The Casual Art of Suiting Up by Tracey de Kock
Make the Deal
• Invest in separates.
• A navy blazer always works! Keep it trim, with high armholes and slim sleeves that reveal just a bit of your shirt cuff.
• Mid-grey trousers and a tonal striped shirt is a good place to start.
• Shirts need to fit well. Collar points should touch the shirt, button stand must lie flat and the shirt must be long enough to tuck in properly. The lighter the shirt the more formal, so choose mid-tones for business casual. Patterns should be kept to a minimum, and remember if you do wear a tie it must be plain.
• Chinos are a must. They do come in various fabrics and colours, but neutral is the safer bet for ease of styling. Flat front chinos are generally suited to a bigger build whereas a pleated front would be better on a trimmer build.
• Jeans are not off limits, but make sure they are as dark an indigo as possible. Length is crucial. One break over your shoes
• A smart V-neck is an alternative for the guy who chooses comfort above all else. It must be a thin gauge and fit to the body. Layer with a shirt and jacket. An understated solid colour is best.
• Shoes change with fashion but you cannot go wrong with a good pair of chocolate brogues which are just as versatile as black and compliments the casual look.
• Socks should blend with the colour of your shoes and pants.
• Belts need to match your shoes!
• A leather strap watch completes your look and takes the 'casual' to where it needs to be.
• A briefcase or messenger bag needs to compliment your shoes. Leather is your best option here, but a good nylon can also work.
Break The Deal
• Watch out for very big checks, as this would be too casual.
• No distressed denim or skinny jeans.
• Casual shoes such as running shoes; trainers; slip slops or sandals are a no-no
• Socks need to be long enough so you don't have skin sticking out when crossing your legs, and keep the “fun” socks for weekend wear!
• If you are boasting weight loss, and you use your belt as the proof....don't! Those old used holes are generally well worn and very visible, rather buy a new one.
• Your sports watch you wear to the gym does not fit this look.
"Clothes can suggest, persuade, connote, insinuate, or indeed lie, and apply subtle pressure while their wearer is speaking frankly and straightforwardly of other matters." - Anne Hollander
The corporate environment is no longer the stoic institution of yester-year; it has relaxed a great deal with open plan workspaces; paperless environments (read: less clutter!) and technology reducing the need to have face-to-face meetings (whether with the boss or the client), so naturally the need for the “boys” to be in suits on a daily basis has changed too. Here at SA Image Consultants KZN we help businesses with their corporate image, and after visiting and talking to a number of organizations, we realise that there are very few that enforce the suit for their male employees.
It is debatable as to whether this is a good or a bad phenomenon…some argue that suits belong in the past, with a small minority feeling it to be vitally important. A point to consider though, is that your clothing is a direct reflection of your profession in many instances, and may be critical in ensuring that the correct level of respect is received. Could a judge be dressed in jeans and a smart shirt? (…and would James Bond be quite so heroic were he not fitted out in the best Armani suits?) A graphic designer on the other hand has no need for a formal suit in his day-to-day dealings.
Society does have a level of expectation which is why I refer to outerwear as "your silent sales team", with the “7 second” first opinion being a possible make-or-break factor in sealing a deal…which begs the question, are you happy with what you are “saying”?
When you are well dressed, you feel as good as you look, so you radiate confidence, which in turn comes across positively to whomever you may be meeting with…and in the business world, you need to dress for success.
Whether you are a Barney Stinson “Suit up” kind of guy, or have a preference for a more casual image…
it is how you wear your look that is essential.
So, how casual is “business casual”? Interpreted in many ways…. for some men it could be as simple
as not wearing a tie, for others it is a matter of dressing-up jeans. Keep it simple and don’t overthink
it too much. Streamline your choices in order to create a simple wardrobe that you can mix and
match easily. Remember the saying: less is more!
While most men's “work wear” wardrobes generally consist of a few pairs of chinos and checked or
striped collared shirts, with a “funeral” suit hidden somewhere in the corner, our “deal maker or breaker”
advice will guide you in making the right statement within your professional realm.
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