Confused by Casual Fridays? Here’s What to Wear

After a long work week, there is nothing better than the arrival of Friday, especially when it’s casual Friday. This is the day you can let your hair down and have a little more freedom with your wardrobe. Casual Friday means relaxed dressing, just not as simple as your weekend look.

How casual you should dress depends on how conservative your workplace is. If you work in law, finance, or a  large corporation, you must keep your laid-back look more polished and professional. The best way to do that is to stick with your primary work essentials but add a casual twist. Here are three examples of how to do that:

1. Keep Your Button-Down Shirt

You might be tempted to throw on a cute, fun top,  but if you want to maintain a professional air, stay with your button-down shirt. Instead of wearing your button-down shirt with a matched suit or a pencil skirt as you might typically do, pair it with a sweater, a pair of khakis, and a stylish heeled bootie.

The crisp shirt will add structure to your casual outfit, creating a more polished look. Choose a blouse with a little-added detail to add a pop of personality, like this jeweled tuxedo blouse. A pattern, texture, or embellishment will add fun to your look.

2. Switch Your Jacket

There’s a reason business people wear blazers to work. A blazer’s strong structure gives the wearer instant power and authority. If you want to look casual but still credible, you need to wear a jacket, but that doesn’t mean you need to look dull.

Choose a blazer in a bright color or spice things up with a sportier style of the jacket, such as a Chanel-inspired jacket over a cowl-necked top and jeans for a casual but chic look. This crystal-embedded tweed jacket is perfect. Add a necklace and elegant leather flats to give you polish and modernize your ensemble.

3. Stay Dark 

During the week, a pair of black pants go a long way, but on the weekend, nothing feels better than the perfect pair of jeans. Keep the look by opting for dark denim instead of lighter washes on a Casual Friday Dress Day. The darker color is more formal and will dress up your denim.

Refine the look with a silk blouse and gorgeous cashmere cardigan like this one. Wear with a leopard flat to add some flair to your outfit.

There’s a reason why these items have become staples in your work wardrobe. They are classic, professional, and have stood the test of time. You don’t have to sacrifice your weekend comfort and style to look work-ready. The next time Friday rolls around, try this take-on work classics to look casual, confident, and in control.

*Guest Contributor: Lucia Sobral