Career Clothing for Men
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The old-fashioned philosophy to dressing like a gentleman is letting your clothes blend into you seamlessly. Though it is socially acceptable for a man to be more fashion forward and stylish these days, the "gentlemanly" way of dressing still has a lot of good points--especially when it is for your career.
A Businessman and a Gentleman
- As far as finances will go, no one will notice that you wore your suit twice in one week if it doesn't have trendy, eye-catching details. They'll simply notice that you looked put together and good. For less money.
- Then, once you're armed with a closet full of solid basics (i.e. simple suits
, shirts
, and jackets, fun ties, and stylish hats - You'll look your best, most professional self every day in clothes that don't distract from what you actually do at work.
- You'll have a signature style that will help people remember you--in a good way.
But different offices call for a different "uniform"; here's a quick breakdown of different dress codes.
Navigating the Dress Codes
It's a dog eat dog world out there. And here's a hint: the better dressed dogs come out on top. But how do you now how dressy is too dressy and how casual is too casual? Generally, there are three categories:
Business Attire
- Usually the rule at law or accounting firms, government agencies, or banking jobs.
- While women have a little creative leeway here, men must wear a suit and tie. They should also sport neat hair and facial growth that's carefully groomed (and doesn't pop up half way through the work week).
Business Casual
- Describes most offices.
- Conservative and "nice" clothing, but the polish of business attire not necessary.
- Shirts should have a collar.
Casual
- Usual for hands-on jobs where range of motion and comfort are important.
- Practical, and conservative to the extent that you're not offending anyone or attracting a lot of attention to yourself.
- No T-shirts advertising beer; ripped, torn, or dirty clothing or shoes; and keep the body exposure to a minimum (no short shorts or muscle tanks).
What to Buy for Work
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If your office is Business Attire, stock up on these:
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If you're lucky enough to work in a Business Casual office, load up on these:
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| Fashionable Offices | |
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If you've looked around your workplace and noticed that people dress very high end, but not necessarily conservative, you're in a Fashionable Office, which will require you to up your dressing game. You can still do classic basics, but you'll need to add a few edgy, modern pieces to avoid looking outdated.
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