It is difficult to decide if
people don’t know what to wear to work or if they have lost sight of the
importance of appearance to a proficient success- their profession.
Let’s take a trip right now to a
busy restaurant at lunchtime, take a seat and then look around. What kind of
people do you see around you? What are they wearing? Do you or do you not try
to make a judgment about who they are, their line of business, their
personalities and their competencies? Now think about how you feel when you are
dressed in your usual business attire as opposed to casual dress....
Always remember that your choice
of business apparel speaks about your professional behavior and credibility.
With this in mind, it is important to understand how to dress for business if
you wish to promote yourself and your organization in a positive manner.
How you dress depends on four
factors: the industry in which you work, the job you have within that industry,
the geographic area in which you live; and most importantly, what your client
expects to see.
Professional Dress for Men
In men’s clothing, fashion does
not alliterate ominously from season to season, but business attire is about
being professional and not about being fashionable. It’s about presenting yourself in a way that
makes your clients feel comfortable and confident with you. Dressing for
success is still the rule. The professional businessman should keep in mind
these few points when determining what to wear to work.
Choose a conventional suit in
navy, black or gray either pinstripe (very stripe) or solid. The eminence of
the material expresses as loud as the color hereby making the difference
between sleaze and suave.
The more design and color you add
to your shirt, the more the attention is on your attire, rather than your
professionalism. A compact white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers
the most polished look.
When choosing your ties, avoid
the caricature characters and go for simple and subtle ties if you want to
enhance your credibility. Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric.
Choosing a sock, always go for
the calf-length socks or one that rises a little above your calf-length. Ensure
they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A nippy glimpse
of yourself in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment
later in the day. Always check for holes as well if you’ll be removing your
shoes.
Your shoes should be
conservative, spotless and well polished without question. Lace-up shoes are
the choice over slip-ons or flip flops. Don’t think for a minute that people
don’t notice shoes. Many people will
look at your feet before your face- especially that lady you will meet at the
mall or the man who has the deal in his hands.
Ensure your belts match or
closely harmonize with your shoes. Once again, quality counts.
In a time when men sport gold
necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the business professional should limit
himself to a conservative watch, a wedding band and maybe his college ring. The
rule is to keep jewelry to a minimum.
Personal hygiene is part of the
success equation. Don’t cover yourself up in fragrances, always make sure you
scrub and get rid of any body odor that you know, or didn’t know existed
because freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced any day of the week.
The finishing touch for the
business man is his choice of accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. When
it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good
pair of leather shoes can lose their affect when you pull out a pen which
totally is in no accordance with your professionalism.
Quality matters – any time any
day.
Written By
Ruth Dulac
This blog has actually gone trendy, with tips for every body
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