How many types of “casual” are there?

June 18, 2007 at 7:49 am · Filed under careers

In preparation for a trip to a lovely southern west coast city this week, we received information on the dress code.

 1.) Welcome reception - “the dress code for this event is California Casual.” (really, it was in upper-case letters like that)

2.) dinner cruise - “the dress code for this event is business casual.” (no upper-case letters).

3.) under “other details: dress code” - “the dress code for the retreat is casual resort wear.”

So some of us have been trying to figure out what these types of “casual” consist of and what we’re supposed to pack! I received an e-mail earlier today explaining (and yet not truly enlightening us) what these three types of “casual” mean, but I’d love to hear some ideas before I put that information in a comment.

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6 Comments

  1. the editor said,

    June 18, 2007 @ 9:23 am

    I think the difference between business and “resort wear” casual is mainly that you can un-tuck your shirt for resort wear. Also, you can get away without socks.

    I imagine California casual is probably business casual plus streaky blonde highlights.

  2. the editor said,

    June 18, 2007 @ 2:47 pm

    Also:

    El Zarape Mexican Restaurant
    (619) 692-1652
    4642 Park Blvd, Lovely Southern West Coast City

    Really good fish tacos.

  3. maya said,

    June 19, 2007 @ 6:24 am

    Excellent, excellent. One of my searches in this lovely southern west coast city will be to find the best fish tacos.

  4. dm said,

    June 19, 2007 @ 10:30 am

    i’ve heard of both resort and business casual, but i was convinced that “California Casual” was some sort of crazy made up bullshit until i saw this:
    http://ask.metafilter.com/23240/California-Casual-what-to-wear
    that said, i still think it’s probably bullshit.

    otherwise, i think resort casual means you can wear shorts – but only the kind of shorts you’d wear to a stuffy east-coast country club.

  5. maya said,

    June 21, 2007 @ 3:46 pm

    The above link was absolutely fascinating. Yesterday’s California Casual, I’m happy to report, ranged from cargo shorts and flipflops to pleated linen khakis and tucked-in button-downs.

  6. towniewannabe said,

    June 21, 2007 @ 4:56 pm

    When I read the editor’s first comment, I almost peed. I can’t wait to get some highlights for my next California casual event.

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