Are Leggings Business Casual? & More Answers to Business Casual Questions For Women

March 22, 2021

What exactly “business casual” means can vary from office to office (and city to city), but there are some general guidelines you can keep in mind to help you navigate your office dress code.

Read on for answers to business casual questions for women and examples of what to wear.

Are Leggings Business Casual?

One of the most common questions I see around dressing for the office is “Are leggings business casual?”

Put simply, no: Unless you’re a fitness instructor, avoid wearing leggings to work.

There are plenty of alternative options to leggings that are just as easy to wear and look much more professional.

Instead of leggings, I recommend trousers that aren’t made of denim.

If comfort is your top concern, look for something in a lightweight material with a bit of stretch to it, so they move with you (without looking like yoga pants!).

There are even professional-looking drawstring waist trousers, like the ones I’m wearing in this photo.

Cassandra Sethi Modeling Business Casual Drawstring Waist Trousers As An Alternative To Leggings
Cassandra Sethi Modeling Professional Lightweight Pants For Business Casual As An Alternative To Leggings

Are Jeans Business Casual?

“Are jeans business casual?” is another one of the most common questions I hear around office style.

Jeans are only business casual if your office explicitly allows them, such as on “Casual Friday” (if you aren’t sure, ask your manager or HR department).

When it comes to styling jeans for Casual Friday, it’s really less about the jeans themselves and more about what you pair them with.

For instance, here are three looks I put together with the same pair of jeans:

Cassandra Sethi Models How To Wear Jeans For Business Casual

The far left and middle pictures are great outfits for business casual, but the far right picture feels much more casual due to the choice of top and footwear.

Here I dressed up jeans with a nice sweater in a luxe material, and the additional structure of the blazer makes it feel appropriate for the office.

Cassandra Sethi Models How To Dress Up Jeans For Business Casual

You can make jeans feel more appropriate for a business casual setting by pairing them with more “dressed up” items.

In the photo below, I paired them with loafers and a blouse, which lends a much more professional feel than if I was wearing flip flops and a sweatshirt.

Stylist Cassandra Sethi Wears A Blouse And Loafers To Dress Up Jeans For A Business Casual Wardrobe

Are Black Jeans Business Casual?

Are black jeans business casual? Black jeans aren’t typically considered business casual because they’re made of denim.

Instead of wearing black jeans, opt for trousers made of cotton, wool, or a poly blend.

They’re just as versatile and will look more professional for an office setting.

Is a Sweater Business Casual?

What about tops — is a sweater business casual?

Yes! Sweaters are an essential for most business casual wardrobes.

Look for sweaters in beautiful luxurious fabrics like cashmere or wool, and in core colors instead of bold prints (like a Fair Isle sweater, which reads much more casual).

This will ensure you can get lots of mileage out of it for both business casual and more casual weekend looks.

Here I layered a gray cashmere turtleneck in a couple different ways that would be perfect for a business casual setting. Paired with comfortable drawstring trousers, this is a great outfit formula to keep in mind.

Cassandra Sethi Modeling Professional Lightweight Pants For Business Casual As An Alternative To Leggings

Here’s another outfit where I pair a core color sweater with trousers. When a sweater is the right color and fits you well, you’ll be able to wear it on its own, too.

Cassandra Sethi Models A Core Color Sweater With Trousers As An Essential Staple Of A Business Casual Wardrobe

Need help assembling the perfect business casual wardrobe? Check out my women’s personal styling services.

About the Author - Cassandra Sethi
About the Author - Cassandra Sethi

Personal Stylist & Image Consultant

Cassandra Sethi is a Personal Stylist and Founder of Next Level Wardrobe, a luxury Personal Styling and Shopping Service that helps successful professionals of all ages and sizes. After working in the fashion industry for over 25 years, she used her expert knowledge to create a proprietary styling system called ‘The Next Level Wardrobe Style System' which guarantees clients more outfits with less items in their closet. NLW has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Tamron Hall Show, NY Mag, Huffington Post and more.

*Disclosure: Next Level Wardrobe only recommends products that we’d suggest to our clients or personally wear ourselves. All opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, Next Level Wardrobe may earn a small commission. Read the full privacy policy here.

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Cassandra Sethi

is a NYC Personal Stylist and Image Consultant. She is the Founder of Next Level Wardrobe and 'The NLW Style System' that guarantees clients more outfits with less items.

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