Professional attire and image

Dressing for success ensures you make a good impression on potential employers.

Learn about three common levels of professional dress: business professional, business casual and smart casual.
Students speak to recruiters at a previous Business Career Fair

The below visual examples were provided by KU Business students Deeptha Chilukuri, Noah Coggan, Lauryn Jones, Claire Milroy, Logan Pfeister and Sami Tiernan. The group created a Professional Clothing Lookbook as part of a Business Leadership Program project.

KU students can access free professional attire via KU's Professional Clothing Closet. Business students with a secured internship or job also can apply for our Professional Development Scholarship to help support a professional set of clothing.

A student wears a navy blazer with a light blue blouse
A student wears a suit and tie with dress shoes.
A student wearing a black skirt suit with a blue button-up shirt and black closed-toe shoes sits on a bench in an academic building.

Business professional

Business professional is the most formal level of professional dress. This style is most appropriate for interviews, career fairs and more formal events. It is recommended to opt for darker, more traditional colors such as black, navy or gray and minimal accessories.

Examples of business professional clothing:

  • Jackets and blazers with matching pants or skirt (just above knee or longer)
  • A button-up collared shirt and tie combination
  • A tailored, conservative shirt or blouse
  • Dress shoes
  • Heels
  • Formal flats
A student wears a light blue button-down shirt, black slacks and black dress shoes.
A student wears pleated slacks and a light button-down shirt.
A student wears a short-sleeved blouse, chinos and dress shoes.

Business casual

Business casual combines elements of business professional and smart casual to create a tailored, put-together look. This look may be appropriate for interviews at companies that have a relaxed dress code or at a networking event.

Examples of business casual clothing: 

  • Jackets
  • Dress pants
  • Slacks
  • Chinos
  • Dress shirt
  • Blouse
  • Skirts (just above the knee or longer)
  • Tailored sweater or cardigan
  • Vest
  • Tie
  • Leather pull-on shoes or boots
  • Flats
  • Loafers
  • heels
A student wears a black cardigan over a white top, khakis and black ballet flats with a pointed toe.
A student wears a white cable-knit sweater with black slacks and dress shoes.
A student wears a white sleeveless blouse with pink chinos and brown sandals with a block heel.

Smart casual

Smart casual is the most relaxed of the three levels of professional attire. It combines professional clothing with more casual pieces. You should pair formal and casual items when following this dress code.

Example smart casual clothing items:

  • Dark and non-distressed jeans
  • Slacks
  • Chinos
  • Skirts (just above the knee or longer)
  • Blouse
  • Collared shirt
  • Sweater
  • Blazer
  • Cardigan
  • Dress (avoid sundresses)
  • Flats
  • Boots
  • Loafers
  • Heels
  • Accessories (opportunity for self-expression)