What NOT To Wear On Casual Friday
Does your workplace have a casual Friday policy?
If so, here are tips on what to wear (and what NOT to wear) for casual Friday. These ideas for casual Friday will help you choose work outfits that are casual and comfortable, but that still look put-together and appropriate for the workplace.
Many offices have casual Fridays, but there can be some confusion about what you can and can’t wear. This guide will help you avoid making a faux pas on casual Fridays, and show you what’s actually acceptable to wear.
What Is Casual Friday?
What exactly is casual Friday?
Some offices have instituted a casual Friday policy, also known as dress-down Fridays. On casual Fridays, the workplace dress code is relaxed, and employees are encouraged to come to work in more casual outfits.
Casual Fridays can boost employee morale and they are the perfect way to have a good start to the weekend by wearing a more laidback outfit to work than usual. Casual Fridays let employees express their individual styles more and feel comfortable.
However, casual Fridays can also cause some confusion.
You might be wondering what exactly you can and can’t wear on this day of the week. Here are some tips for dressing for casual Friday:
What Is Appropriate to Wear on Casual Fridays?
The first place you should go when determining what to wear for casual Friday at work is your employee handbook or dress code. Most offices have one of these, and it should provide guidelines on what’s appropriate to wear.
If your workplace has sent out a casual Friday dress code memo, it may also include details on what “casual” attire consists of.
This can vary based on your workplace. If you work somewhere with a business professional dress code, then casual Fridays might consist of business casual clothing (i.e. a blouse and chinos for women.)
But if your office has a business casual or smart casual dress code to start with, then casual Friday could be even more relaxed – think jeans and sneakers being the norm.
If you’re uncertain about what’s appropriate to wear, you can also check with HR or observe what others at your office wear on casual Fridays before participating yourself.
What Should You Not Wear on Dress-Down Friday?
Although it might be called dress-down Friday or casual Friday, it doesn’t mean that you can wear just anything to work. You still want to maintain a professional appearance at the office.
No matter where you work, there are some things you should always avoid wearing. Wrinkled clothes, dirty clothes, sweatpants, flip flops, and overly revealing clothes like crop tops and short shorts should not be worn on casual Friday.
Remember that casual Friday is not a free-for-all, and you still want to wear clothing that maintains a professional image.
Although adorable, the outfit above is the perfect example of what NOT to wear on casual Friday. Unless of course, you have an extremely laid-back atmosphere.
If you do have an office that allows this type of outfit on casual days chances are you’ll know that from the get-go.
What to Wear on Casual Friday for Females
Do you need help deciding what to wear on casual Friday?
These are some great pieces that can be worn at work on casual Friday that are comfortable but still professional:
White Blouse With Ruffle Sleeves
Casual Long Sleeve Button Down Print Top
High Waisted Skinny Stretch Print Pants
A casual t-shirt, blazer, and jeans or work pants are a great outfit to wear for casual Friday. You could also wear a casual blouse or button-down top with work pants.
During the summer, a cute dress is a good option. Just avoid dresses that are too short or revealing. Midi-length dresses are great for the workplace.
When it comes to footwear, sneakers may be appropriate depending on your workplace. Just be sure you’re choosing a nice pair of sneakers and not a ratty old pair.
A nice pair of leather sandals is also appropriate for casual Friday in the summer or a pair of boots in the fall or winter.
Frequently Asked Questions About Casual Friday
Do you still have questions about what you can wear on casual Fridays for work? These are some common questions about what’s appropriate vs. what’s not okay to wear on dress-down Fridays.
Can I wear a t-shirt on casual Friday?
Depending on your workplace, it’s probably okay to wear a t-shirt on casual Friday. Obviously, it shouldn’t be a wrinkled t-shirt that you pulled out of your dirty clothes hamper – but a cute t-shirt with a pair of jeans is an excellent choice.
If you want to make a t-shirt a little dressier, you can throw on a blazer over it.
Can I wear jeans to work on Friday?
Jeans are usually okay for casual Fridays. Once again, it’s important to choose a pair of jeans that look nice. In general, you should probably avoid jeans with rips or tears.
Nice jeans with a sweater, button-down top, or t-shirt are perfect to wear to work. You can throw on a pair of sneakers for a more casual look, or dress them up a little more with ballet flats or loafers.
Here’s a pair of loafers that are perfect for the office.
Can I wear leggings on casual Friday?
Leggings can be appropriate for casual Friday, depending on how you style them. For example, a pair of black leggings with a long sweater and boots in the winter might work. But a pair of athletic leggings and a crop top is probably a no-go.
Can you wear shorts on casual Friday?
In general, you should probably avoid shorts on casual Friday. It depends on your specific workplace, but in most cases, shorts are not appropriate to wear to work.
Can you wear sweats on casual Friday?
Although joggers and sweatpants are the ultimate comfortable clothes, the workplace isn’t the place for them.
Sweatpants and sweatshirts are just too casual, even for offices with a more laid-back style. In order to maintain a professional appearance, it’s a good idea not to wear sweats to work.
Can I wear flip-flops to work on casual Friday?
Flip-flops are another thing that should be avoided. Casual sandals or nice sneakers may be okay, but save the flip-flops for the pool or beach.
Shop Black Distressed Straight Leg Jeans
Final Tips on Dressing for Casual Friday
Casual Fridays are popular at many workplaces because they allow employees to dress more comfortably and express themselves in their attire at work.
While the whole purpose of casual Fridays is to allow a more laidback dress code one day a week, it’s important to remember that not just anything goes. There are limits to what’s appropriate in the workplace, even on casual Fridays.
Certain items (like sweatpants, shorts, crop tops, or flip-flops) should always be avoided. Save it for those work-from-home days instead!
Depending on your workplace, casual items like jeans and sneakers might be appropriate. However, at more formal offices, “casual” Fridays might just mean not wearing a full suit to work, but still being expected to dress in business casual attire.
Regardless of what you wear on casual Friday, you want to look put-together with clean, pressed clothes. You don’t want to look like you just rolled out of bed and threw on whatever was lying on the floor of your closet.
Overall, casual Friday is a great way to kick off the weekend and be more comfortable and relaxed at work.
