The right business attire can help to make a good personal and professional impression.
Whether you're starting a new job or have an upcoming business meeting, it's important to wear the right attire. Putting together an appropriate outfit will give you confidence when meeting with other professionals, and could be one of the factors that makes potential clients decide to do business with you.
Business Suits for Men
Business suits for men should be tailored to fit the man appropriately. Jackets and pants that are too long or short, as well as too wide or skinny, are discouraged. The shirt worn under the suit jacket should be the button-down variety and in colors such as white, off-white or light blue. Additional accessories, such as a tie, pocket square or cuff links, should be modest; subtle colors should be used, cuff links should not have more than one metal type, and jewels should not be prominent on the cuff links.
Business Suits for Women
Skirt suits are the preferred attire for businesswomen in a professional setting. The skirt should not be too short, and should rest right about the knee even when the woman is sitting down. A white or gray blouse can be worn underneath the blazer; the blouse can be made of cotton or silk material. Pants suits are also acceptable in most business settings, although skirt suits are still the industry standard.
Shoes for Business Suits
When wearing a business suit, women should not wear high heels that are more than one and a half inches high. This is the professional standard. A dark-colored shoe is preferred, and should match the woman's handbag or briefcase; colors like black, navy, and burgundy are best. For men, dress shoes in blue or black are acceptable. Shoes should also be polished and in good condition, i.e. heel intact and without scuff marks.
Socks or Hosiery
The socks should match the color of the man's business suit or should be a coordinating color. Black, gray and navy dress socks are best to wear with a business suit; women can wear knee-highs or trouser socks in the same colors when wearing a pants suit. Hosiery shades should coordinate with a woman's suit color; nude pantyhose are usually ideal, and stockings with a print are not viewed as professional.
Casual or Dress-Down Fridays
Many offices allow employees to wear casual attire on Fridays, even if business suits are the preferred dress of the workplace during the rest of the week. If a business meeting with outside clients is scheduled for Friday, a business suit should still be worn to the meeting, as this reflects the professional image of the company. All casual attire should be pressed and neat; slacks can be worn (in their appropriate sizes) by men and women, and heel heights for women should still be kept at one and a half inches or shorter.
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