Feeling poised, powerful and ready to seal some deals? Such an occasion calls for a dress code of its own, and that dress code is most likely to be “business attire.”
In our last edition of Dress Code Decoding 101, we learned the ins and outs of “smart casual.” Luckily, the sartorial philosophy behind business attire is more straightforward and easier to nail. For starters, it’s probably what you’re picturing: a good suit, a conservative tie and a leather briefcase. It’s the pop culture depiction of any high-powered dude killing it in the boardroom or on the trading floor. Don Draper and his fellow Mad Men, Michael Douglas in Wall Street or even Al Pacino in The Godfather (though we do hope you have a slightly different profession) capture it.
There’s a reason those references seem a little old school. These days, most office spaces have embraced a more casual approach to dressing. But even in the most relaxed corporate environment, business attire is needed for client meetings, notable events and the interview to get a job in the first place. And if your company requires a business ensemble every day, you’re going to need some options.
Scroll down to start building your professional wardrobe.
