Do YOU want to be as sexy as Harvey Specter?

No. But at least you can dress like him?

In honor of the new season premiere of “Suits” tonight, I have decided to write a post on “how to look sexy as hell in the office.” In other words, “how do dress professionally and appropriately…” I will dive into the basics of grooming, purchasing proper suits, and maintaining your professional attire below.

Word of caution to the Ladies: unfortunately, as a man, I do not possess the knowledge in proper attire for women. As such, this post will only focus on male attire. I apologize if I have offended you or got your hopes up. At the very least, it is my hopes that this article will increase the number of attractive men boasting their properly worn professional attire at their respective occupations. Also, please keep in mind that some of the information is very basic and self-explanatory but a reminder will not hurt.

Grooming
1.) Make sure to have a haircut at least a week before an important event. No crazy hair.
2.) Maintain a clean face and do not forget to shave.
3.) Keep your nails groomed.
4.) Do not try to look richer than your interviewer or boss.
5.) Do not overdo your cologne.

Shirt
Before purchasing a shirt, understand that it is critical to find the one with your size. If there are attendants available at the store, measure your neck and sleeve. Also, consider whether you want to purchase a traditional or slim fit.

As for the maintenance, it is important to have your shirts cleaned and ironed at all times. If the shirt is the one you would like to use for work/interview, I would highly advise to take them to the cleaners. On a similar note, using starch on collar and cuffs will keep them firm and hard. If unavailable, purchase collar stays, but make sure to take them out before taking your shirts to the cleaners.

Straight Collar (recommended):
1.) Generally complements any face shape
2.) Most traditional

Spread Collar:
1.) More formal
2.) Try not to wear if you are young or just entered the company

Button-down Collar:
1.) The tie is optional
2.) ALWAYS button the collar

Although some other collars such as the club or cutway are available, try to stay away from the other collars.

Cuff
Simple: If you are not an MD, DO NOT purchase French cuff shirts.

Ties
For interviews, I would recommend sticking with solid color shirts (blue, white, pastels), and choosing a tie that has relatively simple patterns, but matches the selected shirt. Slim/skinny times are not recommended for work.

Four-in-Hand:
1.) Most common
2.) Simple to tie
3.) Asymmetric

Half Windsor:
1.) Versatile
2.) Medium triangle

Windsor:
1.) Most formal
2.) Wide
3.) Best with spread collars

Please hang your ties after untying them. It is also advised to use tie rollers when travelling.

Suits
Two things to consider when purchasing a suit: overall silhouette and specific proportions of the wearer.

For short people:
DO NOT wear a long jacket or wide ties or lapels
DO buy short-length suits with pants legs with very little break
DO show some cuff
DO wear a peak lapel
DO use a lower button stance with slim shoes

For tall people:
DO NOT wear padded shoulders or extra slim ties
DO wear light colors on two-button suits
DO keep cuff to a minimum and get a break in the trousers

Single Breasted v. Double Breasted:
In my opinion, I think double-breasted suits look incredible, but many consider them as outdated or generally reserved for the older generations.

Buttons:
One, two, or three on your suit! NEVER button the last one.

Lapels:
Jacket lapels are the folded flaps on the front of a jacket. Two lapels to consider: notch and peak. The peak lapel would be the one with a more pointed lapel that rises higher, but is mostly reserved for double-breasted jackets.

Vents:
Vents are those slight slits located at the rear of the jacket. You will find suits with single, double, or no vents. Your preference, in my opinion, will matter the most on this decision.

Jackets:
I would advise starting with black, grey, or navy suits. They are the ones found to be the most traditional in work place. Also, consider the patterns of your suits such as stripes, check/glen check, herringbone, and nailhead.

Pleats:
Pleats become very important when deciding the correct pants to purchase. They are the slight folds on your pants that keep them firm and intact. If you do have pleats on your pants, cuff or uncuff the end of your pants. If you have a flat front, keep the ends uncuffed.

Pants Breaks:
Pant breaks are, in lay terms, the ends of your pants and how far they should drop down to the shoes. Nothing much to say on this, but that there are three breaks: full, medium, and short. I would advice getting a break that matches your height. For short people, having a short or medium break would help your appearance.

Tailoring
1.) Shoulders cannot be fixed
2.) Pants waist must not be adjusted more than 1 inch
3.) Sleeve length can be fixed…it is recommended that you try to show ¼ inch of the cuffs
4.) Taper the torso
5.) Check for roll in back of suit jacket

This concludes the short blog on the guide to dress professionally. I try to follow these guidelines as well but if I missed anything or if you would like to add anything on, please comment!