商务礼节美语第93期:商务休闲装正确穿戴

　　Business Casual Done Right
商务休闲装正确穿戴
陈豪在北京的ABC美国公司工作。他有个问题要请教美国同事Amy。
(Office ambience)
C: Hi, Amy. 你有一点儿时间吗？我有个问题想问你。
A: Sure, I need a little break.
C: 我听说最近从美国西岸调过来的几个同事在要求什么“business casual”, 什么是“business casual” 啊？
A: Business casual is the term given to dressing¹ down at work.
C: Dressing down?
A: Yes. If you usually wear a suit and tie to work, dressing down means wearing a sport jacket and tie. If you normally wear a sport jacket and tie, to dress down, you leave off either the jacket or the tie.
C: 我们不是周一到周五都应该穿西装打领带。为什么又要休闲呢？
A: It's an American phenomenon that started on the west coast of the US years ago. Some people believe that they are more productive when they are dressed in comfortable relaxed clothing.
C: 那你觉得穿着舒适休闲会提高工作效率吗？
A: Personally I do not feel as confident or professional when I dress down. I believe that I lose some of my credibility.
C: 我们的新老板会不会考虑放松我们的着装要求呢？
A: Well, I have heard a rumor² that he might, but only once a week—on Friday.
C: 哦，怪不得我听大家都在说casual Friday, 休闲星期五呢！
MC: 第二天，陈豪在饭厅里遇到了Amy.
A: Hi Chen Hao. Did you hear the news about Casual Friday? The boss has agreed to try it for three months to see how it works.
C: 这么说以后星期五我们愿意穿什么就穿什么喽？
A: Not at all. True business casual means dressing down just one notch³ from business professional. You don't have to wear a suit and tie, but it doesn't mean that your old jeans and a T-shirt are acceptable.
C: 怎么还那么多讲究啊？
A: Yes, this is business casual. Think of it as a merger⁴ of professional and casual clothing. Professional clothing is tailored, consists of suits and ties, dark to medium colors and fine fabrics⁵.
C: 职业性装束要求穿西装、打领带。那休闲服装呢？
A: Casual clothing is loose, relaxed, and made of softer fabrics and includes things like jeans, shorts, T-shirts and tennis shoes.
C: Business casual就是介于二者之间喽？换句话说，我不用穿西装，但是也不能穿T-恤衫和球鞋上班了。
A: That's right. We need to combine the business credible⁶ look with the comfortable creative look.
C: 看来我要出去买衣服了！

1 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

2 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

3 notch   

n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级

参考例句：

• The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
• He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。

4 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

5 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

6 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？