Business Casual: Tie or No Tie?

[RoJoHen]

I start a new job tomorrow. I will be an Admissions Rep for a local college, and the dress is business casual. I am trying to decide just how casual that is. Should I wear a tie? I would really, really prefer not to.

I did not wear a tie to my interview. Rather, I wore a button-down shirt with a nice sweater over it. I am going out of town for 3 days to start training, so I am going to pack a couple ties just in case, but I think for my first day I will echo what I did for the interview and skip the tie.

It is my hope that their definition of business casual means polo shirts and khakis.

 

[BolianAuthor]

No tie. Dress as you would going to a country club or something, because that's what business casual is... the upper-middle class golfer type of look... like someone you see in the brochure for a new model home community. A tie is for suits only.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I think it means polos and khakis, although, to be honest, I'm the kinda person who prefers genuine casual or business formal. I don't want to buy a third set of clothes just for this compromise fashion.

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, I'm going to bring button-ups as all my polos are incredibly wrinkled, and I have no motivation to iron them. I love polo shirts, though. If this turns out to be the case, I am going to go fucking crazy buying polo shirts.

I also think ties look kinda goofy without a jacket.

 

[BolianAuthor]

If you wear an adult large, you can have some of mine... I need to get rid of a bunch of old stuff... too little space.

 

[RoJoHen]

I do wear an adult large, but I am generally opposed to hand-me-down clothes.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

My job is business casual. No tie. Khakis/dress pants and polos/button down shirts.

 

[RoJoHen]

I'm so excited to not have to wear this stupid thing anymore:

 

[TheBrew]

Where I work, we are supposed to dress business casual which for our management equals ties. I wish I could just wear a polo and slacks to work.

 

[Maestro]

I believe that you could wear button-downs, polos, and sweaters. There would be no issue with throwing a blazer on either. You may also, just for kicks, wish to occasionally wear a button-down and a tie too. Just to mix things up.

 

[RoJoHen]

I believe that you could wear button-downs, polos, and sweaters. There would be no issue with throwing a blazer on either. You may also, just for kicks, wish to occasionally wear a button-down and a tie too. Just to mix things up.

Indeed I may. It will at least be nice to be able to wear my own clothes instead of throwing on that godawful uniform every day.

I'm gonna scan the office while I'm there and see what everybody else is doing.

 

[donners22]

Most males at my work on (rare) business casual days will wear blazers without a tie. I always avoid wearing a tie where possible, but I have a scar across my throat, so I'm biased...

 

[RoJoHen]

If I do ever decide to wear a tie, it will be loose, and I will not button the top button. II have yet to find one that doesn't choke me.

 

[Vulcan Princess]

Business casual is one of those annoying terms that means something different to different people or companies. (or even branch offices within a company) Wear what your co-workers are wearing. If you didn't wear one to the interview and you got hired, you're probably ok not wearing a tie, but it would be a good idea to keep one with you just in case so you can put it on if needed.

Right now, I work in a place where "business casual" means that jeans should be clean and free of holes. I used to work in a place where "business casual" meant that I could wear a pantsuit instead of a skirt suit and could ditch the jacket on Fridays. I generally assume business casual to mean khakis and a polo or button-down shirt, but YMMV.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

If jeans are allowed that tends to be called "relaxed business casual."

 

[JoeZhang]

It's interesting how things differ between countries - I wouldn't consider a polo shirt any sort of *business* causal but I know that it's different in the US and that it's perfectly normal.

Having said that - colleges and Universities can be funny - many academics look like homeless people!

 

[iguana_tonante]

Wear what your co-workers are wearing. If you didn't wear one to the interview and you got hired, you're probably ok not wearing a tie, but it would be a good idea to keep one with you just in case so you can put it on if needed.

I agree. Business casual usually means no ties, but YMMV, so it's a good idea to keep one with you just in case.

It's interesting how things differ between countries - I wouldn't consider a polo shirt any sort of *business* causal but I know that it's different in the US and that it's perfectly normal.

Well, I also assume it's a matter of climate. Here in Italy, not all places are air-conditioned, so wearing a tie and jacket during summer would mean you are going to sweat profusely: in that case, better to just wear a neat, smart-looking polo shirt and look refreshed.

Having said that - colleges and Universities can be funny - many academics look like homeless people!

Quite true. But it's a fine line: you can afford to look like that only if you are truly brilliant and nobody could dare to challenge your work. For most normal academics, better to dress smart (even if a bit eccentric).

 

[JoeZhang]

Here in Italy, not all places are air-conditioned, so wearing a tie and jacket during summer would mean you are going to sweat profusely: in that case, better to just wear a neat, smart-looking polo shirt and look refreshed.

True but I think was thinking more about short-sleeved collared shirts. When I think about polo shirts I think about people working in KFC.

But it's a fine line: you can afford to look like that only if you are truly brilliant and nobody could dare to challenge your work. For most normal academics, better to dress smart (even if a bit eccentric).

Is this in Italy? Here in the UK, we don't have that "work for free for years" system you guys seem to have, so lots of people are a lot more comfortable about looking homeless. Having said that, it varies quite a bit between area, business schools tend to have the suit and tie look or at least Blazer and shirt.


In regards to the question - fundmentally, RoJoHen's plan of scooping out the office and copying that seems the best way forward.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Here in Italy, not all places are air-conditioned, so wearing a tie and jacket during summer would mean you are going to sweat profusely: in that case, better to just wear a neat, smart-looking polo shirt and look refreshed.

True but I think was thinking more about short-sleeved collared shirts. When I think about polo shirts I think about people working in KFC.

Good point, but as a personal preference I like polo over short-sleeved button-up shirts (which makes me feel like a cubicle drone). My favourite compromise is a long-sleeved button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. As I said, YMMV drastically across different people and different situation.

Here in the UK, we don't have that "work for free for years" system you guys seem to have, so lots of people are a lot more comfortable about looking homeless.

While you are correct about the sorry state of Italian university about young academics, I would say it's more a matter of national culture than economic factors: generally speaking, in Italy dressing bad is a considered a social stigma, regardless of economic or professional status.

Having said that, it varies quite a bit between area, business schools tend to have the suit and tie look or at least Blazer and shirt.

I have no idea about business schools, as I've kept as far from them as possible.

 

[Shazam!]

My rule of thumb is when they ask you to wear a tie, quit.