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Yoliswa Dube

FOR some reason, it recently bothered me seeing women in T-shirts and flip flops on dress down Fridays at work.

Monday to Friday is undisputed formal dress for everyone but we all go crazy when we’re allowed to dress casually on Fridays.

I’d like to believe lots of companies all over have dress down Fridays and I’m sure they’re not quite meant for sneakers and leggings.

Because you’re still at work and have to look professional, dress down Fridays must mean dress casual, but smartly. It means don’t wear a T-shirt that says “Ndebele Maker” or “Dope”. It also means stay away from your favourite football jersey and don’t wear leggings — they are not pants.

Dress down Friday doesn’t mean you can wear that track bottom you wear when you’re going to the grocery store or for your hair appointment during the weekend.

A considerable number of employers require workers to dress smartly without necessarily demanding a suit and pantyhose. But shockingly, a lot of women don’t know what it means to be casual, yet smart.

They don’t realise the workplace is a place of work where interactions with different people of various social standing is inevitable. You can’t afford to have your cleavage out in leaps and bounds.

Often times, women project themselves as sex objects in spaces where they should be exuding elegance and professionalism — they show a little too much skin.

While many of us know what it means to dress smartly to work or to an event — it’s not always easy putting something together.

But there’re basics to guide you. Denim is always a good base to help you build something laid back but classy. But choose jeans that are clean, crisp and in a dark wash.

Depending on the weather, layering a chiffon blouse with a blazer to go with your jeans is always a great option. Your shoes and accessories will give the outfit the oomph it deserves. High heels always have a way of giving your outfit some vava voom. A pointy shoe or a peep toe would be the best option for this kind of look.

When wearing jeans, or any other casual pieces that would fall into this same category, elevating them through dressy accessories will put the outfit into “smart casual” territory.

The reason is when you start with something like a pair of jeans and style them with items that would be considered dressy, a middle balance is created.

The dressy components elevate the jeans and the jeans bring down the dressier pieces.

A skirt and top is another excellent choice for a smart casual look. There is nothing wrong with borrowing pieces — mixing it up a little bit always creates the illusion that you own more clothes than you actually do. But it can’t be an ordinary skirt and top.

Go for a straight skirt — something that will shape your figure well and a peplum top to accentuate your waist and hip line.

An outfit like this is definitely something many women can wear to work and dress casual events. Playing with colour is a great way to turn your smart casual looks up a notch. Strappy sandals would go well with this look.

It’s key to ensure your toe nails are in great shape before you show them off to the rest of the world. Make sure your heels are equally well taken care of and don’t sell you off as unkempt.

Apparently, you can tell a lot about a woman’s character just by looking at her feet. Wearing a dress makes you look stylish — effortlessly.

Dresses are just easy and a definite safe option. They can be dressed up and down, and most women feel pulled together when wearing one. Yet, again, you can do more with a dress than just zip it up at the back and head out the door.

A lot of women have that one go-to dress in their wardrobe that will suffice for events and, if the dress isn’t changed up a few ways, it can easily begin to feel a bit stale to wear. To avoid this, mix things up a little bit.

Don’t wear the same dress with the same pair of shoes and accessories. You could even throw in a blazer or scarf, just to freshen things up a little bit.

Until next week, flaunt your pattern and style and don’t forget to catch up with me on Twitter handle @Yolisswa.