The Do's and Don'ts of Casual Fridays

Casual Fridays, for some employees, are one of the benefits of corporate America. Everyone looks forward to shedding business suits and other dress clothes in favor of jeans and t-shirts.

Before you stay in your pajama pants and head off to the office, you need to remember that you are still going to work, not lounging on your couch watching television all day. With some help from the experts, here's how to maintain a professional appearance on dress down days:

DO:

Familiarize yourself with the company dress code. A lot of places will provide handouts on the do's and don'ts for work day dress; which also includes policies for Friday dress.

Wear any uniform piece your company may provide. Some companies may provide polo shirts with the company logo. Sometimes they are given out specifically for dress down days; other times they are just given to employees to help them stay professional while representing the company.

Always make sure you look clean and neat. Don't wear anything with stains that are impossible to get out or any jeans that are dirty or have holes.

Be prepared to do business and adapt your dress on Fridays accordingly if you have any client or staff meetings.

Follow dress code rules for other businesses and adapt yourself to their dress code if going there for an outside meeting.

Buy ideal fabric blends such as rayon/polyester or cotton/polyester.

Stick with other professional pieces, such as blazers with jeans.

Wear jeans in darker, dressier fabrics if possible.

Contribute to a charity fund if that's what you need to do to dress down. Not only will you be comfortable, you will also be contributing to a good cause.

DON'T:

Wear anything ill fitting or too revealing

Wear clothing with wild and/or distracting prints.

Criticize a person's style if they are violating the rules. Talk with them in a neutral tone about the problem. People often get upset if their appearance or personal style is criticized.

Select anything that is considered too dressy for the workplace, such as French style fabrics.

Wear any clothing with provocative and profane text or images.

Wear workout gear such as sweatpants or running sneakers.

Wear any cutoff shorts or skirts.

Neglect the rest of your appearance. Make sure your hair is still washed and neatly combed, and for the ladies, still apply a little bit of makeup. Men: keep up with your shaving.

Casual Fridays have caused a lot of conflicts and raised questions within numerous companies. Don't let your company take away the privilege because too many people abuse it. If you read these rules, you will be one more person who ensures that casual Fridays are here to stay.