Which outfit for "business casual" college event

[Pegasus]

DD was invited to join an honor society at her community college. Induction ceremony is next weekend and the students were directed to come dressed in "business casual."  

 

DD is considering wearing a colorful patterned skirt with a matching solid polo top

 

OR

 

A black skirt with a solid red sweater top

 

 

I'm never really sure what is meant by business casual.  Would one of these outfits better meet business casual?

 

 

[linders]

I think of business casual as solid bottoms (slacks or skirts) and solid top (for men, a button down shirt or nice polo, women same or a solid color modest sweater).

 

The patterned skirt would not cut it for me - too "cute."

 

[ThisIsTheDay]

I think that patterned skirt would be fine.  By "business casual," they are hoping to avoid shorts.  Based on previous experience, you'll see shorts anyway.

 

It's a college campus.  At dd's orientation, *parents* were requested to dress "business casual."  My personal thought was, no, thank you.  I wore jeans, and I fit in perfectly with the other 50% or so of parents who were also wearing jeans.  Just my perspective.  ;)

 

[Hikin' Mama]

When my son was a senior in high school, he got the opportunity to interview early for a well-paid mechanical engineering internship, which wouldn't actually begin until his junior year of college. A parent was invited and we were to dress business casual. I stressed mightily (overthinking is my superpower) as this internship was/is a big deal.

 

I wore black dress pants and a nice short-sleeved blouse. He wore nice black pants (not jeans) and a long-sleeved, light blue button up shirt. He looked incredibly handsome, if I do say so myself, and more professional than some of the other young people there, who leaned more toward the casual. I wasn't interviewed, obviously, but there were many engineers there from different fields mingling with the parents. He got the internship. :)

 

I'd probably go with the black skirt/red sweater option.

[MercyA]

Black skirt, red sweater.  Good for her!  :)

[goldberry]

I think the patterned would be okay.  I don't think a patterned skirt is inappropriate for a business environment. Length and cut are more important than pattern in my book.   I agree with the poster that said they are trying to avoid shorts - and jeans.

 

DD attended a hospital orientation, where they said the dress was casual.  But this was a JOB ORIENTATION at a hospital.  There were teens there with too-short shorts, as well as ripped jeans.  Not a good impression.  DD wore dark, solid color jeans and a nice shirt.

[Pegasus]

Thanks, everyone!  I think you are right that they would like the students to dress a bit better than ripped jeans, shorts, or flip flops.  

[BigMamaBird]

Black skirt, sweater top sounds like business causal to me.  The other one sounds nice, but maybe the skirt would be a bit too "fun" for a professional event?

[Guest]

I would choose the black skirt and red sweater. Solids are generally more serious than prints, so I err that way.

 

ETA: you don't often go wrong by being dressed more modestly/conservatively/simply, but it is really easy to be dressed too casually, especially in American culture. "We" dress very casually.

[Annie G]

Since she has both outfits, the second choice would probably be better. If she only had the first outfit, it would be fine. 

[Tsuga]

I need a location. Business casual in New York is one thing, another in Florida, yet another in LA and still another in Seattle--not to mention, Minneapolis. Yes, it's academia, but location makes a difference.

 

[katilac]

I would not have hesitated to wear a colorful patterned skirt to the office, lol, so I vote that either one is just fine. 

 

It's not even business casual in my world.