‘Social’ Intelligence: Dress to Impress All the Way to Success, Part Two

I would like to begin by saying that it is amazingly sunny and awesome outside and that that has pretty much made my day- a statement which is wholly unrelated to today’s article and ,yet, is of utmost importance, generally.

If you have had a rough time last night you might not remember that last- week’s Saturday entry was on the importance of putting on the right clothes at the right time and place.

Today I shall focus on what is maybe one of my most favourite topics in the world- suits; more specifically, I shall attempt to give you a couple of tips about things which you must look for in a suit.

Even though I am not a tailor, I consider myself a specialist on today’s topic as I have been reading up on it for almost four years now and am the proud owner of some twelve suits, thirty- six shirts and a disturbingly large amount of ties, hankies and cuff links.

So, here’s a little list of general remarks about wearing a suit:

·         NEVER go to a business meeting or event in a one- button suit as those types of suits are quite informal and you might not be taken seriously by those around you.

·         NEVER wear a suit which has not been ironed- it makes you look like a very sad and scruffy clown.

·         NEVER wear a light- coloured suit (beige, stone, white, khaki) to a firm social or a business meeting; you are not, I repeat, you are NOT, Bond. James Bond.

·         NEVER wear a chalk stripe black/ navy blue suit to anything other than a business meeting or presentation because you might be nicked and accused of belonging to the Italian mafia. I mean it.

·         NEVER wear striped shirts with striped ties- this turns you in the Doppler Effect and sends most people in a daze.

·       ALWAYS match your shoes to your belt; if you don’t, people might think that you are intoxicated or drugged.

·        ALWAYS wear a hankie- it shows that you have taken some time and put some thought in what to wear; this denotes to people that you respect them.

·         ALWAYS match your hankie to your tie and cufflinks- same colours; do not try to be original and do colour- matching- it often turns into a fiasco.

·         ALWAYS match you suit- pattern to your shirt- pattern- it very rarely looks good if you wear a pinstripe/ chalk stripe suit with a striped shirt. It shows complete and utter lack of imagination.

·         ALWAYS wear your jacket with all but one buttons undone; before greeting or shaking hands with someone important, do up all of your others buttons- this is a sign of respect.

The above list might sound quite simplistic and apparent but I am quite certain that if you look around you, you will notice that not many people adhere to it.

That is, of course, mainly due to the fact that not a lot of people care about any of the above things not because they are not aware of them but because they think that no- one pays attention to them.

Well, at the risk of disappointing you, my dear fellows, most of today’s successful entrepreneurs, professionals and well- off people in gheneral are painfully familiar with the above and are often looking for those things when they employ new or promote existing staff.

The above list is, of course, but an initial walkthrough and not an exhaustive guide to wearing suits; if you want to know what are today’s must- have suits and what the best suit for your body- type is, stay tuned for next week’s entry.

And, remember:

‘A good suit jacket is like a good lawyer; it must always cover your ass.’