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Dear Miss Demeanor:

My company has a casual dress day policy on Fridays. But, I am not too sure what is and is not acceptable in the corporate environment. Is it appropriate to wear tennis shoes?

As the saying goes,"When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Your decision should be contingent upon the culture of your organization.

 
 

Observe how senior leadership present themselves. If you see them wearing sneakers, then I would say, yes, why not? Otherwise, keep in mind that the term "casual" does not really mean beach attire or running errands on Saturday attire either. Simply put, it means drop the tie and formal business suit. Instead of sneakers, I recommend wearing casual leather shoes or sandals, not Burkenstocks. Casual leather shoes can replace sneakers and add the polish you need for a pair of jeans.

As a professional, your goal is to be perceived by your colleagues as professional, therefore, your clothing must reflect professionalism whether it is Casual Friday or a regular business day.  The key to dressing appropriately for Casual Fridays is to dress at least one notch down from where you normally dress. For instance, if you wear a business suit Monday through Thursday, then on Friday an example of a casual outfit for you would be a pair of pants/slacks (Capri pants are acceptable too) and a blouse without a blazer with a casual pair of shoes or (closed) toed sandals. I have provided a additional tips below, I hope this information will help you with your clothing decisions. Thank you for your inquiry. 

Check out the Casual Friday Do's and Don'ts to give ideas on how to and how not to dress for success on Casual Fridays:

 

Casual Friday Do's:

- Blazer with jeans

- Closed toed sandals

- Linen Outfits

- Polo style shirts with slacks

- Botton down shirts (tucked in)
wwithout a tie.

- Mules shoes

- Wear accessories (ladies)

- Coordinates

- Twin Sets

 

Casual Friday Dont's:

- Chains (Blingy)

- Shirts with Logos on the front

- Baby Tees

- Mini Skirts

- Sleeveless Shirts

- Sundresses

- Tight Jeans

- Baggy Jeans

- Tennis Shoes ( Only casual shoes)

- Timberland Boots

- Velour (J-Lo) Jogging Suits

- Transparent Blouses

- Shoulderless Tops

- Visible Bra Straps

       
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