For any of us that have jobs in the professional workplace, we have heard the term “Casual Friday.” Now, some of you may wonder: what is too casual? I want to look professional but also want to dress down, but how? I even found myself asking these questions. I can say that today is my very first casual Friday! WOOHOO! Throughout my first week, I came up with a few do’s and don’ts. For all of you fresh-out-of-college folks like myself, I hope this helps!!
Casual Friday: a day on which employees are allowed to dress less formally than on other workdays.
- DON’T wear holy jeans with wear & tear. You are not going clubbing! Dark dress jeans or khakis are perfectly acceptable.
- DON’T wear anything shorter or more revealing than you normally would to the workplace. You do have to remember that you are still the face of an organization and you will be judged accordingly.
- DON’T wear flip-flops . . . EVER! No matter what day of the week, flip-flops are a huge NO NO in the office. Leave those for sandy Saturdays at the beach!
- DON’T ever show up hungover from a late Thursday night. Lately, this has become a BIG problem with younger generations. Yes, Friday is for being casual, but not for showing up with no makeup, wrecked hair, and ratchet looking.
- DON’T EVER ASSUME! Like I said, these are guidelines that I have lined out for casual Friday. Your workplace may have different standards. If in doubt, ASK!!
Casual Friday is meant to be a reward for a hard weeks work. The last thing you want to do is ruin it for the rest of your coworkers. For girls, dress jeans and a nice top would suffice. For guys, you have it easy! You can wear dark jeans or khakis with a polo. As a last note, keep in mind that you are upholding an important position. You are expected to uphold a certain image to your coworkers and clients. Make sure you always look the part!
It’s been a successful week my friends!! I started a career in PR, have normal hours, and am moving forward with a new chapter in my life. Stay tuned!!
The PR Princess 