Etiquette DRESS TO IMPRESS
What
are the rules for mixing and matching colours and patterns when dressing
for business? Advise on accessories like shoes, belts and socks.
The three critical elements of your corporate attire are:
• Business suit
• Formal shirt
• Tie for men and scarf/accessory for women
Co-ordinating
Colours:
When dressing for business, either wear shades of the same colour (e.g. navy
blue business suit with a light blue shirt) or dress in colours which strongly
contrast each other on the colour wheel (e.g. black pinstripe suit, a crisp
white shirt and a burgundy tie).
Co-ordinating patterns:
As this can get tricky, it’s best to keep it simple: two solids and one pattern
from the three wardrobe elements listed above. However, if you closely follow
fashion trends and make regular investments in your business clothes, you can
upgrade to two patterns and one solid. Most business suits have a pattern
(stripes, tweed, herringbone and plaids being the common ones) regardless of how
subtle it may appear.
If you are wearing a solid business suit, dress it up
with a striking scarf/ tie keeping the shirt plain or liven it up with a bold
shirt keeping the tie/scarf a subtler hue. And if you’re wearing a patterned
business suit, scrutinise the pattern to see how bold it appears from a short
distance – tone down the bolder ones with a solid shirt and a simple tie/scarf
and dress up the subtler ones with a bold tie/scarf or a lively shirt using the
same pattern.
Co-ordinating shoes, belts and socks:
Shoes and belts should match, both in colour and texture.
Black shoes are worn with black, grey or navy blue suits/trousers while brown shoes are best teamed with beige/ khaki trousers, complemented with a navy blue blazer.
Men should match their socks to their trousers when dressing business formal, although they can opt for a bolder sock pattern when wearing business casuals
SHITAL KAKKAR MEHRA is
the author of Business Etiquette: A Guide For The Indian Professional CDET
120629
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