It’s the 2020s decade. And you might be wondering: Is strict business attire still relevant?
With #workfromhome wardrobe becoming a thing and a vast online shopping market luring us to take on the latest trends, it’s easy to think that how you dress for business doesn’t matter anymore.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
First impressions still matter to this day. And if you’re in a business that benefits from your influence factor, you’d certainly want to be seen in the best positive light. Further, wearing the proper business attire has actual effects inwards.
Your clothing impacts your thinking.
Dressing smart is not only about impressing other people. Your style helps you feel confident and influence the way you think. According to one study, formal clothing enhances people’s ability to engage in abstract thinking and gives them a broader perspective.
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So before you keep on with these common mistakes in your business attire, know how to fix them and focus on leaving impressions that last:
1) The Mistake: Forgetting the Purpose of Business Wear
Clothes can be easily categorized depending on their use. Gym clothes are for workout sessions, sleepwear is for bedtime and casual clothing is for, you guessed it, casual outings. For the same reason, business attire is worn when you’re conducting business and any downgrade for it can be seen as not taking the job seriously.
The Fix
Understand the purpose of each item of your clothing. By doing so, it makes it easier to streamline your wardrobe and make the most out of them. It also makes getting ready in the morning more inspiring when you know that what you’re about to put on can help you power through the goals of the day.
2) The Mistake: Comfort vs. Credibility
Many times the excuse of many for not wearing business attire is that they’re not comfortable in them. Instead, they settle for wearing casual clothing that although may look nice, doesn’t convey the same level of credibility that formal business attire does. Ultimately, it affects their level of productivity because they don’t realize that casual clothes invite casual behavior.
The Fix
Find the balance by wearing business attire that provides a level of comfort without sacrificing your image of trustworthiness. We live in a world of an endless array of options so finding a brand that best suits your personality, your budget, and your style is not a hard feat. You can try out The Suit Collection from mainstream high-street brands such as Zara, Marks & Spencer, and Mango or have a custom suit made by your favorite local tailor.
3) The Mistake: Ill-fitting clothes
One of the most noticeable mistakes one can make for their business attire is having the wrong fit. Some suit jackets can either be too big or too tight, while trousers can hang just a tad bit short from the ankle or too long for the floor to drag.
The Fix
Know your body type to allow yourself to give more attention to details when shopping for clothes. If you find that your suits or dresses hang too loose, make an appointment to have them altered to your size. You’d rather have a few selections of perfectly-fitted clothes than keep wearing bad-fitted clothes.
4) The Mistake: Wrinkled Clothes
Nothing makes you look more unkempt than wearing wrinkled clothes. What you’re sending is a non-verbal message that you’re unbothered, lazy, or just overall not classy. Certainly, there are exemptions when you catch creases later in the day, but overall it’s not a good look to arrive early in the morning wearing wrinkled clothes straight out of the washer/dryer.
The Fix
The best way to avoid wearing wrinkled clothes is by preparing your business attire from the night of the big day. By doing this, you would have time to iron them thoroughly and not forgo them the next morning especially when you’re in a rush.
5) The Mistake: Wearing the Wrong Accessories
One of the rookie mistakes I see people make in business attire is going overboard when accessorizing the latest trends. Many are lost when it comes to categorizing some accessories as seasonal or classics. So if it’s distracting your outfit instead of complementing it, you’re likely letting the accessories wear you and not wearing them.
The Fix
When in doubt, remember that less is more. Or try the fool-proof tactic of wearing matching shoes, bags, and accessories to finish off an outfit. Matching accessories makes you look more polished and complete especially when you coordinate colors and textures.
6) The Mistake: Using Status Symbols Incorrectly
Sporting luxury brands can give an instant boost to your look but not if you’re wearing a counterfeit. Knockoff items, no matter how hard they try to copy the original, will always have lesser quality. It could also put you in an awkward position if someone is able to recognize you for wearing one.
The Fix
Don’t wear designer knockoffs. If you can’t afford the full price for luxury designer brands, find items that have similar high-end quality and craftsmanship. When you have enough saved up, buy designer wear or accessories that have a classic design to them so it’s easy to pair up with different pieces.
7) The Mistake: Sporting the Wrong Color
When you think of business attire, the colors that dominate the most are neutral colors of black and white. So it’s no surprise to want to experiment with other colors to bring out your personal style. The thing is some colors are best paired with certain skin tones and many people are not aware of this. There are also colors that will raise eyebrows in the boardroom despite it being high-quality. Hint: neon is not a serious look.
The Fix
Know your tones. Are you a warm tone, cool tone, or neutral tone? By understanding the colors that flatter your skin tone, you’d revolve around what works best and not get lost in a sea of trends in the process. Here’s how to identify your skin’s undertones.
8) The Mistake: Visible Undergarments
This is a common mistake as well because such items are not visible, so they don’t get enough attention. You look around and you see women who are wearing trousers or dresses with VPL (visible panty line) or men who are wearing a tank top under their dress shirt. By unintentionally creating attention to the underwear, it defeats the purpose of making the outer layer of clothing look put together.
The Fix
Stock up on high-quality undergarments in basic colors. Make sure that straps, lines, and tags remain hidden from your outerwear. For women, seamless undergarments are constantly on the rise in terms of design, size, and availability. For men, undershirts are also a more common choice over tank tops as their purpose is to serve as protection from sweat, body oils, and visible body parts on your dress shirt.
Takeaway
People form impressions of you based on how you look.
By avoiding these mistakes and refining the way you wear your business attire, you increase your chances of being seen as more trustworthy and reliable.
And with this heightened sense of credibility, you just earned yourself a spot to showcase your other credentials that will start to attract more business your way.
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