No matter what your IQ or job title, interpreting the dreaded words “dress down,” “business casual” or “smart casual” gives an added challenge to the working week.

Whatever your culture and whoever you deal with in business, you can make more mistakes with dress down than in suited attire. You need to emanate as much power, authority and credibility and command as much respect as you do in a suit.

For some reason, business casual gives us many problems. I believe the best way to sum up business casual is dressing casually while being appropriate, exuding credibility, personal power and authority and commanding respect – the look of quality.

Let us simplify things. To start with, I am going to stick my neck out and announce that, in business terms, business casual is the same as smart casual. “Smart” in the UK means well dressed and well turned out, so this part goes without saying, but you need to establish what is appropriate for business and what is going to propel you forwards in your career and not hold you back. “Casual” is easy, it’s getting the business balance right that can be tricky.

How to look the business

Dress to impress. First impressions are vital in job interviews and what you wear is important, but it dosn't end at attention to sartorial detail

Background

• Cufflinks, colour and collars will get you noticed

• Small touches can create a big impression

• Make-up gets noticed in the boardroom

• The casual look can be tuned to your advantage

Related Internet Links

• Snakes & Ladders

• Graduate jobs

• Search for an internship

In many ways, understanding what to avoid for business casual is more helpful than being told what is right for you to wear. Avoiding the definite nonos, dressing appropriately and bringing out your personality make for a pretty safe bet. There are many ways to destroy your casual power. Some of the classic mistakes include: denim jeans; trainers; lack of grooming; white socks; leggings; shirts outside trousers for men; sandals; strappy tops for women.

For men, business casual is: clean, pressed clothes; immaculate grooming; fine knits and jerseys; chinos, cords or moleskins, cotton, cords, linen suits, gabardine or wool trousers; high-quality logo-free T-shirts in summer; sports jackets in softer fabrics than your formal suits; crisp cotton good-quality shirts; and loafer-style shoes, half-boots or slip-ons.

For women, business casual is: clean, pressed clothes; immaculate grooming; softly tailored suits and jackets; casual trouser suits; fine knits and jerseys; accent-colour tops and shirts; high-quality logo-free T-shirts; well-chosen and quality accessories; boots, classic-style court shoes or loafers. Avoid wearing flat shoes or sandals with skirts, because it never looks professional.

Drop Dead Brilliant by Lesley Everett (McGraw-Hill, £9.99)

Explore Career & Jobs

• Graduate / Management

• Senior Executive

• PA / Secretarial

• Public Sector

• Legal

• Recruiter Forum

• MBA

• Top 100 Graduate Employers

• Top 50 Women

• Best 100 Companies

• Careers in

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO