Fashion & Style Information
 
Web World-SuperSite

Menswear - Putting Together A Business Wardrobe - Part 2


Here's the second installment of the "Menswear" series, on adding dress shirts to your professional wardrobe. Let's go guys!

Dress shirts come in a lot of different styles, fabrics and colors. Your choices should reflect not only your coloring (cool or warm) but your business field (banking vs. advertising, real estate vs. entrepreneurial, etc).

Here's a couple of rules of thumb: first, purchase 100% cotton whenever possible. They feel great against your skin (important, since you'll have them on for 8 - 10 hours a day), and can be laundered and pressed / ironed either at home or professionally.

If you're not handy with an iron (and gentlemen, you really SHOULD be), or want to avoid the expense of professional cleaning, you can also opt for "no-iron" or "wrinkle resistant" shirts. The cotton fabric of these type of shirts is treated to resist wrinkles, but you'll pay approximately $15 - 20 extra per shirt for the convenience. They'll only need a light touch with an iron after cleaning instead of a firmer hand.

Second, unless you see your supervisor or other managers wearing short sleeves, keep your purchases to long-sleeved shirts only. Remember, dress for the job you want, not the one you've got. Short sleeves are seen as more casual, and you almost never see and executive with short sleeves on his dress shirt!

You'll need 6 - 8 dress shirts to start with, so that you'll have a couple of days leeway in case you can't get your laundry done (or get your shirts from the cleaners). If you work in a company where senior management dresses conservatively (banking, insurance, legal profession, etc) then plan on sticking to basics.

If you are in a client-oriented profession (real estate, financing, etc), then take your cues from your clients to a certain extent, and stick with basic dress shirts here as well.

To add some variety, you can add a pinstripe in a color compatible with your coloring (white with blue pinstripes, for example if your coloring is cool, white with red or yellow, perhaps tan or brown for a warmer-toned man).

Spread collars are currently popular, though traditional straight collars are always acceptable. Button-down collars have been popular in the past, but are now seen as more casual, therefore not 100% suitable for some more conservative professions.

If you want to express yourself a bit more within a conservative environment, you can choose a pinstripe shirt with a white contrasting collar and cuffs, or choose French cuffs (that require cufflinks) for a dressed-up traditional look.

If your work environment allows you to go beyond basic, look for a variety of patterns and colors. Those in the advertising or other creative professions have a wider choice of fabrics, and could select stripes, patterns or plaids (currently popular in gingham, glen plaids and tattersall plaids).

Choose patterns and colors that compliment your build (wide patterns are to be avoided on more strongly-built men), your coloring (warm or cool), and the shape of your face.

About the Author: Dianne M. Daniels is an Image & Color Coach, Consultant and Professional Speaker, and the author/publisher of "Polish & Presence: 31 Days to a New Image". She has helped individuals refine and define their personal and professional image, along with corporations and organizations. Learn how to create your Personal Climate for Personal and Professional Success at http://www.imageandcolor.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Michelle Obama To Be Featured In Her Very Own Fashion Book
AHN - 9 hours ago
Washington DC (CNS) - The would-be-first-lady of the US, Michelle Obama has become a fashion icon as she will be featured in her very own book. ...


PinkMemo.com Welcomes Krista Tankersley as President and Cofounder ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Nov 19, 2008
PinkMemo.com a fashion, style and luxury lifestyle online media company announced today the arrival of Krista Tankersley as President and Cofounder. ...


PR Web (press release)

New Fashion Style Debut: Premier Coin Edge Tungsten Wedding Band ...
PR Web (press release), WA - Nov 12, 2008
This is the first time the coin edge motif has been offered crafted from tungsten carbide and it's the perfect choice for a wedding ring to suit the man ...


Approved (With Restrictions)
New York Times, United States - Nov 19, 2008
By NATASHA SINGER THE Food and Drug Administration has approved a number of injectable materials, known as dermal fillers or soft-tissue fillers, ...


China Daily

In Spotlight: Michelle Obamas' fashion style
China Daily, China - Nov 5, 2008
As the eulogies wash over Barack Obama, he can at least rely on his wife Michelle Obama - America's next First Lady - to bring him down to earth. ...


Ballerina sticks to her fashion/style
Inquirer.net, Philippines - Oct 30, 2008
By Rina Silayan-Go MARITONI Rufino-Tordesillas fell in love with ballet at eight years old. It was what would take her all the way to New York. ...


Idaho looks to Aloha State to help resuscitate program
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, HI - 8 hours ago
Bailey's fashion style is the same, although he wasn't quite as convincing that the weather wasn't a problem, adding, "Of course it gets a little cold and ...


'7Million' Faction #2 Revealed - New Screens
WorthPlaying.com, CA - 6 hours ago
Of course, for a true Lawford, the rags would have been the latest fashion style in the first place; it will not do to be seen in public wearing yesterday's ...


FRENCH TOAST Adapted from Benoit Bar
New York Times, United States - Nov 14, 2008
Soak the gelatin sheets in cold water for 20 minutes. Strain the gelatin, and reserve. Combine the Chambord and strawberry purée and heat in a saucepan over ...


State Your Fashion, Erick Steiner
The Guardaman Online - 21 hours ago
When asked if there is anything or anyway to describe his particular fashion style, Steiner replied, “It just depends on the mood, man.”

Fashion-Style - Google News

home | site map
© 2006