Tuesday, June 26, 2007

5 tips on What to Wear in Office

No matter whether you just joined a new company or visit your client's office, it is always important to establish what to wear especially the "Halo" effect is very important to your business partners or associates. There are many ways to find out what you should wear in a office, but the following 5 tips are what I find most useful and workable for me so far.

Find a middle ground
There's no need to go to extremes with a full-piece suit, or on the other side of the spectrum, track pants and sneakers. There is a happy medium where dress pants, button-down shirts, sweaters, and sports jackets rule and serve to make you look like you mean business.

You can never be overdressed
This is something that holds true when you're at work. You won't lose anything by showing up overdressed, but on the other hand, you will feel uncomfortable if you're highly underdressed -- and wouldn't you rather people notice your sense of style rather than your ability to make rolling out of bed an art form?

If you're unsure, ask
If you're a new hire or simply aren't sure about the new dress code at work, there's nothing wrong with asking your HR department or your superior for clarifications of the guidelines and company dress policy. It's always better to ask beforehand than find out the hard way; like your boss telling you that what you're wearing is inappropriate for the office. And yes -- he will let you know.

A simple tip to keep in mind while dressing for work? If you're unsure or have doubts about your getup, then you're better off not wearing it. Follow your gut and remember that if you're hesitant about what you're wearing, your hesitation might be reflected in your attitude that day.

Pay attention to detail
Your ability to pay attention to the little things when it comes to your appearances will speak volumes about your attention to detail in every aspect of life, and that's a trait you want to show off in the business world. So if you do step out in chinos and a button-down shirt, make sure that there are no creases in your pants, all the buttons in your shirt are in order, and your shirt is properly tucked in. If you don't make yourself look presentable, who will? Remember, image is everything.

Dress for success
Lastly, whether or not your place of work has enforced a smarts casual dress code or strictly a casual one, you should always make sure you look presentable, professional, and like someone you would want to do business with. Of course, your style depends on the industry you belong in, but that is never an excuse for looking sloppy.


Enjoy.......................

Top 10 Tips on Proper Business Attire for Men

In my whole working life, being in work or attend business functions, parties or dinners, a proper dressed up is always a plus point than under dressed. In this session, I would like to share the TOP 10 tips on what we should wear in such environment.
  • Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The quality of the material speaks as loudly as the color and can make the difference between sleaze and suave.
  • A solid white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers the most polished look. The more pattern and color you add, the more the focus is on your clothing, rather than your professionalism.
  • Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Avoid the cartoon characters and go for simple and subtle if you want to enhance your credibility.
  • Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. A quick glance in good light before heading out the door can save embarrassment later in the day. Check for holes as well if you'll be going through airport security and removing your shoes.
  • Shoes should without question be conservative, clean and well polished. Lace-up shoes are the choice over slip-ons or flip flops. Don't think for a minute that people don't notice shoes. Many people will look at your feet before your face.
  • Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes. Once again, quality counts.
  • Keep jewelry to a minimum. In a time when men sport gold necklaces, bracelets and earrings, the business professional should limit himself to a conservative watch, a wedding band and maybe his college ring.
  • Personal hygiene is part of the success equation. Freshly scrubbed wins out over heavily fragranced any day of the week. Save the after-shave for after hours, but never the shave itself.
  • The accessories: briefcase, portfolio and pen. When it comes to sealing the deal, a top of the line suit, a silk tie and a good pair of leather shoes can lose their affect when you pull out the ball point pen you picked up in the hotel meeting room the day before.
  • The finishing part of the whole attire, be confident on your self and carry a good looking smile on your face.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Business attire vs. Smart casual

For most of the gentleman, we always need to put a clear line between business wear and casual wear. Business wear, sometime is just fair too formal, and it might not suit all the working environment, especially you are able to join some function for the first time! Thank God! here come the combination between business and casual. Similar to the those working ladies nowadays, guys are also getting smart casual, which are more relaxed, and yet professional look. Below are some simple definition between Business attire and Smart Casual.

"Business attire" is a full suit with matching pants, a dress shirt and tie.It differs from the type of outfit you might wear to a wedding or evening event. It is conservative, designed to be sharp but not flashy, and elegant but not overly formal. The idea is to showcase the individual, not the clothes.

"Smart casual" is a more relaxed, yet professional look. Pressed pants, a collared shirt, and clean, matching accessories. A sport coat will add a touch of class to a casual look. Avoid jeans, sneakers and T-shirts.

So now the question is in what circumstances we wear business attire, smart casual and relaxed casual? It is really depend on individual, my opinion, as long as you feel comfortable.... :)
However, there are some custom and traditional culture that we still need to follow and bound to..(Anyway, you can still dressed your way if you want to... ) like funeral, marriage, wedding function, interview, Gala dinner