Understanding the different types of dress codes and expectations for professional attire can help you show up confidently at in-person events including: Career Fairs, Networking, Treks, interviews, first day of your internship, or conferences. There are also so many things to consider like: weather, industry, blending in vs. standing out. If you have a question related to professional attire, feel free to reach out to a staff member in your Career Center help channel in Slack!
Expectations for attire an vary by event, industry, audience, etc., so be sure to clarify expectations whenever it’s unclear to you.
| Business | Business Casual (Normally fine for most cases) | Casual | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dress Code could also say | “Business” or “Business Professional” | Sometimes generally “Professional Attire” | |
| Dresses | Conservative silhouettes/styles and more neutral colors or monochromatic looks are best. Dresses are ideally worn with blazer or suit jacket | More conservative silhouettes/styles, but you can play around with colors or prints a bit more | Dresses can be of more informal or lighter fabrics |
| Blazers | Suits ideal: skirt suits, pant suits, or blazers with dresses are fine. Ideally neutral colors. | (Optional), but does not have to match the pants or dress; cardigan could also be substituted here | Blazers are generally too formal for casual settings |
| Pants | Suit pants | Chinos, dressier slacks | Jeans allowed |
| Shirts | Dress shirts in white or light/neutral colors are best | Button down or nice blouse | Can be less tailored and lighter fabrics |
| Shoes | Dress shoes in dark color; ideally matching with your belt | Loafers, oxfords, or dressy flats are best | Sneakers or casual shoes that are clean or nice sandals |
| Bag, etc. | Ideally something that won’t wrinkle your suit/blazer | Nice backpack/purse | |
| Best for: | Interviews within conservative industries like finance, law, business where | Any professional-ish event where you don’t know the dress code, this is your safest best | Settings where you want to optimize for comfort or have more style freedom |
<aside> 📌 Pinterest board with examples of the attire above
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credit: Purdue Center for Career Opportunities