Finding the right office look is never easy, especially if you don’t have an existing interest in fashion and style. Don’t let the choices overwhelm you though. This guide keeps things simple yet effective.
Jacket & Trousers
Your jacket and trousers should be your main starting point when choosing a workplace outfit. These items are your foundation, so it’s important to to get them right; they’ll dictate how the suit as a whole looks. The first thing to pick out is the material of your suit, and this matters more than you might think.
There are many fabrics to choose from, but there’s one in particular that I’d recommend you go for, and that’s wool. Wool is natural, it gives you plenty of room to breathe and, most importantly, it simply looks great. The final choice to make is the color. A navy blue, black or grey is the best choice; you don’t want it to stand out too much.
Shirt
When it comes to picking your shirts, simplicity is the key to success. There’s no need to make this part of the job too complicated. The type of collar you go for is the main choice you have. At the moment, small collars are popular, and it’s usually just best to go with the style and fashion of the time.
Obviously, you can deviate in terms of color, but I’d always recommend sticking to the classic white shirt. No other color shirt gives you the same reliability and versatility. Blue shirts may seem like a good idea, but they often don’t work in the office. And remember to get measured up properly, so you don’t end up with a shirt that’s too baggy.
Tie
Your choice of tie gives you the chance to do something a little more interesting and unexpected with your outfit. Shirts and suits can look great, but they don’t really allow you to stand out or offer anything particularly unique to your look. That doesn’t mean you should go for anything too garish or offensive though.
But you can pick an interesting pattern for your outfit. For a lot of people it will be the only flash of color and pattern in their entire suit, so it is worth thinking about carefully. There are thousands of options online, so you don’t even have to leave the house, you could get a custom tie, a tie with a theme or just one with a nice, simple design.
Shoes
The first thing your shoes should be is smart, they have to look the part and be suitable for the job you do. For most of us this will mean buying strong, durable shoes that are either black or brown in color. Of course, if your job has specific requirements that affect your footwear, these should be taken into account.
If you’re wearing a black suit, you need to wear black shoes. Any other color would just look wrong. But if you’re wearing a grey or navy blue suit, you have more options and most color shoes look good with these suits.
Getting your office look right can be difficult, so follow these simple tips to get it right.
