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Thanks for all the great feedback folks, seems to bear out my concerns especially for `sales' / customer-facing roles, i.e. no comfortable jeans. That being said, any tips for the more formal side of business casual that helps `beat the heat' during the crushing summer damp?
Well Seersucker was designed to 'beat the heat' for us southerners. Not sure how a west coastie would like it.
This is so dependent on the company and industry. Generally, "culturally" (whatever that is here any more), as nearly everyone has stated, jeans/"denim anything" is less acceptable for public-facing sales jobs.
Just as an aside, I saw a big shift in dress code before/during/after the recession. I remember going to a large industry conference pre-2008 (probably 2005-ish), and everyone was about wearing khakis and button-downs or polos. It was in the middle of the "new type of employer" craze where companies in tech advertised "casual Fridays every day" like a perk and embraced Hawaiian shirts, etc. I went to a very similar industry conference again in 2010, and showed up in khakis. I think I saw two other people in khakis there -- everyone else was in suits, blazers, dress slacks, pantsuits, etc. Networking was more serious then, and the unofficial dress code changed accordingly.
Now things are returning closer to more casual times, overall -- khaki is certainly acceptable in business casual mode.
Thanks for all the great feedback folks, seems to bear out my concerns especially for `sales' / customer-facing roles, i.e. no comfortable jeans. That being said, any tips for the more formal side of business casual that helps `beat the heat' during the crushing summer damp?
Air conditioning is your friend. I also find lightweight khakis to be cooler than jeans, and a polo shirt as good as anything else I might wear.
Air conditioning is your friend. I also find lightweight khakis to be cooler than jeans, and a polo shirt as good as anything else I might wear.
Agree with the second part, for the first, I find it overcompensated where I work, and I must not be alone seeing the number of people wearing sweaters, fleece and a couple in down regardless of the season.
I find the the casual-ness of casual wear at the office to be too casual.
My company is both in the Triangle and the West Coast and the folks in my group in the Triangle dress way more casually than their counterparts in the Bay Area.
All these "no jeans" comments confound me. Even my VP wears jeans in RTP.
All these "no jeans" comments confound me. Even my VP wears jeans in RTP.
I thought jeans could be included too. Not an old faded pair of Wrangler Five Star jeans, but nice jeans...designer jeans with jacket and polo or button down.
My company is both in the Triangle and the West Coast and the folks in my group in the Triangle dress way more casually than their counterparts in the Bay Area.
All these "no jeans" comments confound me. Even my VP wears jeans in RTP.
My husband has worked for several tech companies on both coasts and he has worn jeans/shorts with polos in all. He is not in sales but r&d - so that might be the difference.
My company is both in the Triangle and the West Coast and the folks in my group in the Triangle dress way more casually than their counterparts in the Bay Area.
All these "no jeans" comments confound me. Even my VP wears jeans in RTP.
The original question was for someone starting at a NEW company with no knowledge of the standard practices. Obviously your specific company has more relaxed rules, which you know from being there awhile. OPP may eventually learn of similar greater informality--but we've just been stating what a "typical" Business Casual dress code, especially fro customer-facing folks, usually means here, particularly compared to California.
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My husband has worked for several tech companies on both coasts and he has worn jeans/shorts with polos in all. He is not in sales but r&d - so that might be the difference.
Yes, Sales is always the most "formal" business unit. Even in some places where the "office workers" wear business casual, I've known lots of places where Sales calls expected a sportcoat and tie (for men) if not a suit.
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