Fashion Tips For Everyone! FashionRumour.com

Picking the right clothes for work at the office can be tricky, even for men. Suits are always a good starting point, but even then there’s a lot of room for getting things wrong.

When you’re starting a new job, you’ll want to make sure you dress right: first impressions are important. That doesn’t always mean the full-on men’s suit, but opting for smart casual by default is another risk. Too informal makes you look unprofessional, as if you aren’t taking your work particularly seriously. There can also be a sense of ‘dressing for the part’; even if what you’re doing doesn’t demand smart clothes, you’re expected to wear them anyway. When you are dealing with clients this is even more important, since you are the public face of the organisation and their reputation depends in some measure on how you come across. On the other hand, dressing too formally if that’s not the ethos of the company is another pitfall. You don’t want to stand out as stuffy or up-tight. The problem is judging where to pitch it.

Of course, what it’s appropriate to wear will depend a lot on both the company itself and the general sector. Working in IT will usually give you more latitude than if you’re a lawyer, for example. The problem is you won’t necessarily know until you’ve been there a while. A good men’s suit will always be an asset, and is extremely flexible in terms of the impression it can give, but it’s still worth bearing a few principles in mind.

Taking your cues

Firstly, few people begin a job without some experience of the organisation. You will likely have visited the office at least once before starting. Make sure you note what others are wearing – not just one or two, but the feel of the place in general. If not, then your interview is always a good guideline. Start your first day wearing something broadly as formal as your interviewer was wearing. If you are in any doubt, dress a shade smarter than you think is appropriate. It’s better to come in looking over-dressed and take it down a notch or two the next day than to start work looking too casual. If you’re really worried, take a look at their website – there will almost inevitably be a few carefully-chosen pictures of staff on it.

This is where a good men’s suit can work wonders. Every man should have at least one suit that’s suitable for those formal occasions, including weddings, funerals and job interviews. Something classic and understated is perfect. The style at the moment is a sleek, timeless look that emphasises masculinity – not something that is going to date quickly. In the absence of better information (which might include a carefully-defined dress code for some companies, though by no means all have them), such a good quality men’s suit should be your starting point.

Men’s suits: the flexible option

The great thing about a decent suit is that it gives you so many options. Men’s suits are generally simple but respectable, and are amenable to huge variation depending on the circumstances. So, you might start with the full works, but quickly realise that no one else has bothered with anything beyond smart casual. No problem; a jacket can be left on the back of your chair, a tie can be removed and pocketed. Dressing down at short notice is far easier for men than women.

Once it’s clear what the dress code is, you are of course free to wear what you like within those criteria. Should you be in any doubt, there’s absolutely nothing to stop you asking either your boss or colleagues. (Should a colleague criticise your dress sense, incidentally, make sure you know why – and get a second opinion before you act on it, unless it’s your boss’s advice.) In general, a good men’s suit is rarely a liability and will serve you well until you find your feet.