Casual Fridays set the office trend

Casual Fridays set the office trend: fashion forward or faux pas? The unspoken rules

As if pursuing career advancement, striking a better work/life balance, adhering to values statements and peacefully cohabiting in an open plan office with colleagues you see more often (and for longer periods) than your own family/friends/spouse weren\'t enough to cause stress for the average employee, once a week, every week, looms a rite that is the modern workday equivalent of a trial by fire - the Casual Friday.

More than a third of Australians surveyed believe that the advent of \"casual Fridays have lowered the standard of overall workplace dress codes\", and to make the prospect of Casual Friday even more daunting, 60% of those surveyed said that they \"take note of how colleagues dress at work\".

I guess with all these pressures, there\'s just nothing \"casual\" about Casual Fridays at all, as you spend twice as long trying to decide what to wear and having flashbacks to those golden \"Mufti Days\" at school when what you chose to wear had a very real impact on your social standing. A quick (and completely un-official) Naiman Clarke office poll showed that Casual Fridays present a major weekly challenge for the majority of staff, as you attempt to tread that fine line between bringing the weekend into the workplace and still remain suitably dressed for that workplace. As the weather gets hotter, it appears that the possibility of overexposure and lack of discretion in Casual Friday dressing also increases exponentially.

The key tips we have compiled are by no means exhaustive but, we feel, suitably covers all the bases:

• Emulate the style of those whose positions you would like to have
• If you expect to be treated professionally, look professional
• When in doubt, stray on the side of conservatism (meaning no bellies, bust or butts.)
• Pay attention to the fit of your clothing
• Clothing should be clean, pressed or wrinkle free and without holes or frayed areas
• When in doubt, leave it out! Stop and look in the mirror before you leave home

And this gem, which we thought it necessary to include:
Body piercings (and tattoos) which can be seen by the client are not a professional look. Tongue rings should also not be visible. Ever.

I\'m sure there are more tips, but I\'ve run out of time! Must go and work out what I will wear for the next Casual Friday. I mean, there\'s only 3 days, 2 hours, 5mins and 16 seconds until that day, and I\'d like to be ready this time!