When will cargo pants be accepted as business casual? What are your thoughts on business casual attire?
When will cargo pants be accepted business casual? Business Culture's are changing!
Some Business and Cultures offer a Jean Day or a Casual Friday, some offer come as you are flip flops and all... and your on the road for all types of meetings, one is in banking, the other a tree care company, the other a local garage that needs a new sign. if I wear a Tie am I over dressed? if I wear My Cargos "functional clothing" will I be looked down Upon lets say if walk into a Bank purchasing dept.
Some Business and Cultures offer a Jean Day or a Casual Friday, some offer come as you are flip flops and all... and your on the road for all types of meetings, one is in banking, the other a tree care company, the other a local garage that needs a new sign. if I wear a Tie am I over dressed? if I wear My Cargos "functional clothing" will I be looked down Upon lets say if walk into a Bank purchasing dept.
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Answers (1-10)
Well, I am a woman, so i won't be wearing cargo pants period. LOL I do dress casual a lot. I wear a couple dresses a week and the rest jeans with a blouse. Ever since Katrina hit here in Louisiana, the panty hose & high heels went with her. No need to be uncomfortable and stuffy when you are working anymore.
I work in my pjs until about 11 am, so I would say business casual cargo pants are in! Actually, my nurse sister and niece wear them at work and have for a very long time.
When I was a financial advisor, never would be the answer. But now, as a graphic designer, when I go school visits I wear flannel pj pants and long sleeve top with a pair of fluffy slippers. The kids fall out of their chairs! However, if I am representing my publishing house again, even business causal wouldn't include cargo pants. All that said, I guess it really depends on your business.
I think it is going to always vary by industry and based upon the events of the day. "Appropriate attire" is a very subjective determination and there is no single answer.
In some industries, cargo pants will never be accepted as business casual. As inconvenient as it is, I would never go to a bank on business wearing them because I know they wouldn't take me seriously. I suppose if you gain a certain amount of notoriety, like Steve Jobs, you can get away with it, but we ordinary folk will still have to don at least a tie or wear a dress shirt with jacket when we do business with those in the finance sector.
Well interesting question...I’ll make the answer simple...if you feel like you represent your business style wearing cargo pants...go for it...always remember though cleanliness is next to godliness. However, if we take a lesson from the public school programs and their lack of dress code... then look at the booming charter schools and the academic success they appear to be having supporting some poor neighborhoods. They all are dressed uniformly...just saying.
Thomas, I have worked in the printing trade for over 15 years, specifically in sales but also in the capacity of a support engineer. I know that the west coast tends to be a little more relaxed insofar as workplace appropriate dress is concerned. On the east coast, dress tends to be a little more "business appropriate" for at least four days out of the week, however there are several variables that dictate what "appropriate business casual attire" means in any company culture. 1. What are the rules in the Employee Handbook? 2. What do the rest of the employees in your department wear? I am sure you have heard of the adage "When in Rome..?" Well, I know print department employees, CSR's and Prepress Department Employees that seem to be able to wear casual clothing all the time, any day of the week. I think those who are closer to the customer should put their best foot forward in dress, as they have to portray more of a representative image of the company.
I agree with Bret. As long as your clothes are clean, and you are professional in your demeanor, what you wear is of little importance.
Only on Friday
Well Thomas, Presently I wear cargo shorts almost daily through summer and cargo pants in winter. I really like the pockets for things like my wallet and phone. I don't think I have had anyone determine that I am "unprofessional". The attitude might be regional however. I do live in central Cali.
Being the Advertising and Production Manager at Imprint Publications, University of Waterloo student newspaper, students are hired for part-time and full-time positions. Dress code was a problem until I attended a Business Etiquette workshop and then put my findings into the "working manual" that students follow when employed at Imprint.
Business casual list includes "casual pants" - I rarely see the baggy cargo pants, as now they come in the slim-legged and can look quite nice when dressed up with a company logo golf shirt or sweater...Imprint accepts this.
Once again, every company sets their standards and dress code does play a big part in first impressions :)