(tips compiled by Thom Brooks)
SHIRTS
- A white dress shirt is always a winner – clean, goes with anything
- Straight collars on shirts are dressier
- Use collar stays with dress shirts
- Always wear an undershirt (not tank-type) with dress shirts
- No short-sleeved dress shirts
- Better to have sleeves that are too long than too short
- Shirtsleeves should extend ½ inch beyond the wrist cuff of your coat
- Make certain shirt is ironed – starch is your friend!
- Consider having it professionally laundered and pressed for a couple of dollars before an important interview
SUITS
- Purchase the best suit you can afford
- Dry clean less; air-out and rotate suits often
- Always dry clean coat and pants at the same time for a matching suit
- Coat lapel should be no wider than your tie (and vice versa)
- Pants should touch the top of the shoe and angle just above the heel
- Cuffed pants are nice – give straighter, taut appearance
- Pleats are dressier; flat front pants have slimming effect
- Clothes should fit; however, it is better for them to be too big than too small
- No wire hangers; avoids wrinkles
TIES
- Invest in one expensive, outstanding silk tie – this can compensate for a less expensive suit
- Select a knot so that tie is in proportion to collar style
- Tie material may affect choice of knots; thinner materials may require larger knots to look proportional to collar
- Avoid clip-on ties (limited selection and cannot coordinate knot with collar size)
- Tip of tie should extend to belt buckle – don’t show any shirt between your tie and pants
BELTS & FOOTWEAR
- Suspenders are nice-dressy
- Belt and shoes must always coordinate
- Coordinate metal of belt buckle with shoe buckles and jewelry
- Socks should coordinate with your pants
- No white socks with dress clothes
- Socks should cover your calves – don’t show any bare leg when sitting
- Black dress shoes are essential – will go with most any business clothing
- Rubber soled shoes are okay for sport coat and casual dress; leather soles are dressier
- Leather dress shoes only; laces are dressier
- Consider using waxed dress shoelaces – can be purchased for less than $1 at shoe stores and will stay tied
- Keep your shoes polished and neat
- Touch up scratches with polish, cream, or a felt-tip marker
- Rotate your shoes daily to let them dry out
- Place shoe trees inside your dress shoes when not wearing them (maintains shape)
MISCELLANEOUS
- No cologne on job interviews
- Use cologne moderately at work; your scent should not linger when you are gone
- Minimize jewelry; a ring or two is fine
- Cleaned, groomed finger nails at all times
- Dry hands for shaking – carry a handkerchief to dry nervous palms
- Keep an extra razor in office for late meetings
- Breath mints – keep ’em handy
FORMALITY OF DRESS
- Ultra Formal Dress (or White Tie) means tuxedo-style with white shirt, vest, and bow-tie
- Formal Dress (or Black Tie) means a tuxedo
- Business Formal Dress (sometimes called Semi-formal or Informal) means a suit (usually dark)
- Business (Dressy) Casual means sport coat, dress shirt and pants, tie (optional)
- Casual (Dressy) – Khakis, chinos, nicer clothing
- Casual (Leisure) – Jeans and everyday wear
