What Style of Shoes at Fashion Shops Online Is Business Casual?

Fridays at the office are considered business casual day. What does that exactly mean? Business means business and casual is casual, so how do you combine the two styles? Friday is usually dress-down day, so you know that business casual does not mean a suit, but it does mean that you have to look nice and still be a little bit casual at the same time.

Let's examine what business casual is not. Here are the following items for your weekend or at-home wardrobe: zip-front hooded sweatshirts, team jackets, jeans jackets, t-shirts with slogans, midsection-baring tops, tank tops, worn out jeans, spandex pants, stirrup pants, overalls, cycling shorts, sweat pants, miniskirts, see-through tops, halter tops, flip-flops, sneakers and sandals. Never forget that the first word in business casual is "business" and casual does not mean a day at the beach.

Business casual must always include high-quality pieces, hose or socks, appropriate underwear, footwear in good condition, coordinated accessories, clean, styled hair and makeup for women. With that in mind, let's take a look at the type of footwear that is considered business casual to finish off your outfit when you go shopping at fashion shops online.

Slingbacks, women's shoes with a cutout heel and a strap spanning the back of the ankle, defy simple categorization as they once were. Years ago, slingbacks were appropriate only during the summer months, and they were considered a casual shoe. Certainly, no self-respecting woman south of the Mason-Dixon Line would be caught dead in a slingback before Memorial Day or after Labor Day. Now, with a growing selection of women's slingbacks, you can find a pair for every season and every occasion, from stay-at-home clothes to wedding attires. The factors that determine the slingback's suitability is the design of the shoe, the material, the embellishments, and whether it contributes to the overall desired look with the outfit.

You need to take look at the whole gamut of occasions you could be in, and offer suggestions for pairing slingbacks with outfits for each occasion. If you feel the shoes complement your outfit and you feel comfortable wearing them, let your personal sense of style guide you. People judge others by first impressions; watches, handbags and shoes play an important role in first impressions. Cut corners elsewhere, but never with your shoes. Regardless of the style you wear, make sure that your shoes are in A-1 condition, with perfect soles. Casual shoes should be kept in the same tip-top, clean and scuff-free shape as their dressier counterparts. Do not wear four-inch heels with a pair of dress pants and a sweater. Those types of shoes look better with a dress suit or pantsuit.

For men, business casual shoes should definitely not include sneakers. There is nothing tackier than a man in dress pants with a pair of sneakers on. Styles range from penny loafers to lace-ups, leaving lots for comfort and budget preferences. Make sure that the heels and the fabric are clean, the leather polished, or the suede brushed. Wearing these types of shoes to complete your business casual look will make you GQ all the way.

The old saying, "People take on the character of the costume," isn't a myth. It's because of this truth there should be more business than casual in a company's "business casual" attire. If the male and female definitions seem too rigid, then complain to the person where the buck stops. Company owners tend to complain about the business casual attitudes that accompany casual day because they've watched them evolve over time. That is why it's important to sustain the level of business consciousness dictated by the respective company.

On the other hand, companies that demand a high-stress, quick-paced level of productivity from their staff on a regular basis may find benefits of invoking a more casual attitude once a week. Perhaps in such a case, it would allow employees to begin their weekend feeling more relaxed and then come back on Monday feeling more mentally prepared for the new work week.

Whether you are in business causal or not, you need to always remember that you are still doing business no matter what kind of clothes you are in. You do not have to be embarrassed if you run into your boss or a client visiting the office. Be comfortable, but always be aware you are still at work. So when you get to go shopping at fashion shops online, consider business casual shoes like loafers or tie up shoes, heels or flats as long as they are clean and look nice and neat. Be comfortable, yet still professional. That is business casual.