit or women arrive in workout leggings. Yes, we do realize that it’s called “casual Friday” but your boss would not appreciate it if you show up looking like you just came from the gym.
Tight or Revealing Clothing
You want people to notice your work, not your appearance. Work isn’t the place for plunging necklines, midriff crop tops, mini skirts, or form-fitting dresses. Likewise, men should not have dress shirts that are unbuttoned too far and no one should wear pants that show their undergarments. You don’t want to look like you are ready for a night out at a club.
Shorts
Even though it might get hot in the summer, shorts are never appropriate for the workplace. Everyone’s interpretation of shorts is different and they might end up being way too short or way too casual so it’s best just to avoid them altogether.
T-Shirts with Political or Offensive Wording
T-shirts probably aren’t the best choice anyway, but if your workplace does allow them you should refrain from wearing anything with political or offensive wording on it. If there is even the slightest chance that your shirt might offend someone, it’s best to leave that one in the closet.
Flip-Flops
Your footwear is just as important as the rest of your outfit so save your flip-flops for the pool. Although there are plenty of professional looking sandals, flip-flops do not make the list.
Don’t ruin casual days for the entire office by wearing something inappropriate. Whether we like it or not, people will judge us based on how we look so it’s important to look professional even on casual days.