Ideal Custom Clothes For The Corporate Work Place
It is awfully important to know what is and what is not your business. - GERTRUDE STEIN
I’m a self-made man, but I think if I had to go it over again, I’d call in someone else. - ROLAND YOUNG, Actor
It’s always better to be looked over than overlooked. - MAE WEST
Fourteen voice-mail messages after lunch. Thirty-two-mails to return. A PowerPoint presentation coming up in there weeks. There are enough pressures in the office these days without having to worry about what you wear every day. If you can maximize your wardrobe’s potential and learn the principles of smart dressing, you will remove (or at least reduce) a potential headache the night before an important meeting or lunch and can ease your mind so that you walk in fully prepared.
WORK EMERGENCY KIT: DESK
We all grew up with “be prepared” as a mail mantra. In adolescence we carried our “prepared” in our wallets and nowadays the less exciting jumper cables in the car. Being prepared is also good at work, especially since you never want to be unprepared for fate. So if you get a chance to shine be sure your shoes do, too. Always keep the following quick saves in your desk drawer.
- Clean white shirt pressed and wrapped from the cleaners
- A solid or tonal dark tie
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- A comb
- Disposable quick wipe shoe buffer
- Spare set of shoelaces
- Spare set of collar stays
- Sewing kit from a hotel or travel kit
- Nail clippers
- Eye drops
- Disposable razor and small travel shave foam
THE TIMES ARE CHANGING ARE YOU?
In the mid-90s, as the economy grew exponentially, many established companies embraced the notion of casual Fridays and some firms even abolished dress codes codes altogether. When you’re making that much money, who really cares what your employees are wearing to work?
But as the economy started to turn, it was no longer acceptable to be so laid-black about one’s appearance. And when people began to lose their jobs, looking serious about work became a priority again. Consequently, people are showing up early, working late, and finding safety behind a jacket and tie. Or didn’t you get that memo?
WHO GOT THE MEMO? LOOK AROUND
Has the office dress code changed in the last few months? Have you even noticed? Look around. Has your boss stopped wearing khakis to work? Has a bohemian colleague shaved and cut his shorter? Are you the only one wearing jeans?
Chances are, your colleagues have been dressing up again for work, and if you haven’t been, now is the time to dress smarter.
Now that you’ve been on the job for a while, it may be time to evaluate your career and your wardrobe: Are they giving you want? Or need?
ASSESS: ARE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?
Is your career going the way you thought it would? Are you doing the kinds of things that challenge you and make you happy? Have you stopped setting your alarm in the morning? If things are going well, where do you want to be five or ten years from now and will it take to get there?
Now look at you want to be, what is holding you back? Did you set unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself? Are you too hard on yourself? Too easy? Have friends been passing you by? Getting promotions? Taking on greater responsibilities? Is money as important as you thought it was? Is it more important than you care to admit? Is your wardrobe too junior now that you are more senior?
DEJUNK: WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?
If you’re not where you want to be, what is holding you back? Did you set unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself? Are you too hard on yourself? Too easy? Have friends been passing you by? Getting promotions? Taking on greater responsibilities? Is money as important as you thought it was? Is it more important than you care to admit? Is your wardrobe too junior now that you are more senior?
RENEW: COMMIT TO THE GOALS YOU’VE MADE
Once you’ve determined what’s holding you back, it’s time to figure out what you want to accomplish next and how to get there. Find a mentor: Someone who can counsel you about your career and shoot straight without departments in your company or other companies altogether.
Now take a look at your closet. Do you look like the people you admire professionally? Are they dressing with a certain authority that you respond to? Perhaps it’s time to look into another clothing investment to take your career to the next level.
BUILDING A CAREER WARDROBE
The reality is, a man could wear the same suit there times a week and on one would notice. A blue suit, if pressed or steamed properly, would look new every day if you paired it with the right shirts and ties, and occasionally threw in a sweater or two. By mixing up what you wear a striped shirt one day, then blue, then white, then a bold color you can stretch your limited wardrobe by buying suits of higher quality and being creative with the combinations. Although you may lack in quantity, you can now buy a finer suit that will last longer and follow you up the corporate ladder.
DON’T TAKE FRIDAYS OFF
Even if your office believes in casual Fridays, it doesn’t mean you have to. There’s no actual rule that says you have to look casual. And if you’re looking for a promotion or a raise, why risk looking laid-back on the one day that your boss may take notice of you? Think of yourself like a team looking to make the play-offs-you can’t let down in the stretch. So go the extra step to look your best when you want to move up. You never know who’s paying attention.
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Tailor Made Suits And Shirts For Work And Business.
“If I can be one step ahead because of the clothes I wear, then it’s worth it!”
CRAIG POGSON - Maitre d’ at 0rsay
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Accessories For Your Wardrobe.
The sole of a man often reveals his soul. Shoes that are well polished, with heels that are not worn down and laces that aren’t frayed, are the mark of a man who is responsible and cares about details. Here’s how to set off on the right foot.OXFORDSIt may be simple plain black leather with there to six sets of eyelets but oxford is the dressiest option for business. Just about the only statement you can make with an oxford is in t...
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Super Wools And Worsteds - What Are They?.
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English Wool ...
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Tools Of The Trade.
BRIEFCASE VS.KNAPSCK
Alas, you stopped carrying a Scooby-Doo lunch box at one point in your life you have stopped, haven’t you?, and now it’s time to abandon the knapsack in favor of a briefcase. Infinitely more stylish and far more grow-up, a briefcase is a sign that you are ready to be serious about your career. Choose one in black or brow leather and make sure there’s enough room to grow but not bulge. Be sure there is r...
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Your Perfect Formal Wardrobe..
Shop smart
The suit you buy for your interview will not be the last one you ever buy, but since it may be the first one you own, it has to be versatile: Think of it as the Swiss Army knife in your closet.
“How to Buy a Business Suit”
WHAT DO I BUY FIRST?
Primary
Suits
Sport jackets
Dress shirts
Dress pants
Ties
Secondary
Chinos
Sweaters
Polo shirts
Shoes
Socks
Belts
Overcoats
Accesso...
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Proper Dressing For An Interview..
ENTICEMENT
All right, let’s deal with the simple gold hoop, the tasteful stud, a simple drop pendant, the feathered hand-carved wooden fetish original ear art picked up in Fiji is acceptable and do you wear it or not? It’s your call, just like goatees, beards, dreads, necklaces, and bracelets. Your freedom to wear what you choose is not in question but your right to have a particular job is in the eye of the beholder who i...
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Dressing In The Corporate World..
Get the Job No Excuses
You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and nothing is more professional looking than a suit whit a shirt and tie. It’s strong, authoritative, and shows that you’re serious about what you do for a living. Is it enough to get you the job? Maybe not. But the proper attire will send the right message: You’re ready for business.
GIVING GOOD INTERVIEW
There are five elements to cons...
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Different Looks For Different Times..
Professional. By now, you should know the basic tenets of looking more professional, but just to be clear, looking more professional means meeting the sartorial standards of your office or industry. No matter the standard, looking more professional most likely means going one step above where you are now: From business casual to appropriate, and from appropriate to corporate.
Authoritative. If you want to look like one of...
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The Importance Of Formal Cloths In Today's Life..
In the high-tech, high-speed world we live in, instant gratification is often not soon enough. We like our news 24 hours a day and expect tomorrow’s information to be here yesterday. Among the many perils of this fast-paced society is that we are quick to make judgments about the appearances of others. In such a world, we need to send signals immediately and hope that people get the message we intend to send.
When Steven Ca...
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Dress Smart - The Packaging Of You – How To Clothe Your Self.
YOUR PERSONAL BRAND
As David McNally and Karl Speak stated so well in Be Your Own Brand, “A brand reflects a perception or emotion maintained in somebody else’s mind… It doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think. It matters a whole lot what other people think.
YOU ARE THE BRAND
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Who Wears What To Work - Deciphering Industry Dress Codes.
“The ideal look, as you claw your way to the lower middle rung, is that of a hip funeral director… To the delight of your boss, your sartorial restraint will signify a comforting subservience.”
SIMON DOONAN
Author, writer for The New York Observer
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Cracking The Dress Codes Of Business.
DRESS CODES OF BUSINESS
Company dress codes are not well defined and are rarely written down. They are mostly gleaned by observing: “What is there basis dress code that every office usually falls into, as one personal dress code. Follow these guidelines and you will be safe.
CORPORATE DRESS CODE
The most formal standard of dress there is, the corporate dress code means suits with shirts, usually white and ties. This the...
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Clothes Talk, People Listen.
“We’d all like to be taken for what we’d like to be.”
MALCOLM FORBES
“In corporations where a shirt-sleeve atmosphere reigns, it is possible to acquire high visibility by always wearing a jacket, which makes one look more solid, conservative and reliable than anyone else.
MICHAEL KORDA
Power!
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Interview Wardrobe - From Dress Smart - Wardrobes That Win In The New Workplace .
“It is possible through the skillful manipulation of dress in any particular situation to evoke a favorable response to your positioning and your needs.”
JOHN T. MOLLOY - New Dress for Success
“The more you know, the less you need.”
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL SAYING
If you’re So Smart, Why Do You Dress So Stupid?
-Clothes & Career
“Let us be thankful for the fools; but for them the rest of us could ...
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You only seven seconds to make an impression. Clothes make the difference! So dress smart!
Here is a short question and answer game to test your knowledge.
1. - I work for a traditional law firm with a strict corporate dress code. I am traveling with my boss to a three-day conference that we leave for no a Sunday afternoon. Can I wear my weekend jeans and sneakers on our flight?
2.- Do I need to wear a suit to my intervi...
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Time To Suit Up For Business.
Watch out, “Casual Friday!” “Dress-Up Thursday” is coming to town and he means business! Now that the corporate casual scene has completely enveloped the American tailored clothing market, a backlash is in the making. With billions of dollars in retail sales at stake and a continuing degeneration in corporate American values at risk, this is no longer a subject to be joked about.
"... a casual business environment...
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What To Wear To A Wedding - Ideal Clothing For The Wedding Guests.
Advice for what a wedding guest should wear to every type of wedding.
You've gotten the invitation for your friends' wedding, happily circled the date on your calendar and started shopping for their gift, when all of a sudden it hits you – what are you supposed to wear??? The etiquette for proper wedding guest attire can vary greatly depending on the style of the wedding. You'll have to become a little bit of a detective, bu...
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The men’s floor at any upscale retailer has suits in a wide range of prices colors and cuts. But many have one thing in common: The now-ubiquitous labels that promote the quality of the fabric with number like “Super 110s” and “Super 150s.
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God made man.
A Tailor makes a gentleman- anon.
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While the college campus may be the perfect forum in which to exhibit your flair for the latest in fashion style, the interview is not the place to do so. With very few unusual exceptions (my apologies to Apple Computer), sandals and sweatshirts are out. Oxfords and business suits are still in. I don't like a necktie (noose?) any better than the next person, but it is still a fact of life in interviewing. Even though many companies ...
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The Tuxedo: Renting And Buying Basics.
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Firstly, here are some acronyms you might want to know about -
MTM - Made to Measure
RTW - Ready to Wear
CM - Custom Made
CMT - Cut Make Trim
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