Dress the Part: Wear-to-Work Styles

Outfit ideas and style tips from professionals on what to wear to work and how to be presentable and business casual in the workplace.

Fashion in the workplace
Post recession, a good amount of people in our country are looking to find a new job, a job, a better job, a promotion or expand our networks to make sure we are connected with our industries, and as shallow as it sounds, we need to look good. I have had friends ask about what to wear to networking events, what to wear to work or what does business casual mean? How casual is too casual? I asked a few of our best dressed male and female Brightwingers what workplace fashion looks like to them:

Aaron Chernow, CEO of Brightwing
“For new clients always a suit and tie. Definitely dress more formal. I like solid orange ties with grey suits and my dad feels the same way. I love when someone shows their individuality in a pocket square or in a shirt tie combo. If it were a networking event, it would really depend on the mood of the audience. Where is it? Is it formal? Unless I have to wear a tie for a conservative or formal event, I don’t wear a tie because that’s my style. In everyday business casual you should wear whatever makes you feel good about yourself. If you want to be formal I love it, casual I love it.”

David Chernow, CMO of Brightwing
“What I would do is research the culture of the events/ interview/ company that I would be meeting with. Is it a company that wears jeans every day? Am I going to an event with Fortune 500 CEOs? It really depends and you need to know your audience. What if the company I meet with wears jeans? I may not wear a suit; I may wear slacks and a button down. If I am meeting with a conservative audience from an interview to a meeting to an event I will probably wear a suit and tie. My everyday attire for business casual is a polo or button down shirt and casual cotton pants. In the winter I like to wear a button down under a sweater.”

Jeff Borra, Business Development Manager
“To a networking event I usually wear a sport coat, button down shirt and dress pants. I like to be comfortable but presentable to potential contacts, candidates and clients. Business casual is more relaxed but can be more colorful. I will usually wear a button down or a nice golf shirt with khakis or dress pants. When it comes to new client meetings, I will wear a suit and tie, usually in conservative colors, but don’t take the business formal so seriously that you wear a tuxedo. Recently I walked a candidate into an interview and he was wearing a full tux.”

April Jennings, Director of marketing
“Now that it’s summer time I would probably wear a dress with a blazer or cardigan and a cute belt. I am in marketing, and a lot of the creative types are trendy or expressive with their clothes and I love it. One of my favorite stores for staples is The Limited because they make it really easy to mix and match with statement pieces. I am really into the “pop” of color right now.”

Katie Peterson, Programs and Partnerships Manager
“I have a young child, and with that I think about a million things that don’t have to do with what I need to wear to work every morning. To make it easier for me, I like pieces that are versatile, cardigans that I can wear with jeans and work pants, shirts that I can wear to work and on the weekends. As far as workpants go I try to find pairs like Limited or Express pants because I know I’ll buy a pair that are comfortable and that I will wear for years… really get my money’s worth. I try to not pick incredibly trendy pieces so they don’t go out of style but still on trend with statement pieces and accessories. I love and need the mix and match and versatility from work to life.”

Meghan Marotta, Recruiter
“If I were going to interview I would wear a simple pant suit with muted tones, my hair out of my face and simple jewelry. On client calls I stick to business casual, meaning pants or work dresses but probably keep things on the conservative side. I would definitely have more fun with my outfits at a networking event or everyday business casual. Jazz up the basics with accessories and statement pieces. Colors are wonderful!”

Elyse Lopez, Recruiting Administrator
Being a little self serving I thought I would add my two cents. I generally don’t see clients so a lot of what I wear, as Aaron said, is whatever makes me happy….and what makes me happy are dresses. Nothing frustrates me more in the morning than trying to match a shirt or sweater to a skirt or pants. If I had to sum up my business casual/formal philosophy it would be a dress (wrap, suiting or shirt), blazer or sweater and boots in the winter (cute boots), and a dress with heeled sandals or pumps in the summer.