It’s time to pick up where we left off, career-seekers! Earlier, we tackled a guide on grooming and dressing up the top half of the body in a professional or business-like manner. Today, let’s continue to the lower half of the professional’s outfit as well as to other bits and bobs we can wear or carry around. After all, we can’t take just half of ourselves to an interview or to work, right?
1. Trousers – For trousers, comfortable fit is the key. The waist must be relaxed enough to wear at the natural waist – 1 inch below the belly button – with or without a belt, and with the shirt or blouse still tucked. It must allow the wearer to walk naturally without feeling tightness of the fabric around the legs. The looseness of the trouser legs should be no more than 2 inches around the thigh and knee and 3 inches around the lower leg, in order to maintain a fitted appearance without sacrificing comfort. A good indicator of the correct fit is putting essentials such as handkerchiefs, wallets and mobile phones into the pockets. If they don’t bulge out and there is still a bit of allowance in the thigh, then the fit is just right. They must also be long enough to reach the shoes and cover up the socks, but not too long that the fabric bunches up around the top of the shoe. When in doubt, have trousers made custom by a tailor or take existing ready-to-wear trousers to an alteration store for changes in the fit.
Colors are the only variation that can be played with for trousers. Black, different shades of gray and navy blue are the most acceptable options. Trousers with bright colors or patterns are too flashy and should be used only for casual occasions.
Skirts follow the same color and pattern rules as trousers, while the question of fit emphasizes the proper wrap around the upper legs (in the case of pencil skirts) and the appropriate length.
2. Shoes and socks – Lace-up shoes always look more professional than slip-on or strapped shoes. They convey an impression of patience and diligence, qualities that are present in someone who follows through and finishes tasks properly. Small decorative holes, known as broguing, are still acceptable on any lace-up shoe as long as they do not occupy more than one-fourth of the overall design. Strapped shoes, such as monkstraps, can still be worn provided that they are plain in design. For slip-ons, tasseled loafers are the only acceptable choice.
Inspect the bottom of the shoe; if it is a rugged style similar to rubber shoes, it is not appropriate for office attire. If possible, avoid designs that look like they were made for primary or secondary school students and invest in proper leather shoes. Genuine leather shoes can last for up to 5 years when taken care of, which is more budget-friendly than having to buy new cheaply-made shoes every 6 months.
Black is the most appropriate color, followed by different shades of brown. Black shoes can be paired with any color of trousers or suit. Brown shoes are NEVER paired with black trousers or suits, and work best with any other color of trousers or suits such as navy blue, charcoal gray, or other shades of gray. Brown shoes can come in dark shades such as burgundy, medium shades like chocolate brown, and ligher shades like tan or camel brown. Generally, brown shoes can be flexible with the shades of gray trousers and suits but the best results come from matching the shade of the brown shoe with the shade of the gray suit.
Wool or light cotton are the best materials for socks. As for color, they must match the trousers. This creates a straight line of color from the top of the trousers (or the top of the suit), all the way to the openings of the shoes. This effect is very easy on the eyes and can help interviewers, coworkers or even prospective clients form a less strict and more relaxed opinion of you. Reserve the contrasting socks to casual occasions.
3. Jewelry and other finery – Jewelry, such as rings and earrings, have their own rules for business attire. Jewelry is largely unnecessary because many of the places where jewelry can be worn will be covered up under the business outfit. That said, the hands remain visible and can be minimally adorned with jewelry. Only rings related to civil status must be worn, such as engagement rings or wedding bands. Other than that, exceptions can be made for rings that signify membership in a specific group like a class ring from university, or a ring for an officially recognized organization. Earrings, meanwhile, should only be found in the workplace on the ears of women. In those cases, the ladies must ensure that the earrings are of plain design like stud or pearl earrings. Dangling type earrings and especially hoop earrings DO NOT belong in the office.
Watches are another line of items that have conditions and rules. Either metal or leather straps are acceptable, with the color of the leather matching the color of the shoes and belt while metal portions should match the metal of the belt buckle. When in doubt, the watch can be omitted from the outfit. For business, it is much better to not wear a watch than wear colorful rubber watches that look like they belong to a pre-school student.
Cufflinks are an interesting case. These metal trinkets are used to close French cuffs, which are sleeves without buttons and with holes on both sides. Use them if a more confident impression is desired, and match them with the metal portion of the belt and the metal of the watch.
4. Accessories – Beginning from shirt accessories, we have the most commonly known: the necktie. The rules for this accessory are simple. Plain dark or neutral colors are the most appropriate for business. For patterned ties, the bigger the pattern or stripe the less formal they become. Shapes like small dots, squares or diamonds are still widely accepted for business attire; more unique and complex shapes are risky and can be too casual.
The width of the tie is meant to complement a person’s build. The width of the tie dictates how much of the front of the shirt is covered by it, and can thus emphasize how skinny or broad a person is. Slim people will look great with a slim tie that only covers a narrow portion of the front of the shirt. Ties that are between 2.5 to 3 inches wide will complement those with an average build. Broadly-built people will benefit from wearing ties that are between 3.5 and 4 inches wide because this will balance out their broadness.
Pre-tied neckties, such as those with garters that go under the collar of the shirt, are unacceptable in any setting unless the wearer is physically incapable of tying a necktie. Examples of this would be people who have had one hand or arm amputated, or healing from an arm injury. Otherwise, there is no excuse for not learning how to tie a necktie.
Another accessory is the belt. When choosing a belt for business wear, consider the color of the shoes to be worn. Black belts go with black shoes, and brown belts of any shade go with brown shoes of similar shades. Plain leather belts with no patterns are the most acceptable. Woven leather belts can also be an alternative although they are less formal. The width is also important: only belts that are 1.5 to 2 inches thick are appropriate for men. For women, the same width rules apply, but they can also wear skinny belts provided that they are careful with the design.
An alternative to using the belt is wearing braces, also known as suspenders. These accessories are basically narrow lengths of fabric or garter that hold up the trousers by hanging from the shoulders. Braces or suspenders are not as common as they used to be, but are more helpful when trying to preserve the condition of the trousers. Belts can damage the waistband of trousers over years of use because of tightness, while braces allow the waistband to remain in its natural shape. Of course, if the trousers have been fitted or tailored properly then there would be no need for either belts or braces. However, if the fit is not proper then use either braces or belts – and NEVER use them both at the same time!
5. Bags – Bags are the most useful of all business accessories. They can be used to carry around a professional’s essential tools and documents. The style of the bag can also add to the professional look, with different types of briefcase-shaped shoulder-slung bags being more appealing than a backpack. An actual briefcase is rare among fresh-graduate career-seekers, but if used properly can be very effective in enhancing the professional image. For more on the bag and its contents, go here.
And there we have it: as promised, a comprehensive guide on building up a look that will make the best impression and send the right message. Join us on Facebook, where we welcome discussions, inquiries and good old shout-outs from our readers!
This concludes our guide on dressing professionally, but stay tuned because we have more guides coming soon on how to survive AND thrive in the corporate world. As always, we’ll be here to lend a helping hand!