Creating and maintaining the right personal image for you and your company

This category of "business casual" is really for those who usually dress at the corporate full suit category for most of the week. You see, what business casual is depends on the type of business you are in - by casual, it means not as professional. So the category is not to be worn everyday. By casual, it is meant to be worn once or twice a week, as relaxed styles from the norm.

The Professional Category is dressing a notch down from Business Corporate. The message is approachable, friendly, yet still business.  Here's an example of a professional outfit from jcrew.com for men.

For men, it is wearing a blazer or sports jacket, trousers or dress pants, with choices of tops such as buttoned up shirts in a variety of colors (light, medium or dark) and various prints (nothing outrageous - this is business afterall!), polo shirts, finely knitted sweaters. Shoes may be oxfords - which are leather shoes without laces. You may wear a tie with your buttoned up shirt, but it is not necessary.

For women, it is similar - blazer, buttoned up shirt, and a pair of trousers or dressed pants. Skirts are allowed.

You may also wear knitted sweaters underneath the blazer, of course. Pumps for shoes. Here's an example of a professional outfit for women from jcrew.com.

The main thing to take note is while for corporate business it has to be a full suit, for professional the jacket and bottom may be of different colors. People get to be more creative with professional outfits. And that's the dress code for people who are in industries that are a little more "creative" and somewhat more risk taking than the most conservative industries. Examples are: IT professionals, sales professionals, designers, consultants. More "personality" may be shown through these professional outfits than corporate busienss ones.

Be wary of denim though! Just because it is a notch down from the most conservative category, doesn't mean it's time for jeans to come in.

If you are to wear stylish running shoes with this type of outfit, or opened toed sandals, the category becomes less professional and more leisure like, even though in the beginning it may be more "cool" or "stylish" as depicted by fashion magazines. Use your common sense in differentiating what is acceptable for business and what is not.