Business casual dressing began in the early 1990s as a trend in Silicon Valley, where computer geeks worked into the wee hours of the night, dramatically changing what Americans wear to the office. And with nearly 90 percent of American companies deformalizing their dress codes, today's professionals need to master the delicate balance between relaxed and respectable. While many of her clients are retired women, she does see a variety of shoppers on a quest for office clothing that is versatile enough for Santa Rosa's fluctuating weather and won't cost a fortune in dry cleaning.
Many women are surprised to find that much of the clothing is easy to care for.
And Mary Lou Andre agrees. Wall Street firms turn to for fashion tips. But she insists that this attitude does not give workers carte blanche to look like slobs. I once had a major player in the technology industry fly me to the area to speak about business casual. You've got to remember that there are shades of gray.