Men will be men, fashion-challenged beings who seek comfort if they really expect anything from their clothes. But like it or not, the world around us is changing and is changing fast. You are rising in your career. More eyes are chasing you every moment. People hang on to every word you say. Judgements are passed. Impressions are formed. You are not a Howard Roark of The Fountainhead in real life. You are a social being and society judges you, feels jealous of you, aspires to be like you but still likes to put you down.
Much research has been done on the subject of dressing and its impact. One of them concludes, “People pay more respect & grant more privileges to those they perceive as being well dressed and neatly groomed. Some research indicates that a favorable personal appearance leads to high starting salaries and later salary increases.”
The Importance of Professional Work Attire Human Relations & Development, Krappels, Arnold, [2005, June 07]
So there is a financial benefit too!
You don’t have to turn into a walking vanity guru or an alpha male. But it doesn’t take anything to keep the basics in mind.
Well, there are hundreds of points which form the “basics of dressing” but to start with and make it an easy chew, I am giving you five don’ts. You will appreciate that don’ts are more important than do’s because don’ts if done, can put you in a real embarrassing situation. So here we go
Much research has been done on the subject of dressing and its impact. One of them concludes, “People pay more respect & grant more privileges to those they perceive as being well dressed and neatly groomed. Some research indicates that a favorable personal appearance leads to high starting salaries and later salary increases.”
The Importance of Professional Work Attire Human Relations & Development, Krappels, Arnold, [2005, June 07]
So there is a financial benefit too!
You don’t have to turn into a walking vanity guru or an alpha male. But it doesn’t take anything to keep the basics in mind.
Well, there are hundreds of points which form the “basics of dressing” but to start with and make it an easy chew, I am giving you five don’ts. You will appreciate that don’ts are more important than do’s because don’ts if done, can put you in a real embarrassing situation. So here we go
| Bling Suits There was phase, a very tiny phase, when all of a sudden those slim lapel, slimmer fitted, shiny PV material suits came out but they did vanish as soon as they came, in case you didn’t notice. But they always looked cheap & loud. Even film stars wearing those blingy ones in private appearances, looked awful. So avoid them at any cost. They are an embarrassment. Instead opt for wool blends if you cannot afford 100% wool suits. |  |
 | Oversized Suits We all worry about our future just a little too much. “What if, I gained weight? I am too busy to exercise or diet, so adding a few inches on the waist is unavoidable. So what do I do? I make my suit three sizes bigger. That way, I continue wearing it in future as well”. Right? Wrong. Such a thought will certainly ensure that your today looks ridiculous. And when you hit tomorrow, you may not gain that much weight, or you gain weight somewhere else, say your hips or arms. The possibility of fabric or the style going out of fashion makes this argument even weaker. Remember very clearly, “It is not stylish, if it doesn’t fit well.” |
| Walking with a fabric puddle over your shoes This is such a common problem that now it doesn’t seem to be a problem at all! Almost all men wear their trousers which are a good 4-5 inches longer than how much they should be. I understand weight going up and down (referring to the previous point) but height gets fixed once puberty strikes. So men, please stick to either no break or quarter break or at the most half break trousers. Do not have a fabric puddle on your shoes. Refer to the image on the right |  |
 | Shirt & Trouser Pocket There was an age and time, when garments were made to be highly functional. The means were limited and life very different. There were very few white-collar jobs. Times have changed, sleek wallets, nice bags, money clips, card holders have been invented. But the pocket on the shirt chest or the ones on the hips remain. Granted the side pockets of trousers also provide extra comfort without distorting the shape and fall, all the other pockets have become redundant & should vanish like the tail from the human vertebrae. Having said so, even if you want to have these pockets for your own mind’s comfort, do not stuff them with pens, cards, cash, keys, combs etc. If you do this, the focus goes away from you to your ugly bulging pocket which incidentally also pulls your shirt collar down. So keep your pockets always empty. Put your stuff in your bag. The inside pockets of blazer can still be used. Best is to avoid having (shirt) pocket completely. |
Friday Dressing or Saturday dressing, if you will
(There are still sweatshops around in corporate India)
Never ever wear flashy big prints, oversized logos on your casual shirt. Teens may look cool in those but grownups, working hard to earn their status, will only end up looking ridiculous & below their level of class. On a casual day, many executives walk into the office in sportswear and running shoes along with denims. That is a strict no-no. Sports brands are different; and casual wear brands are different. A polyester T-shirt in bright colours, having sweat net on the underarms is for running or exercising. A nice polo in mercerized cotton is a casual-wear. Teaming up a casual jacket with round neck t-shirt is casual-wear. A Reebok or a Nike shoe is for running or a specific sport. Nicely maintained loafers or even a well polished pair of sandals is casual footwear.
(There are still sweatshops around in corporate India)
Never ever wear flashy big prints, oversized logos on your casual shirt. Teens may look cool in those but grownups, working hard to earn their status, will only end up looking ridiculous & below their level of class. On a casual day, many executives walk into the office in sportswear and running shoes along with denims. That is a strict no-no. Sports brands are different; and casual wear brands are different. A polyester T-shirt in bright colours, having sweat net on the underarms is for running or exercising. A nice polo in mercerized cotton is a casual-wear. Teaming up a casual jacket with round neck t-shirt is casual-wear. A Reebok or a Nike shoe is for running or a specific sport. Nicely maintained loafers or even a well polished pair of sandals is casual footwear.
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