The Business Mans Wardrobe

September 2nd, 2003

No matter what people say, first impressions are mostly based on physical appearance. That´s how it works in the dating game and that´s what often happens in the business world. We are judged on the way we introduce ourselves, on our body language, and most of all, on the way we dress.
Bear in mind, however, that a flawless dressing style is only a complement to substance and a good work ethic, not a substitute. See it as a competitive edge.
Because of their position on the corporate ladder, executives, more than anyone else in the organization, should strive to dress and look their best every day. The first step in dressing for success is determining exactly how many suits, shirts, ties, and accessories you will need to keep your wardrobe diverse.
That being said, here is a quantitative list of basic items an executive should find in his wardrobe. Keep in mind that by mixing and matching the following items, you´ll be able to go two weeks without wearing the same outfit twice.

Suits

As an executive, you should own four to six suits; this includes a double-breasted one. Stick to dark, classic colors such as navy, black, charcoal gray, and burgundy.

Shirts
Your wardrobe should also include ten to twelve dress shirts. Mix it up with a couple of white, light blue, and black wide spread collared shirts (straight point collars will also do).
Get the right ties, belts and shoes to climb to the top!

Ties
As an executive, your tie should always exude seriousness and a high level of professionalism. Rotate between eight to ten conservative ties, and don´t be afraid to throw some striped and patterned ones into the mix.

Belts & shoes
To complete your conservative ensemble, you´ll need at least two dressy leather belts and two pairs of leather shoes.
A pair of black shoes and a black belt are must-haves in any business wardrobe. Brown and deep burgundy (or oxblood) are also practical colors for dressy shoes and business accessories.

Jackets, sweaters & sporty shirts

For casual Fridays and other less formal occasions, you should own at least two sports jackets, two dressier sweaters, and two casual dress shirts (here´s where your more fitted shirts come in handy, as well as those with less-traditional patterns).

Trousers
Match any of the aforementioned tops with one of four pairs of dress pants; two pairs of casual trousers (such as khakis or corduroys); and one of two pairs of blue jeans (for very casual days, of course).


Casual shoes and belt
You should own at least one pair of casual shoes and a casual belt to wear with your less-formal pants.
The finishing touches...
Last but not least, every executive should own at least one elegant watch and two sets of cufflinks to round out his business wardrobe.


At this point you´re probably sweating over how much this executive wardrobe is going to cost you. Although the list seems excessive at first glance, keep in mind that most of these items are timeless where style is concerned. You should not think of this future shopping spree as an expense, but as a long-term investment.
Also keep in mind that most of these items are classic, and you probably already own some of them.

From Ask Men