Cape Town - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
Relatively informal dress in public spaces. Even in nice restaurants, people might be in shorts and regular shirts. This is possibly an influence of the beach culture/beach vibes. Formal dress would only be required in formal events. Some workplaces may require a suit and tie, but that is not the norm. - Aug 2021
Business casual - Apr 2021
Cape Town is described as the LA to Johannesburg's New York (I agree), which is evident in dress code. There are some social circles where image is everything, but for the majority of us, Cape Town is relaxed and laid back at work and at play. I see CEOs wear flip-flops to work because they are going surfing in the afternoon. - Feb 2018
Business casual. Business attire at receptions/official functions. I have not needed formal dress here, though you may want it for the Marine Corps ball or similar events. - Oct 2017
Cape Town is a very casual place. Most people work in jeans or their equivalent. The Embassy in Pretoria has imposed a dress code to keep staff on the straight and narrow. - May 2014
At work--Business. In public--what you would wear in the U.S., but a bit nicer (no baggy, falling-off-the-butt pants or skin-tight tee shirts)--think U.S. in the early 1960's. - Aug 2013
Work is smart casual. Public is very casual - think Southern California. - Oct 2007
