Business Attire - Is The Business Suit Dead?
Business attire has seen a shift in the way employees and employers dress for business from formal to a more casual approach for both men and women.
Traditionally, formal wear would be worn in the office, places of business or industries where professionalism is highly ranked such as solicitors or finance.
Since the mid-2000s, a lot more businesses have opted for a more semi-formal to a casual look, shifting away from the formal suit.
This change towards a more relaxed, less formal attire could be due to the way tech companies have an easier going approach to business.
What Is Men’s Business Attire?
In the UK, traditional business attire would comprise of a three-piece suit, well-pressed shirt, a necktie and clean shoes. Pocket squares were optional along with braces.
Suits can be either a two or three-piece set. A two-piece suit would be just the jacket and trousers and a three-piece would have the addition of a waistcoat. Business suits are typically conservative in colour – either black, grey or navy.
The suit jacket should be fitted across the top of the back and sit square on the shoulders, with the sleeve ending at the wrist when your arms are by your side.
Suit sleeves are not meant to go beyond the wrist when your arms are straight as you would hide the cuffs of your shirt plus it makes it more difficult to look at your watch and it’s awkward when putting your hands in your pockets.
If your suit trousers are unfinished (the hem is still to be stitched), then it is always best to have the shoes you will be wearing with the suit to hand so the tailor can finish the trousers to the correct length.
Shirts should always be clean and pressed. Typically shirts worn with suits are collared, long-sleeved and can either have buttoned cuffs or are double cuffed to be worn with cuff links.
Formal shirts are again conservative in colour (salmon pink is also acceptable) and are normally plain or would have vertical stripes.
A good quality tie is often made from silk and again is conservative in colour and pattern. Flashy and bold ties previously seen as distracting, have become a lot quirkier and are often the go-to choice as accessories by young hipsters.
Shoes are traditionally black or brown and as mentioned above, ensure that the shoes and the bottom of the trousers. Some of the more fashion-oriented will have the bottom of their trousers a few inches shorter to show off the design and patterns of their socks.
A good quality tie is often made from silk and again is conservative in colour and pattern. Flashy and bold ties previously seen as distracting, have become a lot quirkier and are often the go-to choice as accessories by young hipsters.
Shoes are traditionally black or brown and as mentioned above, ensure that the shoes and the bottom of the trousers. Some of the more fashion-oriented will have the bottom of their trousers a few inches shorter to show off the design and patterns of their socks.
There are a number of different accessories that can be worn with a suit to finish off the complete look. These include belts, watches, braces and pocket squares.
If you do opt for a pocket square, make sure it complements your tie or any other colours you are wearing.
Fashion trends have always come and gone, but the business suit will always remain a firm favourite in men’s wardrobes.
Wearing a fitted suit gives a sense of pride and dignity. It can often feel like putting on your armour to go to work.
We don’t think that the business suit will ever die, we think it will just get more fashionable.
