Why Business Casual is not the same as Casual Friday

Many companies today do not enforce a dress code anymore. The times when employees came to the office in suits and ties are over at last.

Especially start-ups and companies from the creative industries have completely abandoned the dress code and signal to their employees that they could come to the office in their pyjamas if they wanted to.

This text explains why it still makes sense for all employees to stick to a few basics and not to show up at the office every day in their leisure clothes. Because there is still a big difference between business casual and casual Friday.

Casual style is just not for the office

Even if the company is very much young, hip and creative - as an employee you should still observe a few rules. Because even if the official announcement is that everyone can come into the office dressed the way they like - that doesn't mean that you don't send out a message with your clothes.

The old wisdom that clothes make the man still applies. Colleagues and bosses may like to pretend that one is only interested in the qualifications and work performance of the employees - probably they are convinced of this too - but subconsciously everyone's clothing is valued by everyone.

Vestis virum reddit - Clothing makes the man

The wisdom that clothes make people is preceded by the knowledge of the Romans - it has been known for so long what influence clothing has on one's own environment. And we may think we are modern and relaxed, but we cannot escape this influence.

Since suits and ties or costumes are increasingly leaving the working world, the effect of clothing on us and our fellow human beings is being investigated in studies. They all essentially come to one basic conclusion: the more formal the clothing, the more serious and competent the person wearing it appears. People who are well dressed are considered to be more intelligent, more qualified and more trustworthy. If you dress casually, the less intelligent and trustworthy you’ll be perceived by the people surrounding you.

As late as 2019 - the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is in full swing - the behavioural researcher Michael Kraus published a study which proved two things: people orient themselves strongly towards the clothing of their counterpart and even more: they are also prepared to make more financial concessions to a formally dressed person.

What does this mean for the dress code in the office?

Now I would definitely be the last one to demand that strict dress codes be reintroduced into everyday working life! It is a valuable achievement that we are prepared to accept people in their individuality. Everyone should of course express their individuality the - even in their clothing.

However, everyone can also think for themselves how they want to use the knowledge described above.

Even in the office of a creative start-up, where there is beer for everyone on Fridays and where you can play football during working hours, you can use the knowledge about clothing. It is probably not a good idea to show up in a suit and tie all at once. But if you appear in the office day after day in a shirt or blouse instead of sweatpants and a T-shirt, your colleagues will consider you more intelligent - sociologically speaking.

The fine line between business casual and casual Friday

If you are thinking about how you want to dress for work, there are three aspects to consider in descending order:

1. Express your own individuality

2. present a convincing appearance

3. fit into the social group

I am convinced that it is still most important to wear the clothes in which you feel comfortable. This is the only way to be concentrated at work throughout the day and to go to a meeting without worries. You should not feel dressed up in your clothes.

But with your clothes you also want to convince your counterpart of you. That's why it's better to do without the casual jeans or the baggy T-shirt. If you don't want to wear a shirt or blouse, you should go with a neutral T-shirt or wear a proper sweater.

In the end, one always has to fit into the social group of the staff and/or position oneself. If everyone is in the office in very casual clothes, a suit is simply inappropriate. It is just as unpleasant to sit at the desk in sweatpants and baggy sweaters while everyone else arrives in a pantsuit.