Custom Clothing For The Corporate Work Place

It is awfully important to know what is and what is not your business. - GERTRUDE STEIN

I’m a self-made man, but I think if I had to go it over again, I’d call in someone else. - ROLAND YOUNG, Actor

It’s always better to be looked over than overlooked. - MAE WEST

Fourteen voice-mail messages after lunch. Thirty-two-mails to return. A PowerPoint presentation coming up in there weeks. There are enough pressures in the office these days without having to worry about what you wear every day. If you can maximize your wardrobe’s potential and learn the principles of smart dressing, you will remove (or at least reduce) a potential headache the night before an important meeting or lunch and can ease your mind so that you walk in fully prepared.

WORK EMERGENCY KIT: DESK
We all grew up with “be prepared” as a mail mantra. In adolescence we carried our “prepared” in our wallets and nowadays the less exciting jumper cables in the car. Being prepared is also good at work, especially since you never want to be unprepared for fate. So if you get a chance to shine be sure your shoes do, too. Always keep the following quick saves in your desk drawer.
- Clean white shirt pressed and wrapped from the cleaners
- A solid or tonal dark tie
- Deodorant
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- A comb
- Disposable quick wipe shoe buffer
- Spare set of shoelaces
- Spare set of collar stays
- Sewing kit from a hotel or travel kit
- Nail clippers
- Eye drops
- Disposable razor and small travel shave foam

THE TIMES ARE CHANGING ARE YOU?
In the mid-90s, as the economy grew exponentially, many established companies embraced the notion of casual Fridays and some firms even abolished dress codes codes altogether. When you’re making that much money, who really cares what your employees are wearing to work?But as the economy started to turn, it was no longer acceptable to be so laid-black about one’s appearance. And when people began to lose their jobs, looking serious about work became a priority again. Consequently, people are showing up early, working late, and finding safety behind a jacket and tie. Or didn’t you get that memo?

WHO GOT THE MEMO?
LOOK AROUNDHas the office dress code changed in the last few months? Have you even noticed? Look around. Has your boss stopped wearing khakis to work? Has a bohemian colleague shaved and cut his shorter? Are you the only one wearing jeans?Chances are, your colleagues have been dressing up again for work, and if you haven’t been, now is the time to dress smarter.

Now that you’ve been on the job for a while, it may be time to evaluate your career and your wardrobe: Are they giving you want? Or need?

ASSESS: ARE YOU WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?
Is your career going the way you thought it would? Are you doing the kinds of things that challenge you and make you happy? Have you stopped setting your alarm in the morning? If things are going well, where do you want to be five or ten years from now and will it take to get there?

Now look at you want to be, what is holding you back? Did you set unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself? Are you too hard on yourself? Too easy? Have friends been passing you by? Getting promotions? Taking on greater responsibilities? Is money as important as you thought it was? Is it more important than you care to admit? Is your wardrobe too junior now that you are more senior?

DEJUNK: WHAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK?
If you’re not where you want to be, what is holding you back? Did you set unrealistic goals and expectations for yourself? Are you too hard on yourself? Too easy? Have friends been passing you by? Getting promotions? Taking on greater responsibilities? Is money as important as you thought it was? Is it more important than you care to admit? Is your wardrobe too junior now that you are more senior?

RENEW: COMMIT TO THE GOALS YOU’VE MADE
Once you’ve determined what’s holding you back, it’s time to figure out what you want to accomplish next and how to get there. Find a mentor: Someone who can counsel you about your career and shoot straight without departments in your company or other companies altogether.Now take a look at your closet. Do you look like the people you admire professionally? Are they dressing with a certain authority that you respond to? Perhaps it’s time to look into another clothing investment to take your career to the next level.

BUILDING A CAREER WARDROBE
The reality is, a man could wear the same suit there times a week and on one would notice. A blue suit, if pressed or steamed properly, would look new every day if you paired it with the right shirts and ties, and occasionally threw in a sweater or two. By mixing up what you wear a striped shirt one day, then blue, then white, then a bold color you can stretch your limited wardrobe by buying suits of higher quality and being creative with the combinations. Although you may lack in quantity, you can now buy a finer suit that will last longer and follow you up the corporate ladder.

DON’T TAKE FRIDAYS OFF
Even if your office believes in casual Fridays, it doesn’t mean you have to. There’s no actual rule that says you have to look casual. And if you’re looking for a promotion or a raise, why risk looking laid-back on the one day that your boss may take notice of you? Think of yourself like a team looking to make the play-offs-you can’t let down in the stretch. So go the extra step to look your best when you want to move up. You never know who’s paying attention.

We remain with Best Regards,
E-tailor at www.mycustomtailor.com

Different Looks For Different Times.

Professional. By now, you should know the basic tenets of looking more professional, but just to be clear, looking more professional means meeting the sartorial standards of your office or industry. No matter the standard, looking more professional most likely means going one step above where you are now: From business casual to appropriate, and from appropriate to corporate.

Authoritative. If you want to look like one of the “suits” you have to wear one. Take a look at your superiors: What do they wear? Pinstripes? Double-breasted suits? French cuff shirts? Remember, management always looks a little stiff, a little too proper, so don’t overdo it.

Creative. In creative fields such as publishing, media dress codes are notoriously relaxed . So how do you look creative when you are supposed to be creative? Well, black usually does the trick. A black suit, a black sweater with a white T-shirt underneath, black shoes. It shows everyone that you can look professional and still maintain your personality.

Independent. Every man wants to be his own man, and looking independent is a part of that. The key is finding a way to do it without looking unprofessional. Wearing jeans to the office would not be a good approach. But always wearing a cowboy belt might be. Yes, it’s a become your trademark. Here’s a range of similar ways to express independence in many ways by being dandyish or rugged, bohemian or preppy just as long as you look professional first.

Friendly. If your image is a bit aloof, you need to warm it up. No one wants to work with someone who seems distant or superior to them especially if you’re not. So what will make you look more friendly? You have to know your audience. If you’re a white then a button-down oxford shirt and tie, with the jacket off and the appear too threatening to women, a bow tie actually declaws most men possibly because there’s almost nothing that’s as asexual as a bow tie. Can you loosen up in your office? Try dressing business appropriate. Wear a sport jacket with a shirt and no tie. You will look approachable. Bring color also work wonders. A bright tie will seem cheerful, whereas something dark can often seem funereal. Oh, and would it kill you to smile every once in a white?

Organized. If your appearance is neat and tidy and that includes your desk and/or office people will assume that you are organized. Even if it means sweeping all that junk into your desk, do it. No one has to know what you look like on the inside. As for clothing, your shoes polished, and your shirts pressed. Your ties should always be knotted to the top. And make sure your watch is set five minutes ahead.

Affluent. Sad, but true, some people do judge a look by its cover. If you want to invest in two areas that can make you seem like you’re packing a big portfolio, splurge on a good pair of shoes and a nice watch. The shoes you can’t really skimp on you don’t need to spend $1,000 but $200 is about right but a watch doesn’t need to cost more than $100 to look expensive. These days, Timex, Swatch, Fossil, and other manufacturers put enough bells and whistles on their timepieces that you can fool almost anyone

We remain with Best Regards,
E-tailor at www.mycustomtailor.com

Custom Made Business Suits And Shirts

“If I can be one step ahead because of the clothes I wear, then it’s worth it!”

CRAIG POGSON - Maitre d’ at 0rsay

Your closet will mostly full of non - work clothes at the early point in your career, which means that organizing what you wear to the office will be relatively simple. Here is a list of the minimum you should have in your work wardrobe as well as the accessories you will need to maintain your clothes properly:

The INTERVIEW WARDROBE
1 suit
3 shirt
3 ties
1 pair of shoes
1 watch
1 portfolio
Some socks/underwear

The CLOSET TOOLS
- Full-length mirror
- Shoe trees- Good hangers
- Lint remover- Iron/ironing board
- Steamer

CLOTHES CHECK
- Aviod dry-cleaning your clothes too often as it can be hard on fabrics. - Instead of dry-cleaning wrinkled suits, try steaming then .
- Hang up your suit or sport jacket every night, and place shoe trees in your shoes when you take them off.
- Remove clothes from dry-cleaning bags when you get them home. They tend to yellow whites and hold in moisture.

WHAT SUITS YOU?
Question -
I recently landed a management position similar to my job, but in my previous job I wore a suit only when clients cams to the office. In my new job the only casual days are Fridays. My two suits aren’t going to cut I can’t afford to buy one for every day. Is there a simple answer or do I just buy lots of ties?

Answer
- A navy and gray suit will take you far, so make the gray suit your next purchase. Spend a little more on this and it will becomes your bulletproof outfit. Also, add a blazer or sport coat in a small dark pattern to look pulled together on casual Fridays. Spend carefully on some good cotton shirts and silk ties and you can make it seem as if your wardrobe is endless. Remember, the suit is just the frame, the shirt and tie are the picture.

Work Wardrobe
Stuff comes out of work. Paychecks, promotions, and at one time, even security. But that has disappeared. The only security left is your ability to do well, take care of yourself, and present a clear, distinct message of your ability and worth. No matter your skill set, it is essential that you not worry about be taking care of the silent dialogue that happens whether you’re walking down a hallway in your office, seeing a customer, or sitting in a meeting. In this section, options are presented for you to build a wardrobe that will save you money and send an unmistakable message of your value and competence (if you’re not competent and don’t have value your clothes won’t help).

Dress Like You Mean Business

How you dress in an interview is one thing, but what you wear to work every day once have the position is quite another and far more complicated. The former involves looking the part and instantly communicating to your potential employers that you belong. But once you have the job, it is important to maintain appearances and standards. Obviously, your performance at work will dressing smart is essential for succeeding in the workplace.

MEN OF RESPECT
Dressing appropriately in the office is a respect. It tells your coworkers and superiors that you are ready for business every single day. And the truth is, it does not take that much effort to dress properly for the office. In fact, that’s the point: If you can’t take the time to care about your appearance, than you are telling everyone that perhaps you aren’t taking proper care of your professional responsibilities, either.This is the true lesson behind dressing smart in the office: You are ultimately showing respect for yourself. And if you do that, other will as well.

Did you know?
... Men who wore white shirts wear thought to be more competent and honest…Dress for Success. It is thought that men in white shirts are more intelligent, honest, successful and powerful than men wearing any other color.

In Your Work Wardrobe

-Ensure Image Control
Every industry has different standards, every company within an industry has different standards, and often there divisions within the same company that have different standards than divisions. That said, there are some basic principles to follow dressing for work, and they will always apply:

- Be appropriate. An office or industry is like a club. Look like you’re a member, not guest.

- Be professional. Whether your code is corporate or casual, the clothes you wear should always reflect your seriousness about business. This will give you a quiet confidence that you can handle any task.

- Be comfortable. You cannot dress like someone you’re not. If you feel comfortable only in blue suits, then wear them. Dress for your personality and body type. But remember, comfortable does not mean sloppy.

- Be strategic. Clothes can set you apart. Ask yourself what your goals are and then dress accordingly. Are you looking for a promotion? Try wearing bolder ties so you stand out more. Is your profile too high and you just want to be part of the team? Start dressing more like the other players. Do you want the boss to notice you more? Pay attention to how he dresses, mimic him (within your budget, of course), and let him compliment you on your good taste.

We remain with Best Regards,
E-tailor at www.mycustomtailor.com

Tools Of The Trade

BRIEFCASE VS.KNAPSCK
Alas, you stopped carrying a Scooby-Doo lunch box at one point in your life you have stopped, haven’t you?, and now it’s time to abandon the knapsack in favor of a briefcase. Infinitely more stylish and far more grow-up, a briefcase is a sign that you are ready to be serious about your career. Choose one in black or brow leather and make sure there’s enough room to grow but not bulge. Be sure there is reinforced stitching on stress points, not too many pockets , and a light interior color easier to spot lost objects.

THE WRITE STUFF
Seeing as how mighty the pen is it makes sense to carry one with some impact. You never know when you’ll be called on to hand it over to someone more senior or sign something important in public. Get yourself a nice metal pen with a hard point as opposed to a felt tip and be quick on the draw when someone in authority asks for one.

MONEY CLIP
Want something lighter than a wallet? Consider a money clip made of brass or silver. Assuming you don’t cram every receipt, photo, and credit card you own in there and now is the time to De junk it’s a streamlined way to go.

WHAT’S ON YOUR AGENDA
A smart businessman keeps his appointments and is always on time. The first step to doing that is maintaining an agenda. Whether it’s a small leather notebook with and addresses or a high-tech PDA, a well-maintained agenda will bail you out time and again.

MONEY MATTERS
Anything that someone in the workplace might see affects your appearance and that includes your wallet. After all, you might have to pay for a business lunch some day and you can’t be pulling out that old Velcro number from seventh grade. So, as with belts and briefcases, stay with black or brown leather. Also, try keeping your wallet in your jacket’s breast pocket it doesn’t get bent out of shape.

CLOSET WORK WARDROBE
Your refrigerator is probably stocked, but is your closet? Take a moment to consider what you need, and whether what you have is meeting your career goals. Below is a checklist for the first year on the job and the fifth. It’s just a guideline, but if you follow it, you should be set for years to come. Your goals: To create a flexible work wardrobe so that: 1. Your never have to wear the same outfit twice in one week, and 2. You will look appropriate in any work environment.

FIRST-YEAR CHECKLIST
2 or 3 suits1 or 2 sport jackets7-10 dress shirts3 or 4 pairs of pants2 pairs of shoes5-7 ties1 briefcase

FIVE YEARS AND COUNTING
5-8 suits4 or 5 sport jackets6-8 pairs of shoes5 pairs of shoes15-20 ties3 sweatersYour closet should now be filled with all of the clothes you need to get ahead in the workplace: Enough suits, shirts, ties, pants, shoes, and a few power accessories to get you through each season, all types of weather, and every occasion. And, because you purchased wisely, many of these clothes will last you for years to come.

WHAT SUIT YOU?
Dear jeff and Kim,I was just promoted to VP of my division, and travel a lot between Seattle and LA. I bought a black suits, but I’m not sure what to wear with it. I have a gray shirt and dark tie but I feel my lace-up oxfords aren’t right. I sometimes think I look like I’m going to a funeral.-Paint It BlackDear Paint It Black,Once fashion-forward, the black suit has become mainstream a new classic. If you don’t feel right in your lace-ups then get a good pair of loafers. A black suit looks great with a French blue shirt and a dark tie, pattern or solid. A good suit is also great for after-work events with an open dress shirt, as well as occasions that are black tie optional. Translation: Don’t wear a tux unless you are the waiter. A black suit, white shirt, and a silver or dark tie create an evening outfit without the hoopla of a tuxedo.-jeff and Kim

POWER WARDROBE
It was in Wall Street that Michael Douglas, as Gordon Gekko, got to rave “Greed works! Greed will save the USA!” it is safe to say that the character had a firm grasp on power as many know it. And he had the clothes to prove it. What is it that gives clothes an aura of power? Part of it is the cultural association to things such as movies some of it is the ability to afford from the taste and ability to dress in a timeless style that speaks of the individual. You may wear what you see in the movies, or a shirt a boss wears, or a suit of a business leader, but if it isn’t you, then you’re only wearing a costume doing business in drag. The key is to slowly learn what makes you feel good and confident. With that you begin to create a wardrobe of personal style. Your uniform of self.

DRESSING TO GET AHEAD
After several years on the job, you have like been moving up or else you’re ready to move out. If you’ve been racking up promotions, your wardrobe of the last few years needs to be improved on. It’s not that it’s no longer appropriate for work look at all the successful junior people in the office, they’re dressing like you now, aren’t they? It’s just that you now need to dress with authority. You need to have a wardrobe with some power.To get where you want to go takes a lot of hard work, and your wardrobe has been a part of your climb up the ladder. Now, more than ever, as you seek a better position , this aphorism is essential: Dress for the job you want to have, not for the one you already have. In other words, if you’re still dressing like a bit player, no one will ever see you as the leading man.Of course, the mailroom clerk who dresses like a managing director will never get the job he seeks simply because he wears the right jacket and tie, but it might cause someone to think he’s capable of that job some day. By the same token, if you’re the managing director who dresses like a mailroom clerk, you are, perhaps, building a glass ceiling over your head.Keep in mind, however, that you should dress one level above don’t try skipping three or four. Dressing for the next job only works if you don’t upstage your superiors. They don’t want you dressing better than they do.

CONSISTENCY-AVOIDING MIXED SIGNALS
Your employees look to you for guidance. If you dress commandingly every day, you will appear confident and secure, like the kind of man who has everything under control. Then, if you dress down on Fridays, you may be sending the message that everyone can relax a bit on that day.Similarly, if you aspire to rising in the ranks, be aware that your big break could come at any moment, so dress accordingly.

LOOKING LIKE A MILLION-WITHOUT MAKING A MILLION
One of the many perks of climbing the ladder is greater financial security. And as you earn money, you will find that you will likely spend more. Improving certain aspects of like a better car, a new house, nicer vacations is one of the many rewards of success. So, too, must you make a new investment in your wardrobe.Becoming more successful, however, doesn’t require that you wear $2,000 suits unless of course if you can afford them and appreciate them but it doesn’t really allow for $200 suit anymore, either. What you need to learn now is how to invest in quality.

POCKET SQUARES VS. HANDKERCHIEFS
The pocket square a piece of colored silk kept in your jacket breast pocket comes in and out style and is, at best tricky. Never match your tie color, but keep it the same hue.A fine linen handkerchief folded or stuffed in your pocket is much safer. Below are two simple methods of handkerchief control.

THE TRAIANGLE FOLD
1. Fold the linen in quarters.
2. Fold the sides into the center.
3. Bend the bottom half backward and fold in half.
4. Place in pocket.The Puffed Fold. Grab the center of the handkerchief and let it fall upside down, smooth with the hand, gathering most of the material like a flower. Fold the center end under, and stuff neatly into pocket.

WRIST SHOTS
A double cuff that turns back and is usually fastened with a cuff link, the French cuff makes an elegant statement at the wrist. If you purchase a shirt with a contrasting collar and cuffs, the cuffs should always be French cuffs.

We remain with Best Regaards,
E-tailor at www.mycustomtailor.com