WEAR YOUR WORK CLOTHES TO FIT WITH STYLE
Can I Mesh My Style With My Wardrobe? Yes, you can! You’ll need to keep a few things in mind as you build your work wardrobe. The most important one is fit.
How Do I know If My Clothes Fits Properly? Pants should fit comfortably around the waist, even without a belt. Custom trousers should be fitted throughout your legs, without being tight. They should fall to the top of your shoes, without bunching. Shirts should have shoulder seams that extend to the end of your shoulder bones. Sleeves should fall just past your wrist. Don’t let it be too baggy around the torso! A blazer should fall below your waistline. Shirtsleeves can show beyond your blazer sleeves. Make sure the shoulders align with your own shoulders. If wearing a sports jacket, a good measurement is when the hem of the jacket falls to the middle of your hands.
If you wear a sweater, it should fall below your waistline. Pay attention to your sweater’s armholes so they don’t bunch up. The shoulder seams should line up closely with the end of your shoulder.
What Clothing Items Are Considered Appropriate? Your employer may have its own rules for dress code. Otherwise, by sticking with correct fit and appropriate clothing items, you can’t go wrong. For pants, chinos/khakis are always a good choice. They can look dressy and professional, yet still feel natural and comfortable. Button-down shirts can be dressed up or down, and allow for many styles. A blazer or sports jacket will look great in many styles, as long as the fit is correct. Don’t hesitate to take it to a tailor for tweaks! A sweater is versatile, and can be worn both over a shirt and under a blazer or sports jacket.
Are Jeans Ever Appropriate? Yes, depending on your employer’s rules. Make sure they’re in proportion to your body, and avoid very skinny jeans. Dark washes and black are best. Of course they need to be appropriate for your work setting and more polished.
Will Other Shirts Work? Yes! They should not be too baggy, and should only extend a little past your belt line. Shirts such as polo shirts are versatile and can be worn with or without a custom blazer or sweater.
Any Last-minute Style Tips? If shirts hang down too far beyond the waist line, you should tuck them in. If all buttons are buttoned on a blazer and the fabric pulls, it means the blazer is too small. Don’t wear clothes that are too baggy. A good fit will look comfortable but neither sloppy nor too tight. Don’t be afraid to see a suit tailor to adjust size. Sometimes a small adjustment makes all the difference!
Now you’re ready to dress like a Combatant Gentlemen!