You’re fresh out of university and getting ready to step into the real world. You certainly want to make the best first impression as you walk into your first job. As they say, you can only make a first impression once and you definitely want your boss or bosses, as well as your colleagues, to be impressed, both with the work you do and frankly, with how you present yourself. However, you may not necessarily want to spend a fortune to do so. You may even be a little confused about where to begin.
Starting your first job is likely nerve-wracking enough as it is. Let us ease the process a little bit and help you out with some tips on how to nail your office attire and build your professional wardrobe.
Gone are the days when jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers will do. From now on, you’ll want to look well put together and sharp, giving you an overall appearance of being highly capable. Think sleek and suave. Perhaps this is your first step into the business world that requires a certain professional look or perhaps you just want to elevate your work attire. If either is the case, you’ll want to begin with the basics.
Start with a suit. Every man should have a suit but not just any suit. Every man should have a suit that fits him perfectly. It’s the difference between looking sloppy and looking polished. Choose a single-breasted suit in the basic black, navy or dark grey colors. If you can get one in each color, even better. These neutral colors are a great base to build your work attire around. What’s more, you can wear suits repeatedly without it being too obvious with different shirts, neckties and accessories.
Next is your dress shirt. Of course, it’s mandatory for you to have a few crisp white dress shirts. In addition, you’ll want solid colored shirts in basic colors as well as pastel hues such as light blue, lavender and even pink. If you already have a good selection of solid colored shirts, you can explore subtle patterns, including pinstripes. In all cases, make sure you have perfectly fitting custom dress shirts. In any case, we recommend you to explore our collection of Designer Business Dress Shirts.
Your necktie comes next. If a well-fitting white dress shirt is mandatory, so is a sleek black necktie. Once you have that covered, you can show off your personal style with your necktie while still keeping your look professionally appropriate. Go for stripes, classic prints and patterns, as well as various fabrics like tweed. Pairing different neckties with your suits and shirts will give you a fresh look. The only word of caution would be to avoid overly loud or comedic, graphic neckties. You can save those for when you’re out with your friends.
Of course, you can’t forget your shoes. Wearing the wrong shoes, or wearing shoes that are scuffed, unpolished or tired-looking can ruin your whole outfit. Start with a basic pair of black leather shoes that you can wear with either your black, navy or grey suits. You can then follow it up with a pair of dark brown leather shoes that can also easily go with your navy, as well as your black suit. It should also go without saying that you should have the appropriately colored dress socks to go with your attire.
Last but not least in the foundation of your professional wardrobe is your coat. The last thing you want is to step out for a business meeting or a work event and wear an unkempt coat or jacket over your sharply tailored an ensemble. Make sure you have an appropriate coat to go with your workwear and to take you from one meeting to the next.
You can’t go wrong with a black overcoat but other colors and styles can work too. Same as with your suit, stick to neutral colors and classic styles as a start. Aside from black, you can also opt for a navy double-breasted coat or grey funnel coat. A classic beige trench coat is also a great option for milder weather.
Creating your professional look that’s both appropriate and stylish will help give you confidence as you start your next chapter in the professional world. However, regardless of what suit you put on or what shirt you wear, have innate confidence knowing that you’re there because you’ve earned your place and get ready to climb that professional ladder.
