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WHAT
TO WEAR WHEN THEY SAY CASUAL
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*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.
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Victoria Seitz, PhD
Image Expert |
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After work one of the hardest decisions I have to make is when
I'm going out and my friends say "casual." Or if invited
to a party and the host says casual, what do I wear? Bottom line,
even if it's casual, dress nicely and keep the sweats at home.
As much as I want to wear my jeans, in many situations like night
clubs, dinner at restaurants or parties, jeans are not the appropriate
attire. Particularly overseas I have found that people dress up
with coat and tie when you ask them over for dinner or when going
out for it. What an embarrassing situation when, as a southern
Californian, I answered the door in my jeans and they were in
coat and tie and party dress. Your dress tells a lot about who
you are and how you feel about the people around you. So when
the invitation is casual here are some tips that will guide you
so that you look your best and are comfortably casual.
- If the invitation says casual and you're in doubt,
call the host and ask what they mean.
- The term "casual" means different things in
different parts of the country and in the world. In the eastern
part of the US casual is usually sport coat and tie, pant suit
or coordinated separates. In the Midwest, things loosen up with
cowboy boots, nice jeans and shirt and blazer. In the western
part of the country casual varies from sport coat and tie to
jeans.
- Outside the US "casual" is less often seen
in gatherings as Americans know it. When invited out or to someone's
house, dressing up is the order of the day.
- When thinking about options for casual wear, khaki
pants or skirt, a blazer or sweater set are great choices. If
your friends say jeans, wear your nice jeans, and if you don't
have a any, perhaps consider buying a pair.
- Men can choose from trousers in worsted wool, wool
flannel or twill with a mock turtleneck and a vest or blazer.
A turtleneck and slacks in the winter are a nice combination
and comfortably warm as well.
- In shoes, avoid your running shoes for something that
is comfortable but dressier such as docksiders, loafers and
similar styles.
Come "casual" or "come as you are" are often what
people will say when they invite you, but by dressing up more
than the sweats you or I might wear at home says a lot about how
you feel about the person and shows your best side.
Particularly in work situations, when with colleagues for dinner
or superiors, they may say casual but it's definitely a time for
a blazer, slacks or skirt. Often superiors will have a party and
say casual but don't be mistaken, look your best. This may be
their opportunity to see how you approach gatherings and deal
with others as they are contemplating you for a promotion or partner.
So as much as we want to go out in our sweats and be really comfy
at the movies or dinner, take "casual" more seriously and
you will communicate to others that they mean a lot to you or
that being at a gathering is important to you. And as Loreal says
it, "You're worth it!"
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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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