Style Strategies

 

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1.  How should I express myself in an office setting?

The CEOs Say . . .

58% patterned neckwear and shirts

15% jewelry (rings, earrings, bracelets)

15% cuff links

5% whimsical neckwear

"Having great style is something people notice over the course of time. But having bad style is noticed immediately." —Brett Fahlgren, director of special events, Prada

Match Colors, Mix Patterns

Your shirt and tie should share a shade. But if you're going to match patterns, "make sure they're a different scale," says Lynne Marks, president of Atlanta's London Image Institute. "For example, choose a larger pattern for your tie while keeping the shirt reserved."

Avoid Pattern Blindness

Your shirt and tie are the palette from which you paint the colors of your soul. Just keep the palette small. "A large pattern is far more casual than a small one, so if you work in a conservative office, stick to small checks and pinstripes," says Marks.

Go Light on the Bling

Just because you're the king of accounting doesn't mean you need to wear a diamond-studded tie clip. In addition to a dress watch and a stylish belt, "a nice signet ring or wedding ring is all you should wear," says Marks.

2. What's the most important accessory for a new hire?

The CEOs say . . .

50% well-polished shoes

18% a smart attache case

15% an elegant  watch

8% matching belt and shoes

"Who wants a sloppy employee in an era when you can go to jail for reporting incorrect financial data?"  —Tom Markert, global chief of marketing, ACNielsen

Shine with Spit

"It's that old military concept: Spit, polish, and repeat," says New York City shoemaker Warren Edwards. "You want to rub the polish in a circular motion—don't just slap it all over the shoe—then add some water and really polish hard."

Cut the Cream

Wax-based polishes last longer. "Any wax will work better than the sponge-on liquid polish that everyone is selling these days," says Edwards. Select a brush with long, sturdy bristles.

Store with Care

"Shoes will develop creases and the toes will turn up if you don't store them on trees," says Edwards. "Shoes are made on the principle of stretching leather. If you don't guide them back into place after they've been wet or you've worn them all day, they'll deform."

3. What should I wear to dinner with a client?

The CEOs say . . .

35% trousers, a dress shirt, and a sport coat

28% a suit and tie

28% jeans, a sport coat, and a dress shirt

8% a leather jacket, trousers, and a dress shirt

"Everybody wonders at some point whether they're going to be overdressed or underdressed. It's not some taboo discussion. Just ask." —Mike Fasulo, chief marketing officer, Sony Electronics

Lighten Up

Unless you live in New York City or Berlin, wear blue or gray sport coats instead of black, says Michelle Sterling, of Global Image Group, an image consulting firm. "Black is too formal for business and can put people off," she says.

Frame Your Face

If you're opting for the open-collar look, be careful about your choice of shirt. Wide, round faces look best with long, pointed collars, and narrow faces require wider, spread collars. In between? Go either way.

Pick the Right Kicks

Basic loafers won't cut it with a suit or dressy trousers; wingtips and cap-toe shoes can be too dressy for khakis and cords. Your utility infielder: leather lace-ups. Look for a classic oxford style, says Molina.

4. How should I dress for a creative workplace?

The CEOs say . . .

36% trousers, a shirt, and a sweater

23% a suit, dress shirt, and tie

23% jeans, a shirt, and a sport coat

5% casual pants and a t-shirt

"It doesn't matter if you're working at a law firm or a rock club. Your image should be in step with the firm's attitudes and beliefs. Your clothes are part of your resume." —Steve Tetrault, president, Tetrault Design Associates

Don't Dress Down

Just because you can get away with a T-shirt and flip-flops doesn't mean you should. The more casual the dress code, the greater the opportunity to showcase smart clothing choices. One option: Add a navy or black soft-shouldered sport jacket to a pair of jeans and a white dress shirt.

Play It Straight

Business casual doesn't mean you can lose your dry cleaner's number. "Even wrinkle-free clothes look bad if you don't take them out of the dryer fast enough," says Pat Newquist, president of wardrobeimage.com. Bonus tip: Install a hook in your office to hang your discarded layers during the day.

Hide Your Pits

If your company allows you to rock a golf or polo shirt, look for one with banded sleeves. This extra detail looks cleaner and more finished, and prevents your coworkers from ogling your pit hair, should you raise your arms above your chest.

5. What should I wear to an awards event?

The CEOs say . . .

75% a suit, dress shirt, and tie

10% trousers, a button-down shirt, and a sport coat

8% a suit and dress shirt

5% a tuxedo

"Attitude is important. Some people can't be convincing in French cuffs and a Gucci suit. You have to be able to pull off what you're wearing." —Tim Story, director of Fantastic Four  

Stay Fresh

If it's an annual event, spring for a crisp, new white dress shirt. "They get dingy and yellow when you wear them on a regular basis," says Elena Castaneda, president of New York Image Consulting. To add a little color, go for light blue. Skip black unless you're Marilyn Manson or a Johnny Cash wannabe.

Lose Some Buttons

The more buttons, the dressier the suit—and the stuffier the look. One- and two-button suits are formal yet fashionable. If you do choose a three-button suit (the upper limit), never close the bottom button; whether you button just the top, just the middle, or both the top and middle buttons is up to you.

Tie It Right

"Wear a silver or champagne-colored satin tie for formal events," says Sterling. Use a fat knot, such as a Windsor. For wild ties, make sure the pattern size matches your body scale. "If you have medium-size features, wear medium-size patterns, and so on," she says.

6. What's the most acceptable look for casual Fridays?

The CEOs say . . .

46% jeans and a button-down shirt

24% khakis, a polo shirt, and a sweater

10% a suit jacket, a collared shirt, and jeans

10% trousers, a collared shirt, and a sport coat

"If you look like you're ready to paint a house or repair a leaky roof, chances are you're a little too relaxed for the workplace." —David Beigie, vice president of corporate communications, T-Mobile USA

Choose the Right Jeans

Dark washes are more formal than lighter washes. The distressed look—holes, frayed edges, questionable discolorations around the groin—screams rock star, not rising star. Jeans should be pressed and smooth, even if it's just with a hand steamer.

Throw in a Formal Touch

"A pressed, long-sleeved shirt will add a layer of respect," says Rachel Dee, a Denver-based image consultant. Leave your clubbing shirt at home and keep your chest hair and any neck chains on lockdown—a couple unfastened buttons should suffice.

Watch Your Waistline

A braided leather belt is like a time machine back to 1991, and a belt-clipped BlackBerry is the modern equivalent of the pocket protector. Choose a thin, solid-colored belt—nothing faded or distressed—to match your shoes. And holster the communicator elsewhere.

7. What should I wear to project confidence?

The CEOs say . . .

70% a well-tailored suit

18% a conservative shirt-and-tie combination

8% a power tie

"A new suit is like any other opportunity. The right tailoring shows you know how to follow through." —Congressman Charlie Dent

Sculpt Your Shoulders

"They're the first thing you see when you meet someone," says Guillermo Molina, an elite Manhattan tailor. "If it's an old suit, ask the tailor to reconstruct the shoulders using felt shoulder caps. They're less severely shaped than those made of other fabrics. And if it's a new suit, buy for the shoulders, not the waistline or hips. Shoulders are harder to fix."

Ditch the Pleats

One crease is enough. "The younger entrepreneurs, the guys who want to look sharp, they want flat-front pants," says Molina. "If a suit is too expensive to replace or has sentimental value, a good tailor can reconstruct the pants for about $100 to $150."

Do a Dry Run

When you're being fitted, wear the same shirt, undergarments, and shoes you'll wear with the finished suit. "It's common sense, but guys come in wearing T-shirts and sneakers all the time," says Molina.

8. What's the right outfit for a company retreat?

The CEOs say . . .

36% Khakis and a sport coat

23% Trousers and a dress shirt

23% Jeans and a sport shirt

3% Shorts and a button-down

"There's nothing like being stuck in the middle of nowhere with the wrong clothes for 3 days. Dressing for a corporate getaway is the hardest thing you can do." —Lauren Solomon, former vice president of professional image development, Chase Manhattan Bank

Wear Layers

When in doubt, overdress. "You can always remove your sport coat," says Dee. Underneath it, you can even layer a sport shirt over a high-quality T-shirt that's the same color as a stripe in either your coat or your sport shirt.

Choose the Right Khakis

They're a casual middle ground between jeans and slacks, but one pair of khakis doesn't fit all. Lighter skin tones require lighter khakis, while darker complexions look best with darker khakis, says San Francisco Bay-area image consultant Anthea Tolomei.

Watch the CEO for Cues

At dinner, watch the highest-ranking person in the room. If he or she shows up in a suit, you've come prepared. If the honcho shows up in jeans and a barn jacket, throw the sport coat over the back of your chair and roll up your sleeves.

1 comments:

Obaid Baloch said...

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