Should I wear business casual clothing to work?

I work in a laboratory (environmental testing industry) where the dress code is casual. I work within the IT department. The only people I see who wear business casual/professional dress on a constant basis is the director of the lab and the IT manager. The project managers and supervisors wear business casual when a client comes in or when they feel like dressing up. Mostly they wear jeans to work. Our corporate office and corporate staff is located in another state so corporate people only come in and they announce when they come in. How important is it for me to wear business casual? Do you honestly think I will “get ahead” if I wear business casual, etc/? Even the HR lady in our office wears casual clothing most of the time. Any advice to be given on this subject?

I was the Office Manager/HR Manager in an environmental lab. I would bet that everyone there but you, the accountant, and perhaps one or two others, is a scientist of some sort. They all walk to a different drummer and they don’t care what anyone looks like. Follow the code and wear business casual. Wear really old if you are actually working in a prep lab because you could get acid or acid residue on your clothes. Get a lab coat to wear when unexpected visitors come in. Everyone looks professional in a lab coat.

Erica Andrews Simply Gorgeous