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| Tips
for Your Executive Wardrobe |
| Looking
the part promises both personal and financial success.
These tips will help you select a high quality wardrobe
and keep it in top condition. |
In suits look for...
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Classic fabrics, patterns, and colors which are always
in style and easy to accessorize.
• Well-defined lapel points: when
squeezed they should return to their original shape without
wrinkles.
• Smooth, straight seams with a
single row of stitching.
• Contoured jacket collar that
lies smoothly around the neck with no space between it
and your shirt.
• Properly aligned vents.
• Blended natural fiber and synthetic
fabrics, which provide the best look, comfort, and durability.
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Do’s and Don’ts for Classic Business Attire
Quality garments wear longer, fit
better, and therefore save you money in the long run.
Above all, if your clothing projects an image of authority,
others will respond to you in kind. Here are a few suggestions
for maintaining the proper image at all times:
• Do Not wear sportscoats on
weekdays. You wouldn't wear a three-piece suit on the
golf course, neither should you wear sporty clothes
to the office.
• Do Not wear short-sleeved shirts
ever under suit coats. To show a clean cuff is a must.
• Do Not wear ankle socks. Hairy
legs are not attractive! They interrupt the silhouette
flow from your trousers to your shoes.
• Do Not wear clip-on ties. Neither
your boss nor your most important client wears them.
• Do wear your suit jacket when
you conduct business beyond your office. Your authority
travels with you.
• Do keep hair and nails clean
and neat.
A single-breasted suit is appropriate for all fields
of employment. Single-breasted jackets come in a variety
of styles, including the classic 2 button and modern
3 button & 4 button styles.
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When wearing a single-breasted suit with more than 2
buttons, you may button just the top, just the middle
or all of the buttons, except the bottom button. Always
leave the bottom button on a single-breasted jacket
undone.
You may prefer a double-breasted suit for your meetings.
They usually have two columns of visible buttons on
the front of the jacket and one hidden anchor button
inside of the overlap. Always button the anchor button
so that the right and left sides of the jacket hang
evenly.
Most suits come with pants that are either double- or
triple-pleated. Whether you go with a cuffed or plain
hem, the weight of a cuff helps pleats to hang smoothly
and gives the pants a stylish drape.
Suit trousers fit differently than
jeans and casual pants. They should feel fuller through
the thigh and should be worn at your waist, not on your
hips. Your suit depends in large part on the type of job
you perform, but charcoal gray and navy blue are always
appropriate. Whether pinstriped, plaid, solid, or herringbone,
these colors always represent a professional look and
are ideal for more conservative fields like accounting,
law, and medicine. Two-button, vented, and softer shoulder
garments in medium to dark tones are ideal for these types
of careers.
If you have a position in marketing, advertising, high-tech,
service industries and other more creative or casual fields,
you can go with the above options or with a more fashion-forward
suit, such as three- or four-button models in earth tones
or possibly even black. Add hound’s-tooth and more
textured fabrics in lighter to medium tones to the above
options, as well as non-vented jackets with extended shoulders.
The more creative the work environment, the more creative
your options can be for the color and style of your attire.
Look for suits made of 100% "worsted" wool.
The worsting process involves selecting long wool fibers
and twisting them into tight and resilient yarns. Worsted
wool yarns create year round, wrinkle resistant and durable
fabrics.
Wool is a natural fiber that breathes, which means you'll
be more comfortable, you'll perspire less, and the fabric
will travel well. Look for suit jackets that are fully
lined and pants that are lined to the knee.
Lining increases comfort and reduces wrinkling.
Adding a crotch liner to your suit pants will reduce the
abrasion between your thighs and the fabric. Crotch liners
help your pants last longer.
Your suit jacket should lie smoothly over your shoulders
and across your back. The length of your suit jacket should
be long enough to cover up your entire seat and look proportional
to your physique.
The jacket collar should closely follow the silhouette
of the neck with no gaping. Your jacket sleeves should
fall just at or below the break of your wrists.
A traditional look is to show 1/4 to 1/2 inch of shirt
cuff below your jacket sleeve, but it is really a matter
of personal preference. The waist of your trousers should
be just at or slightly below your navel and should fit
snugly without feeling tight. A standard suit waist size
is generally six inches smaller than a suit's jacket size.
Your tie should make you appear
businesslike and complete a professional-looking package.
Purchase a tie that is 100% silk, which assures the best
knot. They can also be dry-cleaned. Find out what the
dress code is prior to making a statement. Wear jewelry
sparingly for your meetings. In some settings, it may
detract from your professional appearance.
Limit yourself to one ring per hand, and leave earrings
at home. When coordinating colors, remember, leather-to-leather
and metal-to-metal. Always match the color of your belt
with your shoes and the color of your belt buckle with
your watch. |
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No matter how beautiful or costly your suit, if it doesn't
fit well, you're not going to look good.
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