| Business Etiquette:
The Basics of Business Attire
A good rule of thumb regarding business cultures is to wear
simple yet elegant clothing. You want to portray an air of
confidence and sophistication. Conservative clothing is best,
using basic colors for suits and accent pieces. Colors such
as navy blue, charcoal, black, khaki and white are staples
in the world of business attire. Every business person should
own a variety of base pieces of clothing in one or more of
these colors. These pieces will provide a solid foundation
from which to add some personality later on.
Business Etiquette for Formal Workplaces
For those working in or visiting a more formal work environment,
the acceptable business attire is the suit for both men and
women. However, there are some business etiquette guidelines
for choosing the perfect suit to highlight your positive traits.
For men:
- A well fitting, tailored suit in solid colors, very subtle
patterns or pin striping
- Solid colored shirts
- Subtle colors or solid color silk ties that match the
shirt and suit
- Black or brown dress shoes
For women:
- Dress for the season, wearing heavier fabrics in autumn
and winter and lighter fabrics in spring and summer
- Choose solid colors or fabrics with a subtle pattern
to them. Dark colors work best but in spring and summer
months, muted pastels are also acceptable
- Make sure your suit fits well and have it custom tailored
if need be
- Wear solid colored accent blouses in subtle shades or
white
- Skirts are always appropriate. If wearing slacks make
sure they fit well and look formal enough
- Low heeled pumps
Top Business Attire Mistakes
Business etiquette dictates that you should pay attention
to business cultures and wear business attire appropriate
for each setting. You should always dress to impress regardless
of the type of environment you are in. Even if you work in
or are visiting a workplace with an ultra casual dress code,
you should still adhere to basic business etiquette and dress
conservatively. One of the top business attire faux pas includes
wearing clothing that is never acceptable in a work environment.
They include:
- Shorts
- Printed T-shirts
- Flip flops
- Tank tops
- Low cut blouses
- Tight clothing
- Garish jewelry
- Spike high heels or strappy sandals
- Wrinkled or dirty clothing
- Short skirts
- Patterned hose or stockings
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