Six tips to be the “best dressed”
photo by hosiery_advocate
If you’re trying to make an impact with your clothes wherever you are, there are six tips you need to remember to help you do this.
1 – Be nice to your tailor
At one time or another, you’re going to have a suit that will need to be altered. Your tailor can alter most things you need them to so that your suit will fit your body and build. If you need the sleeves narrowed, they can do this. If your pants are just a bit too long, these can be shortened. Just remember to be nice to your tailor so they want to help with your alterations.
If you choose to buy off the rack, you’ll need to purchase the right size. Your tailor can work with what you purchased to make it fit. Don’t buy a suit that’s too large for you since the shoulder areas are supposed to hug your shoulders. Have your tailor fix your business shirt sleeves so that they stop just at the hinge of your wrist. You don’t want your pants to be too baggy. Your tailor’s fix can be the difference between being stylish dressed or suitably dressed.
You can also have the tailor custom make your suits and business shirts. What does custom tailor mean? It means that everything is going to fit you right once all the alterations have been made on ready-made clothes. If you’re looking for an alternative that’s easy on your wallet, this is it.
2 – When to cuff clothes
It’s important to know when you should cuff your clothes and when you should leave them be. If you’re wearing a modern slim suit with a pair of flat front pants, don’t cuff them. If you like the idea of the classic suit with one pleat, then you should cuff it… just don’t go any over than one and a half inches deep. Who knows you might even land a role in the next Wall Street movie…
3 – Match socks and suits
When you’re buying socks, you should always consider what colour suit you’re wearing… not the shoe. If you plan on wearing a navy blue suit with a pair of black shoes, you need to choose navy blue socks. If you’re wearing a suit that’s light in colour, choose socks that are lighter than the shoes you’re going to wear but darker than the suit.
4 – Skinny ties
You may have thought ties would ever change but they have gotten a lot thinner in the past couple of years. Skinny ties, while not suitable for all occasions gives your look a more modern and contemporary edge. Remember, you want a tie that makes you look sophisticated and modern; you want to make a positive impact, so leave the characters for the cartoons.
5 – Slim down your wallet
There are many men who overstuff their wallet but that’s not the gentlemen thing to do. Instead, throw out all receipts, video cards and anything else you really don’t need in it. Make sure to slim it down as much as possible. You should also purchase a slim but elegant leather credit card holder with all your main cards. Fold your hard earned and put it in a money clip.
6 – Wear brown shoes with almost everything
While black shoes are simple to use and match with everything, brown dress shoes liven up the clothing but make sure they are dark brown rather than light brown. These shoes are bound to be noticed by all you come across especially when you wear them with khaki, grey or navy blue pants.
Other fashion tips you should know include
Purchase a slim fit suit, which can give you a slimmer, more smooth look plus it’ll show off your business shirt and tie better. Fashion experts say that the days of three button suits are through.
Mix up your wardrobe with bold and contemporary premium business shirts
photo by Incase Designs
Look in your closet… what kinds of business shirts do you have? Do you see a row of tired, dated boring white business shirts? Why not go for something a little more daring for a change? Go for a bold pin striped or contemporary check premium business shirt to break up the monotony you see. Who knows it might just give you the edge in the competitive work environment!
Striped shirts (unlike shirts with checkered patterns) are widely more accepted in formal settings. However, there are exceptions to be mindful of. These shirt types can be found in various amplitudes, colours and widths so it’s best to know what some stripe names are in case you’re having your suit tailored made. You should always come across as someone who knows what they are talking about.
Four common business shirt stripes men can choose from
Awning stripes – The stripes of these shirts are usually thick (more than one-quarter of an inch thick) and are distributed evenly with shirt’s base colour and the exact width of the coloured stripes. Awning striped shirts can also be worn as causal shirts. The stripes’ thickness tends to deduct the elegance you are trying to portray because the colours stand out- it’s a bit of a balancing act here so consult with your better half!
Candy stripes – These kinds of stripes are a tad bit thicker than shirts with pencil stripes. The base width is about the same as the coloured stripes. The thicker the stripes get the more causal the shirt becomes. Why? Thicker stripes means the colour becomes bolder.
Pencil stripes – Pencil stripe shirts are a bit thicker than those shirts with pinstripes. Many men tend to wear these shirts at the office. Suitable office pencil striped shirts have light coloured stripes with a white coloured base. Any base other than white do well at work but are seen as less formal and better for causal events.
Pinstripe – Pinstripes are thin lines, which can be regarded as broken lines. The pattern of these lines is more evenly spaced with the white section. Pinstripe business shirts can be used in formal and casual situations, work related or not- this style suits all situations
A look at shadow stripes
Stripes will also come in an array of variations and thickness such as the shadow stripe. Shadow stripe shirts will consist of at least two stripe types and is bordered by a dissimilar stripe colour, all to create the shadow effect. Some variations have a thick stripe that borders a thin pin/pencil stripe on either side.
How to choose your next business suit colour
photo by Flowery *L*u*z*a*
There are two factors that often play with a man’s decision to purchase a certain business suit colour. First, the salesperson tells them the colour looks good. Second, he’ll see it’s similar to a suit he’s bought in the past. The problem with using these factors is that they don’t fully know if the colours will compliment and enhance their complexion and looks. The end result from choosing the wrong suit colour is a costly one to say the least!
If you don’t want this to happen to you, this article will help you to know what fabric goes with what colours and give you the power to choose the fabric and colour that will compliment your sense of style.
Dominate colours in the business suit world: black, charcoal grey and navy blue
The biggest reason that the colours of black, charcoal grey and navy blue dominate the business suit industry is that men are usually complimented by the dark colours. They can easily be worn from one situation to another. Here’s a bit about each suit colour:
Black – A black suit is generally seen as the colour for funerals or weddings; rightfully so because it enhances the man’s complexion. Black gives the slimming effect and, depending on the colour of the business shirt, it can be worn at work then at any number of after work functions one is expected to still make an impression. The key thing with wearing black is to use it with a high contrast person who has dark hair with a skin tone of light to medium. The overall effect: a properly framed face to draw attention.
Charcoal grey – This suit colour can project an authoritative, professional and stable image, which is great for young men to use as their first suit. Charcoal grey is lighter than navy blue or black but is still accepted for business interviews and other business functions. It’s also a versatile colour so it looks great with nearly all business shirt colours.
Navy blue – The strength of using navy blue suits lies in sheer dominance. The majority of men own a navy blue suit and if you ever go into a business meeting, you’ll find that 50 percent of them are wearing one. How can you stand out if more than 50 percent of people are wearing a navy blue suit? Remember that your clothing will send signals about who you are so make sure you come across as unique. Try and compliment the outfit with a classic yet contemporary business shirt- we suggest a slim cut fit premium business shirt made from 100% Egyptian cotton. Young men are recommended not to use navy blue suits since it doesn’t accentuate their youth.
Two other colours for business suits: light grey and white
Light grey – When you want a colour that doesn’t bring lots of attention to you but actually sends out signals that you have a suave personality, are confident in yourself then you should go with a light grey business suit (especially during the warmer months of spring and summer). If you live in a warm client year round then this is fine to wear at any point. This suit colour goes great with pale coloured business shirts such as light blue, white, etc. If you have a light complexion, you can always go with a bolder shade.
White – Wearing a white suit is fine so long as you think you’re a legit rapper or want to make a statement at your next high school reunion… When you want to wear a white suit, you should probably compliment the outfit with a white shirt, white tie, white (or snakeskin ) shoes, white top hat and a big fat cigar (not that we condone smoking)
You can find the majority of these colours in any store that sells suits or for the white try calling Usher or Craig David… However, even stores that don’t specialize in suits alone will sell darker colours because they know men will buy them. However, you don’t have to limit yourself to brick and mortar stores; you can also buy your business suits online and have the online fashion house custom make your suit to tailor your fit and size.
Premium business shirt maintenance
photo by The U.S. Army
It’s not uncommon to expect that most young professionals will have an array of premium business shirts to choose from. Business shirts actually need to be quite versatile and used from boardroom to the bar!
These business shirts are a significant investment. Once you’ve got your right business shirt (collar, colour, fabric, fit and more), you need to make sure to extend its life especially if you want to save your money and not have to buy another business shirt six months from now. Here are some helpful tips to lengthen your shirts’ life.
How to care for your business shirts to lengthen their life cycle
Daily care – The best way to ensure your shirts are their best is to look them over every day. You need to ensure that there are no loose buttons, noticeable stains, rips and wrinkles. Be proactive about catching any problems and correct them before it’s way too late to do anything about it. Do this checking before you iron your shirt. You should also keep your business shirts a few inches away from each other on non-metal hangers. This allows them to breathe and drape naturally, which keeps them from getting into poor shape. A few minutes of your time every day can lengthen your shirt’s life.
Wash – You have two options when it comes to washing your business shirts: you can wash them yourself or send them out to a dry cleaner.
Washing shirts yourself – If you choose to wash your own business shirts, always look at the tag to see what the recommendations are. You may find that most business shirts must be washed on the gentle cycle in lukewarm water. If you decide to wash them by hand, separate your colours and be careful with the bleach. While white shirts should be fine, always consult the label for care instructions.
Dry cleaners – Many people turn to dry cleaners to get business shirts cleaned but it can be rather dangerous. First, they use chemicals that can alter the colour of the shirt and/or damage it. You’ll need to ensure that the cleaners know not to starch your shirt, as this can weaken the fibres, causing it to possibly tear.
If you want the crisp look, you’ll need to buy a high thread, well-made quality business shirt- we recommend 100% Egyptian cotton. Launder your shirt; don’t send it out to be dry-cleaned since they use chemicals that can cause major damage to them.
Iron – Don’t start ironing your shirt just yet. You’ll need to make sure the shirt has no stains. When you iron over a stain, it becomes close to impossible to remove. You’ll also want to ensure no loose buttons or threads. Your shirt should be slightly damp while you iron. If you can, use a good steam iron to quickly and easily remove those wrinkles and dry it out.
Stains – You’re going to need to deal with stains at some point so it’s best to act right away. If you’ve got mud or grass stains on it, apply stain remover. Oil/grease stains can be removed with liquid detergents. Make sure to hand wash using cold water. Armpit stains are very common on shirts so consider using an undershirt to stop them. Always put on cologne first and wait for it to dry before you put on your shirt, as cologne can discolour your shirt.
When you follow the above steps, you can lengthen how long you have a business shirt for, as you’ll maintain its quality, colour, fit and fabric. It is a must-have in your wardrobe so ensure that it lasts!
Complementing your business shirts and suits
photo by Michal Fabry
Besides suits, great business shirts, quality shoes and dark jeans, there are four other wardrobe essentials a man needs to have on hand. These include sneakers, a v-neck sweater, a watch and a polo shirt. Here’s what you need to know to compliment any business shirt and suit.
Sneakers (street shoes) – Sometimes a good pair of sneakers is all you need to relax after a week long effort in leather shoes. Although you remember how cool your Reebok Pumps used to be do you think you’ll get away with wearing them again….Your sneakers should be a subtle colour that goes with any kind of pants. A white pair of sneakers (such as Cons) can be great for the summer while a darker pair of sneakers would do better in the autumn and winter seasons. Don’t purchase loud/flashy labels since these become a waste of money once the trend is gone.
V-Neck Sweater – The shape of the V-neck sweater is enough space for your business shirt’s collar, allowing it to open naturally. While it’s great for business shirts, they also go great with a simple t-shirt or polo shirt. Make sure to buy sweaters that have ribbed cuffs, have a collar and bottom, will fit your body type and are not too floppy or loose. The v-neck sweater should be big enough to fit over your collared shirt but small enough that it fits over a regular t-shirt. If you want more than one, consider dark colours that go with just about anything.
Watch – A watch is a very important accessory in a man’s attire. While most men will use their cell phone to check the time, a classic watch can help reflect your personality and make a personal statement about who you are. It’s an investment that you should make but ensure that the watch will last. Thus, you’ll need to purchase a quality made watch. You should also look for a masculine type watch; something that you’ll be comfortable wearing around. Leave the sports watch to the gym or the running track.
Polo shirt – Polo shirts are great pieces of attire that do well in almost any situation. They can be worn at work on a Friday, golf course or just casually on the weekend. Polo shirts come in an array of colours; however, your basic collection should include a variety of colours for all different occasions. Be sure you get shirts that are comfortable and will last a very long time. Ralph Lauren shirts are great to have but somewhat cliché; keep looking for something else. Whatever you do don’t pop the collar or button up the top button.
It’s always a good idea to have these reliable items in your closet, as you will want to look your best at all times. Once you’ve started building your closet foundation, you want everything in it to be a piece of your personal style. Make sure to highlight who you are and not blend in with the rest of the crowd. You want to be unique so stand out positively from everyone else.