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Dressing Your Best For Men
 It used to be that men’s fashion changed with all the speed of a
herd of turtles. Men’s professional attire moved at an even slower
pace. Since the arrival of business casual, the pace has
quickened. Men are rapidly abandoning
the traditional gray flannel suit in favor of more relaxed clothing.
Suits and ties aren’t dead yet, but there are other items in the
business wardrobe.
Business dress now falls more in the
category of situational dressing. What a man wears to work depends on
the business he is in and what his clients expect to see.
The popular rule of thumb is to dress
for what you will be doing for the day. If the big boss is coming to
town, break out the suit and tie. If you are entertaining a client at
lunch, a jacket and tie may work well. If you are hitting the links
with the client, a polo
shirt and khakis are called for. If you
don’t plan to see anyone outside the office, wear that open-collar
shirt.
If you choose to vary your business
attire depending on the day’s schedule, make sure that you are
prepared for the unexpected. Have a change of clothes at the office.
And remember that it is always easier to dress down than up. If your
client wants to have lunch at the
beach, it’s no big deal to take off that
coat and tie, However if she decides she would rather go to your
private club, you might be scrambling to pull that off in your plaid
sport shirt.
If you follow the rule of always
dressing appropriately for business, you won’t be caught off
guard.
Whatever level of dress you choose, keep
in mind that quality counts. Invest in colors, styles and fabrics
that look like business. Make sure that whatever you are wearing is
neat, clean and pressed.
For the just-out-of-college set, it may
seem like enough of a stretch to don a long-sleeved shirt and tie.
Take the next step, and make sure your shirt is ironed. If you can’t
operate the household iron, there is a laundry on every corner
willing to help.
When you stare into the closet every
morning before work, consider dressing for the job you want, not
simply the job you have.
© Lydia Ramsey. All rights reserved.
 
About the
Author
 Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author of MANNERS THAT SELL - ADDING THE POLISH THAT BUILDS PROFITS. She has
been quoted or featured in The New York Times, Investors' Business Daily, Entrepreneur, Inc., Real Simple and Woman's Day. For more information about her programs, products and services visit her web site at
http://www.mannersthatsell.com
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