Thread: Business Casual

professional but not a suit.

therefore: trousers or pencil skirt and a nice blouse. smart shoes.

i generally head to banana republic for shirts. the editor pants at express are good too.

I also found this that i cut and pasted:
Pants / skirts:
Women can wear casual pants or skirts. Neither should be tight. Fabrics should be crisp; colors should generally be solid; navy, black, gray, brown and khaki are always safe bets. For the most business-like appearance, pants should be creased and tailored; neither extreme of tight or flowing. If you are pursuing a conservative industry and are in doubt, observe well-dressed women in your industry on the job, at career fairs, at information sessions, etc.
Skirt length and slits:
Your skirt should come at least to your knees while you are standing. While you are seated, your thighs should be covered. If your skirt comes to just below the knee, a slit to just above the knee might be acceptable. A very long skirt should not be slit to above the knee. Generally slits in the center back of a skirt — to facilitate walking a stair climbing — are acceptable. Slits to facilitate a view of your legs are not appropriate for business purposes. Slips should not be visible.
Shirt / sweaters:
In addition to tailored shirts or blouses, tailored knit sweaters and sweater sets are appropriate business casual choices for women. Cotton, silk, and blends are appropriate. Velvets and shimmery fabrics suitable for parties are not appropriate. Fit should not be tight. Cleavage is not appropriate to business and job search occasions.
Jewelry / accessories:
Wear a conservative watch. Jewelry and scarf styles come and go. Keep your choices simple and leaning toward conservative. Avoid extremes of style and color. If your industry is creative, you may have more flexibility than someone pursuing a conservative industry.

i have to agree that that paragraph i pasted describes boring clothes, but it gives you a good idea where to start. sometimes i think i go overboard with the cute-ness at work, like right now i am sporting the sexy secretary look with a tight satin button down with ruffles on the boobs and a bow around the waist. and while i'm considered the best dressed intern, i don't think that my flare for style impresses the higher-ups in the least bit. even worse, i had a patient the other day tat refused to believe i was anything other than a beautician there to style her hair. i think in a lot of occassions itsbetter to err on the side of boring.

Business casual to me always meant to jeans, sweats, or hoodies.

Although I have been known to wear nice (no rips, very tailored) jeans with dressy tops and suit jackets and call it business casual.