SUCCEED WITH STYLE: Men’s Turn: What Not to Wear to the Office

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Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Margaret Batting, GoLocalProv.com Corporate Style expert

In response to my recent article, “What Not to Wear to the Office,” a GoLocalProv reader asked for a version for men. My first reaction was, “Absolutely”. When it comes to dressing appropriately for work, the rules apply to men too. (Unless you’re like Dwight Schrute from The Office and swear by mustard yellow short-sleeve dress shirts.)

Whether you’re an intern or a seasoned executive, if you follow these Don’ts, you'll always look polished, appropriate and professional and you may even get a few compliments.

What NOT to wear to the office;
Sport coats that don’t fit properly: One of the quickest ways to set yourself apart is to ensure that your clothes fit properly. A sport or suit jacket should fit square in the shoulders. If the shoulders droop, it's simply too big. If the shoulders are too tight when you cross your arms in front of you, then it's too small. If the body of the coat appears too boxy, have it taken in. Jacket sleeves should be tailored to the base of the thumb (the fleshy part).

Old man pants: You don’t need to dress like your father to be taken seriously. If you are looking to update your style, try flat front trousers with no cuff. The style is modern and flattering. If you must wear a pleated pant, make sure the pleats are flat and not too bulky, especially if you are on the shorter side.

Dress shirts without an undershirt: This is a big faux pas. Undershirts absorb perspiration, cover body hair and eliminate embarrassing see-through disasters caused by thinner fabrics. They are an absolute must.

Oversized shirts: Fitted is better even if you are on the larger side. Why look 20 pounds heavier?

Worn out jeans and logo t-shirts: These items are never appropriate in a professional, business environment. Save them for the weekend.

Short sleeve dress shirts: Unless you want to look like Dwight Schrute or work close to the equator, avoid short-sleeve dress shirts at all costs.

Wrinkled shirts or pants: Nothing looks worse than a sloppy professional who appears like he just rolled out of bed. Always iron or dry clean your clothes.

Mismatched patterns: No one wants to show up at the office looking like you got dressed in the dark. You want to stand out for the right reasons, learn how to coordinate patterns correctly. It's easier than you think. Simply follow these rules and you'll be good to go: Rule #1: Make sure both patterns are in the same color family (black, blue, white). Rule #2: Make sure one pattern is always larger than the other. (Send me pictures if you want to try it out!)

Socks that match your shoes and not your pants: The color of your socks should always match the color of your pants and not the color of your shoes. White is not an option.

Scuffed or worn out shoes: Worn out or unpolished shoes are a credibility buster. Invest in a pair of quality leather shoes, keep them clean and polished and you will always look professional.

Baseball caps: Need I say more?

Margaret Batting is the Corporate Style expert for GoLocalProv.com. Margaret is the owner and president of Elevé Image Consulting and the only certified image consultant and personal brand strategist in Rhode Island. She travels the country as the national corporate image consultant for CareerBuilder and serves as the style advisor liaison for Dress for Success Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.eleve-style.com.
 

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