Formal Wear

This is cross-posted from an external source.

FIVE TIPS TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOCKS

Socks are that discreet, hidden part of the official dress and shouldn’t really matter, right? But then you don’t want to get caught with your pants up and a mismatched pair of socks. Here are 5 simple socks selection tips.

1) Colour:
Always select a sock colour that matches your pants. White socks are fine for gym and playing outdoors, but for formal clothing, the socks’ colour should not stand out and create a stark contrast. You will be drawing attention to yourself that you don’t want.

2) Fit:
Select a pair of socks that stay up. Socks bunching around your ankles don’t really say ‘class’ or ‘elegance’. They need not be too tight but need to be tight enough to stay up.

3) Texture:
Texture? You might think. But did you know that the thickness of your socks should actually vary with the occasion? The more formal the occasion, the thinner your socks should be. Thicker socks are best left for more informal occasions.

4) Patterns:
Don’t ever go for a meeting with complex patterns on your socks! It doesn’t exactly impress the bosses. For a formal occasion, wear plain socks. Small, discrete patterns are still usable, but bigger patterns are definitely not recommended.

5) Change:
Finally, the most critical detail. Change your socks everyday! This cannot be emphasised enough. Have a sufficient stock of socks, depending on the number of formal occasions you go to. Falling short of socks to wear could be a serious problem, and wearing smelly socks from last week could leave a bad smell with your hosts after you leave.

So, go ahead, pay some attention to the pairs of socks you own and make sure you are prepared to be well dressed when the occasion arises.


DRESSING IN BUSINESS CASUALS

Business Casuals is a term not many of us are comfortable with, because we are not sure what it means. These 5 tips will help solve this problem to an extent.

1) Ask for official guidelines: Ask the human resources department for official guidelines. Business casual means different things at different companies. At a large corporation, it may mean a sport coat with a tie; at a smaller company, it may mean khakis and a polo shirt.
If your company has no written policy, observe what others wear as business casuals to get an idea.

2) Check for meetings: Before you dress casual, check to make sure you don't have any meetings that require formal business attire.

3) Dress Professionally: Select clean, pressed and wrinkle-free clothes. Your outfit should communicate professionalism.

4) Wear a belt: Be sure to wear a belt, and have it match the color of your shoes.

5) Choose proper footwear: Choose your socks properly. Avoid white socks and tube socks. Rubber soled leather shoes or boots are suitable for casual day. Worn-out shoes, sandals or sports shoes are not acceptable.

If you are still not sure what is acceptable, it is best to wear a formal shirt and pant without a tie.

BUYING AND WEARING SHIRTS THE RIGHT WAY

A man probably looks his best in formal attire, but any mistake in formal dressing stands out pretty prominently. Wearing the right shirt in the right way goes a long way in achieving the right formal look.

Follow these 5 tips for wearing formal shirts to get that right formal look.

1) Translucent Shirts: A strict no-no. Never wear a translucent shirt for job interviews or any black tie event. White shirts are the best bet for most occasions. Soft, muted colors, and mild patterns like stripes are also acceptable.

2) Right Size: Getting the right size shirt to wear is very important. A tight shirt will leave your wrists exposed and choke your neck. A loose shirt will bunch up around your wrists and neck and look bad. Get a shirt of the right size to feel comfortable and look sleek.

3) Buttons: Make sure you fasten all buttons on the shirt including the small ones on the side of the sleeve at the cuff. These make sure that your arm doesn’t get exposed at that point. Button down collars also need to be buttoned or else they stick out awkwardly.
Button all your buttons even if they seem like they serve no function.

4) Match that tie: Choose your tie carefully to compliment the shirt you wear. A wrong tie can take all the charm away from wearing a good shirt. Keep in mind that, when choosing a shirt and tie with checks, the shirt should have smaller checks.

5) Tuck it in well: Last but not the least, tuck in your shirt properly. It shouldn’t look too school boyish, so don’t tuck it in all the way. The shirt should cover at least half the belt.