Good-bye, Hoodie! Hello, vest!
More Employees Dress-up
Maybe it’s because I now live in New York City, the center of the fashion world. (Sorry, Paris!) And maybe it’s because the city has just survived it’s most recent Fashion Week, when all the fashionistas flock to see Oscar (de la Renta), Jason (Wu) and Vera (Wang’s) latest offerings while the rest of us stare in amazement as models walk down our slushy streets in heels as high as short stilts.
Whatever the cause, last Sunday morning, when I flipped through my New York Times, an advertisement in the paper’s Business section caused by head to literally snap. Page 3 consisted of a full-page Ralph Lauren advertisement showing a good-looking young man wearing a nicely tailored three-piece suit.
Is conservative business attire truly on the way back? COuld more conservative business etiquette soon return, too?
Gentlemen, if you’re interviewing or starting work in a professional workplace, you’ll want to add a three-piece suit to your wardrobe. Trust me on this: A well-tailored vest can make you feel powerful and pulled together. Stand two guys next to each side-by-side. One of them is dressed in a two-piece, suit; the other wears a three-piece suit. Ask them to remove their suit coats. Suggest they take the “Jolly Green Giant” stance--You know, hands on hips, chest out, head up. They guy in the vest automatically looks like he’s in charge. The guy without the vest? He looks like he’s ready to quarterback a friendly game of touch football.
Not only to wearers of vests look in charge, they feel the confidence that comes from knowing they never need to worry whether or not their shirts have come untucked. A vest keeps everything covered that should be covered. And if you’ve purchased shirts with a boxy (not darted) cut, a vest reins in all that excess fabric.
Should you decide to invest in a three-piece suit, pay extra attention to its tailoring. Your vest should fit precisely. Too tight and buttons will gape. Too loose and you’ll look . . . well, you’ll just look sloppy.
When dressing for work, the rule of thumb has long been: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have. Interns, summer associates and new hires, take note: If you seek to be a future titan of commerce, add a well-tailored three-piece suit to your closet and get comfortable with feeling like you rule the world.
What Do You Need to Know?
Three-piece suits are making a come back.
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