Men’s Corporate Styling

First impressions are important. When starting out in the corporate world it is important for your wardrobe to be as smart as your brain.

That being said, the suit you put on in the morning can’t just be any old suit that you bought on a whim. Your work attire needs to actually fit your body type and the colors you buy should coordinate with your complexion.

The best is to start with a foundation for your corporate wardrobe and that is a two-piece suit. A tailored two-piece suit for that matter. The best thing to do for your first suit it to keep it traditional. This means a black, navy or charcoal grey suit is your best bet. Buying a suit that is an eccentric color or boasts a daring pattern is not a good way to build the foundation of your corporate wardrobe. If you feel like a solid is too bland though, it is okay to venture out into a soft pinstripe to start.

For someone who hasn’t always had the best style or cared what they put on their body, this may sound Ludacris after spending money on a nice suit, but tailoring is a must. If you’re going to put the effort into buying a nice suit, it is essential to go the extra step and get it tailored to fit your body! Unless you are getting a custom-made suit (which is a good idea, but can be costly), suits need to be tailored so that they fit properly.

After nailing down a well-fitted classic two-piece suit, the button-down shirt worn underneath is also an important step. Here is where you can get a little more creative and play around with prints and colors. While it is essential to have at least a light blue and white button down, after that you can delve into different checks and brighter colors like purple or pink.

Then comes the shoes. Black or dark brown should be your go to color here. They’ll match with almost anything but if you got a navy suit, your best bet here is to go with a brown shoe so that you don’t make a fashion faux pas. Key corporate styles to choose from are oxford, single or double strap and brogue. When choosing a material, always go with a leather as it will hold up in a plethora of weather conditions and can be worn any season.

Now that you’ve covered your basic outfit, you can accessorize! As a man, you may be thinking that you don’t need jewelry or a purse, but when picking out a suit, those accessories are different. This is where ties, pocket squares and cuff links can come into play. Picking out a red pocket square or emerald cuff links can be a fun way to add a pop of color to your look and let your personality shine! Yes, working in a corporate setting does confine your wardrobe to certain pieces and colors, but if you’re feeling fancy and want to set yourself apart from the rest, this is where to take those fashion risks!