As I have mentioned before in my Dressing for dollars article I think it is important to dress up – rather than dress down. Even though I work for myself, I am still creating a personal brand which is important for me to maintain. I wanted to pass along my current style for anyone else out there that wants to keep up with my trends.
Business Style: Dressed down formal
What does “dressed down formal” mean? Well simply put, it’s a suit with casual attributes attached to it. For instance, here is what an outfit may look like:
- Two button European cut dark suit (navy or grey – solid or minimal pattern) (Formal)
- Pants are a flat front with no cuff (Modern – neither formal nor casual)
- No pocket square & front pocket flaps showing
- Solid or striped colored shirt (Tend toward casual)
- Black belt and black wingtip shoes (Formal)
- Red socks (Casual) and matching solid red tie (Formal) with a simple knot (Casual)
- Tie will tend to be skinny and I may also go with a plaid or stripe pattern (Casual)
- Unique socks have become a standard item for me
- Top button is undone, and tie is knotted loosely (Casual)
What are y’all wearing to work? Is everyone still doing the business casual with khakis and a polo? Does anyone other than bankers, lawyers, and financial advisors still dress up?
October 8, 2011 at 12:01 am
I’m a little more to the formal side of things – suit/coat and tie nearly every day. I’m a tech type so I definitely am not sporting the normal uniform. I generally wear French cuff dress shirts because they offer a few more options. They are generally more formal but can be casualed down with silk knots instead of links.