I have some dear friends of ours who are finally able to get legally married here in the state of WA. (they are a lesbian couple) They had a commitment ceremony 10 years ago, big affair, pretty dresses, the whole nine yards.
Now that they can legally marry they are going to tonight! A much more low key affair, in their backyard, with 30 close friends and family.
Yesterday I emailed her to find out what we should be wearing, fancy, casual?
She writes back to me and says, "This is Seattle! Be comfortable. Business casual."
Um, what exactly is business casual? When I am at my place of business, my home, I am in sweats and a shirt...no bra. My husband is in greasy car workclothes. We don't work in office settings, so maybe I am just ignorant.
Jeans? Dresses? Slacks? I am dressing myself, 2 boys (8 and 11) and my toddler daughter (2 1/2)
Thanks!
Boys: twill pants or shorts, collared shirts
You: pants/blouse, skirt/blouse, casual dress, NICE jeans/twinset
Husband: dockers, long sleeved dress shirt
Sundress or skirt and sweater for you (or slacks and casual top), Khakis and polo or button down shirt for hubby and boys. Cute,casual sundress for your girl. Think Sunday church wear, but not like Easter or Christmas when you get dressier. Have fun!
I do some conference-development work so I see this phrase a lot.
Business casual means slacks/skirt/dress. No jeans.
Men do not need a jacket. Men wear button-down shirt with tie and/or sweater over the shirt.
ETA: I agree with below "like church clothes but not Easter" and "cocktail party that is not very fancy".
Business casual sounds very funny for a wedding! But if someone told me that, I'd wear nice slacks or a casual skirt and "cute" top. Not jeans and not fancy. A casual dress would be fine. I'd think more "casual cocktail attire" than "business" I think.
I think it's like what you would wear to dinner at a nice restaurant. Not fancy/cocktail clothes, but a nice blouse/sweater and slacks, or skirt. I think jeans would be fine if they are dark washed and well fitted and polished looking (no fades, rips, sagging.) Does that make sense?
I'd wear a nice dress or slacks and a cute top. Hubs slacks and a button down, no tie. Have fun and congrats to your friends! #samelove
I work in a "business casual" office (with emphasis on the casual). The men wear docker type pants with short or long sleeve button ups and casual dress shoes. No ties, no jackets, no denim or tennis shoes, except on casual Friday.
The women wear sundresses, skirts, capris, slacks or cotton pants. Tops vary from button ups, to peasant tops, to satin to sweaters.
I agree with church-type clothes, except for major holidays.
You can't go wrong with a pair of black pants and a nice blouse.
Khakis and a polo, oxford, or dress shirt (with or without tie), blouse and skirt, dress...think church clothes but maybe not quite depending on how "formal" your church is.
Reading these replies, "business casual" apparently varies by region. Being another from the Seattle area, this is my thought. Nice slacks or skirt and decent top for women (top could be a nice t-shirt with a cardigan or a blouse or other nice top). For men, nice slacks and a button-down shirt or polo-type shirt. A tie would be okay but seems optional here.
Basically, I think it just means no jeans or shorts.
Have fun.
Congrats to your friends!
For men, business casual has a very specific meaning. Button-down (Oxford) shirt. Nice pants but not suit pants (khakis are good). Leather shoes, not sneakers. No jacket, no tie. That's what your husband and sons should wear.
For women, it's a lot more varied. I personally would probably do the following: Simple, minimalist dress in a dark color, with long or 3-quarter-length sleeves and mid-calf skirt. Dark red lipstick. Low heels. Strand of pearls. But there will probably be lots of variety and diversity, so you can't go wrong. This is just an example to orient you to the level of formality.
For your little girl, any dress she has will be cute and appropriate.
Think casual Friday.
Hubby:
Nice jeans that are pressed and starched, Khaki's, Dockers, Polo shirt, button down collar shirt, no tie, no shiny shoes like formal wear.
You:
Slacks, skirt, tailored shirt, dress that you'd wear out to eat at a not so family restaurant. Like church dress, something nice but not too dressy. No hose or super high heels required! Something comfortable and pretty.
I think what she is saying, is don't go shopping for the prom dress. Just wear a nice pair of slacks or fun casual skirt, but don't show up in your sweat pants and don't forget the bra.
Something else to keep in mind, the stiletto's won't work well in the back yard either.
For men, business casual means khakis and a polo shirt. For women, anything similar to that. Slacks and a blouse, or even nicer jeans with a button-down shirt and blazer could work.
I ALWAYS tend to go more towards the business than the casual side of things. Yes, I rather look a touch overdone than underdone. Weddings I wear cocktail dresses, this seems to be a "business" cocktail style dress. Here are some visual aides for you.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoYB1K...
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoTCUK...
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoYB.K...
http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoYABK...
My biggest advice is to pick one thing that is a statement maker like a blouse with a ruffle or lace detail, or a fun necklace and cute shoes (heels and grass not so much!) and keep the rest simple and clean. Sheath style dresses (think Michelle Obama) are classic and easy to dress up/down.
