Let’s face it, “business casual” is a perplexing term that can be interpreted in many ways. You might get away with an open-collared shirt and jeans in one office, while in another workplace you might be expected to show up wearing a tie or a skirt.

While “business formal” usually refers to a suit and tie for men, and dress pants with a matching jacket for women, “business casual” is its less buttoned-up cousin. You have some freedom to inject your own unique style into your outfit with accessories and atypical silhouettes, while maintaining a stylish and professional appearance.

So what does that really mean? Whether you work in a creative or corporate office, we solve this vague dress code once and for all. Here’s our guide to dressing “business casual.”

Tops: button-down shirts and blouses

Women: A “business casual” top can be a silk blouse or a crisp button-down shirt. At a creative company, play with silhouettes like bell sleeves or ruffles. You can add some tasteful flair by accessorizing with a dressy belt or statement necklace.

Men: A tailored button-down shirt in solid colors or subtle plaids is a polished look. Show off your layering skills with an unstructured sports jacket or half-zip sweater.

Care tip: Ink stains can strike when you least expect them. Blot the stain with some rubbing alcohol—which works on most fabrics—and place a paper towel over it to absorb the liquid. (Avoid using club soda, which can set ink stains.) While a professional is most equipped to clean silks, you can toss cotton shirts in the washing machine using cold water, and then hang them to dry.

Bottoms: dress pants and chinos

Women: Choose dressy work pants that have enough room to tuck in your top. For dresses and skirts, ensure hemlines fall no more than 1” above the knee, and stay away from casual fabrics like jersey or linen.

Men: Dress pants or chinos are your go-to options. Keep them well-pressed with a steamer to maintain a professional appearance.

Both: Dark denim works in casual offices, but make sure there are no tears, rips or distressed patterns. Ladies can opt for sophisticated cuts like wide leg trousers or skinny jeans, while men can go for modern straight/slim-fit styles.

Care tip: If you find yourself wearing your lunch, use a mix of soap and water to get as much of the stain out as possible. Once you’re back home, pre-treat with a stain removal stick and launder according to the

Shoes: classic pumps and leather loafers

Women: Slip into ballet flats or classic pumps with a heel no more than 3” high. In less formal offices, suede or leather ankle boots are a fashion-forward yet professional option.

Men: Sleek leather loafers are a great choice, but you can have some fun with hybrid dressy-casual leather sneakers in a creative work environment.

Both: Leave the flip flops and athletic shoes at home, unless you ever find yourself working outdoors.

Care tip: To keep your leather shoes looking their best, wipe any dirt off with a soft damp cloth and gentle soap. Follow up with shoe polish to buff your footwear back to their shiny glory. For suede, use a suede brush to scrub away any blemishes. Refer to our leather guide for more tips on caring for leather footwear.

General tips for dressing business casual

“Business casual” can be confusing, but you can follow these general guidelines to avoid an awkward office fashion situation.

• The type of office you work in and the nature of the workday are important clues to deciphering this dress code. Corporate settings may be restricted to dress pants while startups and creative companies may allow for jeans.
• How your fellow colleagues dress for work will also give you some insight. For example, they may be dressed to the nines for client meetings, but for regular workdays they might show up in casual yet polished ensembles.
• It’s better to play it safe and go for something more formal, not less (so no sweatpants, please). If you’re really in doubt, it never hurts to ask your boss to define your workplace’s version of “business casual.”

Now that you have a better understanding of this perplexing dress code, you can start putting together work outfits that will impress your coworkers and clients. Knock ‘em dead. You can also get business casual looks delivered to your door by scheduling a Rinse laundry or dry-cleaning pickup.

Photos: Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com, Unsplash, Vladeep / Shutterstock.com, Alexander Andrews, Aila Images / Shutterstock.com

While looking our best and staying warm may be our top priorities as the weather gets chillier, we also want to make sure that we're well prepared to take care of our wardrobes in the coming months. Stay effortlessly layered with these comfortable fabrics for a season of changing colors and cooling temperatures.

Knitwear

Few things say fall quite like curling up with a big cup of coffee in your favorite oversized knit. To keep your favorite cuddle buddy in great shape, place your knitwear item into a mesh laundry bag before cleaning, and use the delicate cycle. If you're washing by hand, use warm water mixed with a gentle detergent. Press or squeeze to remove excess water—wringing will stretch the material—and lay flat or hang to dry, depending on specific instructions, to maintain its shape so you can keep wearing that cozy top all season long.

Leather

This sleek, durable material works well for a lot of looks. Dress it up with a pencil skirt for work, or keep it casual with ripped jeans on the weekend. To keep your leather apparel in top condition, entrust it to a specialty cleaner—they can maintain the natural oils in the fabric, while protecting against color changes or cracks. In between professional washings, there are a few things you can do to prolong the lifespan of your leather:

• Ask your cleaner for advice on an appropriate leather conditioner.
• Hang leather pieces on wide wooden, plastic or padded hangers, in order to maintain shape.
• Keep leather out of hot or damp areas.
• Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight, and don’t cover it in plastic—all of these factors can cause your leather to dry out.
• If stains do arise, blot them out with a wet cloth.

Denim

Jeans are an uncomplicated style staple that look good on almost everyone, but consider a distressed jacket for a different twist on denim—and an on-trend ode to the 90s. On that note, take a cue from street style bloggers and pair denim on denim in different shades. While this is a sturdy fabric, you should avoid machine washing because denim can shrink and fade. Most denim can be washed in cold water with mild detergent and hung to dry, but some brands would benefit from dry cleaning, and raw denim is better left unwashed.

Corduroy

For occasions when you want to give your leather jacket a break, reach for a corduroy coat to channel a style that's equal parts polished and preppy. Look for quality details such as brass buttons, which can elevate the look of standard corduroy clothing. This versatile fabric is easy to care for. It can be machine washed in warm water (for lighter hues) or cold water (for darker hues). Remember to turn it inside out before tossing the item in the machine to avoid collecting lint on the material. A quick spin on the normal cycle—tumble dry low between wears—and you're good to go.

Flannel

A fall classic, flannel is perfect for scarves, shirts, outerwear, or even a poncho—a comfortable transitional piece when the outside temperature doesn't quite call for a winter coat. Check the clothing label for the most optimal cleaning options. Most basic flannel pieces can be hand washed with a gentle laundry soap and hung to dry, while other items (such as scarves or coats) may require dry cleaning.

Wool

When the fall season gets especially chilly, you can don a wool coat, hat or sweater to stay warm. Most wool can be hand washed, but follow the label's instructions for specific guidelines. Sweaters should be swished and soaked inside-out in lukewarm water for at least ten minutes. When drying, squeeze out excess water before laying the garment flat on a mesh rack. Don’t wring out or hang your wool as it stretches easily.

With these clothing care tips, you can stay stylish all season long in the cozy textures of fall.

Photos: Maria Shanina, Llywelyn Nys, John Mark Arnold, Priscilla Westra, Luke Pamer, Benjamin Combs, Ben Blennerhassett

We’ve all been there... You make one small movement and a frightful tearing sound comes from the seat of your favorite pair of jeans. It has happened to the best of us and despite our better judgement, we’ve all kept a pair of pants around for one wear longer than we should have.

Everyone has ripped a hole in their jeans… You’re not alone!

It’s time we talked openly and honestly about the reality of that unfortunate tear in the seat of your pants.

When jeans begin to rip, which typically a sign that the jean is nearing it’s end, it is usually the result of  a seam burst or tear in the seat of the jean. Adding a patch to the tear in your  jeans is a service that most professional cleaners will provide. However, this treatment will only delay the inevitable for a short period of time.

When you apply a patch to denim, you're introducing new and most likely stronger fabric to the garment. As you wear the garment more, the area surrounding the patch will take on additional stress, causing it to wear and eventually tear. Since the fabric of the patch is strong and the surrounding area is most likely weaker, the point of defect usually just moves from the patched tear to the  surrounding area.

While a patch may add some extra life to your garment, it's really just a matter of time until you create more damage to the garment. On the bright side, you can think of this as an opportunity to upgrade to that new pair of denim you had your eye on.

The days are getting shorter and pumpkin lattes are back on the menu, which means it’s time to assemble your autumn wardrobe. The fall season calls for heavier knits, luxurious textures and warmer hues. From transitional pieces to layering accessories, here's our cheat sheet for building a cool weather wardrobe that's always on point.

Invest in basics that aren’t season-specific

The concept of a personal capsule wardrobe was made popular by fashion blogger, Caroline, of Unfancy, whose minimalist style is equal parts polished and practical. The idea is to invest in classic pieces that can be worn year-round, as opposed to buying new clothes each season and succumbing to fast fashion trends. Select a few versatile items—your favorite little black dress, a linen shirt and a great pair of denim for instance—that serve as the foundation of your wardrobe, and can be styled accordingly as the seasons change.

Transition your warm weather pieces with accessories and layers

Accessories are a great way to add warmth to your summer pieces. Men and women can both add wool hats, cashmere scarves and leather boots to update warm weather outfits for fall. Earmuffs and tall socks are trending this fall season, so consider adding these functional pieces to your closet!

Besides accenting your outfit with fall ready pieces, layering is the easiest way to transition summer clothes. For instance, ladies can add a turtleneck and tights to their sun dress, or a blazer and silk scarf to professional attire. For the discerning gentleman, layering a leather jacket or textural cardigan over a chambray top will introduce some thermal comfort without compromising on style. Bright colors are also on trend, so consider adding some splashy wool socks to keep your feet toasty.

When it comes to fall layers and accessories, invest in high quality fabrics like cashmere and wool that can be dressed up or dressed down. These textiles deserve top notch care, and a cleaning professional will keep them looking fresh.

Keep your fall fabrics clean

Taking care of your clothing is key to maintaining a stylish wardrobe. Delicate fabrics such as cashmere can be hand washed in cool water with a gentle laundry soap and then laid flat to dry. You can speed up the drying process by laying a towel underneath the garment.

Wool or leather should be brought to a professional service. Wool can be dry cleaned, but genuine leather can lose natural oils and get damaged when it's exposed to any heat. To keep your leather apparel looking its best, talk to your trusted cleaner, who can connect you with a quality specialty service in town.

Store your summer favorites for the next season

For the warm weather clothes that you do want to retire, get them cleaned before placing them in long-term storage. Putting items away without properly caring for them first may result in damage to delicate fabrics; unresolved stains can set, and lingering scents can attract moths or insects. Wash your items according to the label's instructions with a gentle detergent, then hang or flat dry to maintain the clothing's shape. Finer fabrics such as silk ties or rayon dresses require extra care, so send these items to a dry cleaner for a little TLC before they go into hibernation.

Our care guide on proper clothing storage has got you covered on specific fabrics and storage options. Whether you keep your items hanging in your closet or folded away in storage bins, be sure to choose a cool, dry location so that when next summer rolls around, you can toss these clothes on without worrying about any unsightly stains or damage.

By following these closet cues and expert care tips, you can enjoy watching the leaves change as you sip your apple crisp oatmilk macciato in a stylish autumnal ensemble.

Photos: Sergey Zolkin, Maksim Ladouski / Shutterstock.com, Africa Studio / Shutterstock.com

It happens to the best of us. You open your closet and it’s a total disaster. Clothes on the floor, clothes half hanging on hangers and clothes that look like they’re about to tumble down from the top shelf. It’s time to regain control of your wardrobe space. Proper storage  is key, and by employing these organization tricks, you’ll never be afraid to open your closet doors again.

The components of a tidy closet

A well organized closet has three key characteristics:

1. Contents are organized by category (e.g. tops, bottoms, shoes).
2. All items are color coded within their category.
3. Each category has its own designated space.

Color code your closet

By color coding each category of clothing, you’ll make finding items in your closet much easier. For instance, you can group together garments in similar shades and tones, ordering them from light to dark. When it comes to patterned tops and bottoms, file them based on the dominant color in the garment. Two-toned striped items can be tricky, but as long it makes sense to you, however you choose to order them is your judgement call.

Clothing category tricks

Here’s how to organize and store each category of clothing.

Tops: Blouses, button-downs and jackets
Knit tops and t-shirts can be folded and placed on shelves or hanging closet organizers with shelving—line delicate pieces like cashmere sweaters with acid-free tissue to protect them against moisture or dust. Blouses, button-down shirts, jackets and blazers should be hung on thin velvet hangers to maximize closet space and prevent garments from slipping off.

Bottoms: Pants and skirts

Pants that don’t wrinkle easily (like jeans) can be folded and stored on shelves or hanging closet organizers. Dress pants and skirts should be hung on thin velvet hangers or hangers with clips.

Footwear: Casual and formal shoes

When it comes to a large walk-in closet, a shoe shelf will show off your shoe collection and make it easy to find the footwear you’re looking for. You can also put your shoes in clear polystyrene boxes, which will stack neatly in your closet. Clear boxes ensure that you’ll be able to find your sneakers or heels quicker than keeping them in regular opaque shoe boxes. For smaller closets, you can use shoe racks placed on the closet floor or over-the-door hanging shoe organizers with pockets to slot in each pair.

Accessories: Jewelry, belts and ties

For a large walk-in closet, designate one to two drawers for jewelry, belts and ties. Use drawer organizers to compartmentalize each group of items so you can find the right accessory without fuss. For a small closet, a hanging accessories organizer is your best bet. It can be hung alongside your clothes and has loops to weave ties and belts through. Use hanging organizers with individual small clear slots to store jewelry, bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

Handbags

Socks and underwear

Small items like socks, bras and underwear are best folded and grouped together in drawers and separated with drawer dividers.

Next season’s clothes

Use flat underbed garment boxes to store clothing from last season or the next one. If there’s room on the closet floor, garment boxes can be stacked there or kept underneath the bed. To keep stains and odors from setting in, launder your clothes before storing them for the season—and bring your favored pieces to a professional service for top care. Don’t forget to tuck in some pouches filled with dried lavender to keep your clothes fresh and free of moths. By using these simple tricks, you’re well on your way to creating and sustaining an organized closet that will feel like your own personal boutique.

Photos: All About Space / Shutterstock.com, WorldWide / Shutterstock.com, WorldWide / Shutterstock.com, Maryna Pleshkun / Shutterstock.com

Rinse, Inc., the fastest growing national brand in dry cleaning and laundry delivery, today announced that its service is now available in Chicago. In June, the company announced its plans to expand into at least 10 new cities following its Series B financing; Chicago is the first of those cities to launch. Rinse is looking to hire a robust team of operations personnel and Valets, in addition to partnering with local dry cleaning and wash and fold establishments.

“We are incredibly excited to bring Rinse to Chicago,” said Ajay Prakash, Co-founder and CEO of Rinse. “Our focus has always been on delivering high-quality clothing care for everything in your closet, and we know Chicagoans appreciate convenience that comes without a sacrifice. The initial response from our alpha customers has been fantastic, and we hope to bring that same experience to other customers in Chicago as we grow.”

Rinse started its innovative dry cleaning and laundry delivery service in San Francisco in 2013 and has since expanded into Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and now Chicago. Its mission has been to remove the many points of friction in clothing care and to create a high-quality, consistent, convenient, and reliable experience for customers. Rinse’s technology backbone and smart approach to operations and scheduling enables the company to deliver world-class service.

Devoted to Chicago

Rinse’s Chicago operation is based in Bucktown and the company is looking to expand its local team of operations personnel and Valets, all of whom are W-2 employees. “Rinse Valets and our local operations teams are core to the customer experience,” said Prakash. “As we look to aggressively grow in Chicago, we want all employees to know that they have an important impact on the business.” In addition to hiring local talent, Rinse is focused on establishing partnerships with Chicago cleaning vendors. At a time when traditional dry cleaners and wash and fold establishments have seen business decline, Rinse is looking to partner to drive incremental business beyond the traditional walk-in customer. The company is already working with several local partners and plans to partner with more as demand grows.

About Rinse

Rinse is building the first and largest national (and global) brand in clothing care. It is addressing a massive consumer problem and creating a significantly better (and more standardized) dry cleaning and laundry experience through the combination of "smart scheduling"   and best-in-class quality, all supported by a strong technology backbone that allows it to effectively manage the operational complexity that comes with scale. Its services include Dry Cleaning, Launder & Press, Wash & Fold, Hang Dry, Repairs, Leather Cleaning, and it even takes Clothing Donations. The company was founded by Ajay Prakash and James Joun and is headquartered in San Francisco. To experience Rinse for yourself, please visit www.rinse.com or download the Rinse mobile app (available on iOS or Android).