Are jeans business casual?

[Anonymous]

If one of my staff showed up in jeans to do anything other than rearrange their office furniture, we’d be having a conversation.
IMHO, khakis, a polo, and shoes are the minimum in a professional place of business.
Save the jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers for enjoying life away from work.

[Anonymous]

In OP's workplace it sounds like jeans/denim are acceptable, but it's not standard across the board so if you're going somewhere else that is business casual, err on the side of caution and avoid jeans/denim.

[Anonymous]

There's no reason why ill fitting khaki pants are more professional than well fitting jeans.

But if your office all wears denim, of course it's fine. Other offices might be business casual and jeans are not fine. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in New England and around the same age as OP. Jeans definitely teeter the line between casual and business casual. The cut, color, and what they are paired with really make the difference.

[Anonymous]

Your employee handbook is the last word. Ours says they are not business casual but are ok for casual dress events and casual Friday.

[Anonymous]

no

[Anonymous]

They are in my office. Nice jeans with a sweater, blazer, or nice top are fine. Ripped jeans with a t-shirt are not.

[Anonymous]

I thought “no jeans, no athletic wear” was the definition of business casual. No new style athletic wear, I mean. Old “sports” clothes very okay.

[Anonymous]

I don’t consider jeans to be business casual but I will say, there’s no utilitarian reason to exclude them. They’re actually better than most other pants - cover more, cover better, comfortable, office temperature appropriate. So not imo in the same category as leggings or other forbidden clothing.

If I had an office I would definitely allow jeans, just because I like them so much, if no clients or the right kind of clients. But I think you need to wear them with not a tshirt. So maybe all my rules are arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

In tech, jeans are the standard. In some places shorts are acceptable as well. Investment banking not so much

[Anonymous]

Jeans with a blazer are fine and would
Be considered business casual in all but the most conservative of workplaces. But the blazer is key.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am with your mom. It’s casual. But since this is what 100% of people in your office wear, so this is what’s considered “business casual” in your office.

Agreed, but it doesn’t mean you have to do it OP!

I do not consider denim pants business attire unless you work in media or design or similar. I would not appreciate going into a business office with denim-clad staff about.

[Anonymous]

I wear them friday's with heeled boots