Dress Code or No Dress Code?

Hong Kong is a pretty liberal working environment when it comes to dress code and “casual” seems to be an accepted norm for most city offices.

But what is the difference between business casual, everyday casual, holiday causal or just plain inappropriate.

Pants

Things like blue jeans, sweatpants, exercise pants, Bermuda shorts, short shorts, bib overalls and any form of body-fitting pants are considered inappropriate.

On the other hand, Dockers and other cotton/synthetic/wool pants would be a smart choice for office wear.

Skirts and Dresses

Dress and skirt length should be at a length which you can sit comfortably in public. Short, tight skirts that ride halfway up the thigh are inappropriate for work. So are sun dresses, beach dresses and spaghetti0strap dresses.

Shirts, Tops, Blouses, and Jackets

Tops like classic shirts, sweaters, golf shirts and turtlenecks are acceptable in the workplace. So are suit jackets and modestly-coloured and styles sports jackets. Inappropriate clothing includes: tank tops, shirts with offensive words, slogans, terms, ,logos, pictures or cartoons, tops with bare shoulders, sweatshirts and T-shirts unless you wear then under a blouse.

Shoes and Footwear

Conservative should would be be your best bet: loafers, clogs, flats, dress heals or classic athletic shoes. You should stay away from flip-flops, open sandals, slippers and other informal footwear.