What Do You Wear to Work These Days?

Today it seems like we’re all dressing a lot more casual when we work. At YSN headquarters in Southern California, we’ve definitely adopted a policy of flips flops and jeans on most occasions. But whether you work from home, a local coffee shop, or even a traditional office, we’re just not as formal as we used to be.

The big question is: How do you know when to be formally dressed now?

Here’s my take on the 3 major levels of dressing for work:

Totally Informal: For ultra-casual, you’re-not-going-to-see-anyone-important days, maybe a pair of khakis and a T-shirt, or a pair of shorts and some flip-flops work for you. Save the makeup, jewelry and uncomfortable shoes for when it is really worth all the effort.

Average Day: Since you never really do know when something or someone important is going to pop up, it’s probably a good idea to find a good baseline look – one that’s casual enough to be livable and comfortable, but nice enough to take you into any impromptu meeting with a new client or great contact. Unless you’re sure that you’re only going to run a few errands (like going to Staples, the market, and out to get a greeting card), play it safe. Try a pair of tailored pants or a nice skirt with a t-shirt, a button down or a sweater set. Remember that it’s possible to meet some pretty interesting and important people at the bank, or even at Kinko’s, and you don’t always get notice to prep for first impressions.

Time to Dress: Before you ditch your suits all together, keep in mind that they still offer a great opportunity to dazzle people. There are some cases where suits still are the standard, so here are a few rules of thumb: Cocktail parties, business mixers (with some exceptions), meetings with big clients, meetings with people at major accounting or consulting firms (where you know they’re all in suits), formal presentations, special events and conferences.

Just keep in mind that there aren’t a lot of right or wrong answers when it comes to dressing up anymore. Your best cues are going to have to come from people you know, people you meet, and your own experiences. When all else fails, call ahead and ask what the appropriate attire is for the afternoon/evening. The bottom line is that your reputation is at stake with every person you meet, so be sure to put your best foot forward!