I am a senior account executive in a tech firm.

We have a training coming up in two weeks in the dungeon (cavernous, windowless, carpeted conference room located in the sub basement) of a major hotel in two weeks so that our corporate suits can present to us and attempt to rally us. It is a typical sales gathering consisting of three days of all-day powerpoint presentations followed by schmoozing in the evening. There will be no clients there, just our hundreds-strong national sales organization and representatives from our C-Suite.

We’re told “Business Casual.” What does this mean to you in 2023?

Time was in days of yore that this meant sport jackets and no ties. Then it meant slacks and a dress shirt. In recent times, it seems like for much of the business world this means nice jeans and a decent shirt or sport jacket, but the last time I was at a sales conference pre-Covid we sales people were still wearing slacks and sports jackets like it was circa 1998.

I’m reasonably stylish. I like to wear nice jeans and fashionable shirts in my every day life. To me, power casual in 2023 means jeans, expensive t-shirt, stylish sneakers and a tailored sport jacket. So that is what makes sense for me to wear to a business casual conference in 2023, but I also wonder if jeans will mean underdressed In the eyes of my peers.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Does business casual mean jeans are okay in 2023 sales organizations? Or do we still dress like it’s 1998 and wear slacks with our sport jacket?

(I actually love wearing suits and tuxes, but this will be overdressing for this event. I just consider a sports jacket with slacks kind of outdated and depressing in 2023. I wish sales organizations would join the modern world and encourage nice jeans and high quality shirts :) ).

A wise person might wear slacks and sports jacket, just to be on the safe side. But I’m just getting so tired of poorly managed sales organizations acting the same way they did 25 years ago, and I just hate putting away my nice/stylish clothes for three days just because sales leaders might struggle in changing with the fashionable times. If I’m honest with myself, I could say I’m feeling a bit rebellious in my advanced (54) age.

Anyway, I welcome your honest opinion on how you dress for business casual. Thank you so much for your honest thoughts!

Edit: Thanks to all for sharing your opinions!!