Some companies require their employees to follow a very strict code. Back a while ago, a 46-page long dress code released by a Swiss bank went viral and was seen the paramount of excellence when it comes to dress codes.

Some people found it exaggerated, others found it useful.

In the end, however, most “dress codes” are just basic common sense dressing up notions, especially for people who work in offices or other types of business or corporate environments.

 

Even so, many men who work in offices still make many faux-pas that prevent them from having a positive image in the company. The saddest part is that most men who are trying to get dressed up as well as they possibly can in the morning (especially young men who lack experience) are not familiar at all with some very basic business/office fashion tips.

 

And this is where we come in. In this guide, we will explain six essential fashion tips that will help any man improve his aspect. The reason why it is important to know and follow these rules is because most men who work in offices can and want to be promoted, but a boss will never promote a slob.

 

 

1. Match your belt with your shoes

The number one rule when it comes to conservative dress spaces, such as offices or corporate places is that your belt must always match your shoes! When you are going shoe shopping, in case you have a belt, you can take your belt with you and put it next to the shoes you are planning to buy, to make sure they are the same color.

Of course, wearing black is a safe bet (in this case, make sure the textures are similar, and never wear something too shiny, as those pieces are reserved for the evening), but if you are going for brown or other colors, you must always make sure the belt matches your shoes exactly!

Other things don’t necessarily need to match, but they do need to go in terms of color. Learning about the color theory and how to mix colors can help you step up your game and make take your style to new heights.

 

 

2. Tie your tie correctly

When it comes to tying a tie, the knot type is not as important as the tie length. Of course, some knots are more appropriate for the office, such as the Pratt, the Windsor or the Half Windsor knot, but basically almost any conservative knot will work in an office.

Once you know how to tie a proper knot, the essential thing to look out for is how long you tie your tie. The rule is that your tie should touch your belt line; it should not be lower or higher.

If you find yourself tying your tie and notice that you did not pull on it enough on one end or the other to make it this length, you need to redo it.

As an extra style tip, larger men look better in wider ties, while men with thinner frames look better in thinner ties.

 

 

3. Get fitted clothes

It is very important to wear clothes that are in your size. Clothes that are in your size will feel comfortable and will look very well. A jacket, a pair of pants and a shirt must be tight enough to touch your body, but loose enough to allow you any kind of movements and not to strangle you. If you feel you have an uncommon body shape, you can buy a larger shirt, jacket or pair of pants and have them tailored by a professional. Tailors can really do wonders and getting your clothes tailored is a great investment that is worth the money.

Speaking of fit, while you must always make sure the jacket does not have too much room; you must also pay attention to the collar of your jacket and to the collar of your shirt. These two need to touch and no space between them is allowed.

Moreover, you need to make sure your pants, when you are putting them on your waist, do not have more than one pleat at the bottom. A few decades ago, two was also good, but now this looks just outdated and costume-y.

 

 

4. Wear dress shirts

A big faux-pas many men make when they are wearing shirts is that they believe that any shirt is a dress shirt. And this could not be further away from the truth.

A dress shirt is a shirt that features no pockets, no loop at the back and features seven or eight buttons.

 

 

5. Know when and what to button

Those who work in offices or in a business environment and who are not very informed when it comes to matters of style, might have noticed that sometimes men wear their jackets open and sometimes buttoned.

What is going on there is that there are basically two rules you need to follow:

a) If you are wearing a jacket that has two or more buttons, you need to always unfasten the lowest button. This rule also applies to vests, but it is not so mandatory.

b) When you sit down, you should always open your jacket and when you stand up, you should always fasten it again, leaving, of course, the lowest button unbuttoned.

 

 

6. Wear the right socks

One of the most common fashion mistakes men in general and men who work in businesses make is that they wear the wrong kind of socks. And the wrong kind of socks are white socks! Never, ever wear white socks if you are not at the gym, on the track or doing any kind of physical or sports activity.

For a safe bet, you can go with black socks, but gray and brown can also work well. If you are more adventurous, you can wear colorful socks as well.

 

To get ahead in the business world, one must always be on top of his game when it comes to his appearance, and following these tips will do just that for you. From head to toe, you must always be polished and ready to close a million dollar deal! Your looks are a key factor that does not only reflect in others’ opinions of you, but it also impacts the way in which you see yourself, and therefore, your attitude.

Looking great will result in feeling great, so there is no reason not to want to look your best!

 

 

Fraquoh and Franchomme

 

 

 

 

 

Further reading:

12 essential suit rules

35 fashion rules for men 

P.S. What fashion rules do you follow at the office? Do you work in a company that has a dress code? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!