Image Making by Victoria Seitz, PhD - BeautyWalk Contributor - A monthly column devoted to helping women and men be their best and most confident in any situation.

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Image Making
by Victoria Seitz, Ph.D., LamasBeauty Contributor

Business Casual for Women -
Business Casual is Not Business Sloppy

*A monthly column devoted to helping women and men be their best and most confident in any situation.

Topics include dress, body language, attitude and etiquette.

Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert

General Tips

1.	Business casual is relaxed clothing that is appropriate to conduct business in a professional manner.
2.	Business casual attire should be in tip-top shape, ironed and coordinated to give a professional appearance.
3.	Business casual is not appropriate for interviews, client meetings and sales calls.
4.	Accessorize your business casual wardrobe as you would your regular work attire giving consideration to detail.
5.	Consider the culture of your company, whether it is formal or informal when evaluating business casual ensembles.
6.	Make sure that your business casual ensemble fits properly without being overly big or tight in the pants or top.
7.	Always keep a blazer at your office for those surprise visits by clients.

	Traditional Fields: i.e. Banking, Accounting and Finance
1.	Pant suits and separates
2.	Consider a cardigan rather than a blazer as well as sweater sets
3.	Sport coat paired up with tailored trousers
4.	Short or long sleeved blouses or shirts in cotton, silk or polyester
5.	Avoid sleeveless, halter and tank tops
6.	Single or double breasted jackets, with or without a collar
7.	Turtle or mock turtlenecks with pants and blazer
8.	Sweater top worn with a blazer and skirt
9.	Pants, plain front or pleated with belt loops and front fly
10.	Two piece silk outfits in either a skirt or pant with a jacket
11.	Accessorize outfits with belts, scarves, pocket squares, jewelry and shoes
12.	Don't forget hosiery for pants or skirts
13.	Consider shoes in loafer style with an inch or ¾ inch heel
14.	Avoid sandals and athletic shoes

	Semi-Traditional Fields i.e. Education, Marketing, Sales and High-Tech
1.	Consider tailored trousers with blouses and cardigans or blazers
2.	Consider city shorts worn with a cardigan or a blazer and top
3.	Avoid leggings and stirrup pants of any kind
4.	With city shorts consider knee high hosiery in conservative designs with loafers or regular hose with low heel loafers
5.	Consider vests along with cotton twill tailored trousers
6.	Turtle or mock turtleneck pullovers or polo styled tops worn with a blazer are suitable
7.	Consider wearing denim in tailored pants, shirts, skirts or dresses
8.	No faded 501's or cargo pants
9.	One earring per ear please
10.	Try sweater sets with city shorts, skirts, or trousers
11.	Avoid hats and themed apparel such as western wear
12.	Accessorize with scarves, belts, jewelry, pocket squares, and hosiery

	Creative fields i.e. interior design, fashion, music, art and advertising
1.	Pant suits and separates
2.	Consider a cardigan rather than a blazer as well as sweater sets
3.	Sport coat paired up with tailored trousers
4.	Short or long sleeved blouses or shirts in cotton, silk or polyester
5.	Avoid sleeveless, halter and tank tops
6.	Single or double breasted jackets, with or without a collar
7.	Turtle or mock turtlenecks with pants and blazer
8.	Sweater top worn with a blazer and skirt
9.	Pants, plain front or pleated with belt loops and front fly
10.	Two piece silk outfits in either a skirt or pant with a jacket
11.	Accessorize outfits with belts, scarves, pocket squares, jewelry and shoes
12.	Don't forget hosiery for pants or skirts
13.	Consider shoes in loafer style with an inch or ¾ inch heel
14.	Avoid sandals and athletic shoes

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Read the next Image Making: Business Casual for Men

Victoria Seitz, PhD is a professor of Marketing at California State University, San Bernardino and is author of Your Executive Image, AdamsMedia, Inc, 2000 and Power Dressing, DonJon Publishing, 1991. In addition to teaching, Dr. Seitz was a fashion coordinator for Burdines, Florida and in retail management for Saks Fifth Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. Clients of Dr. Seitz have included Abbott Laboratories, Northern Telecom, Texas Instruments, Yellow Freight Systems, Sally Beauty Company, the United States Armed Forces, Travellife magazine, YWCA and Accountants Overload, in addition to law firms, hotels, newspapers, universities, banks, credit unions, national and local community and professional organizations nationwide.

To learn more about Dr. Seitz please visit her website at www.cbpa.csusb.edu/vseitz.

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