Professional dress for the work place

1. Dress For Success
Presented by
Tom James Company

2. Tom James Introduction
• Tom James Company
Fine Clothing Since
1966
• International
company
• Locations in almost
every major city

3. Dressing for Success

4. ??? Trivia ???
1. What should men match their socks to?
2. Can men wear cuff links with a sport
coat?
3. Is a formal cummerbund worn with the
pleats facing up or down?
4. What is the appropriate length of a
skirt for business?
5. According to experts, what is the
appropriate amount of exposed skin a
female executive should show?

5. Key to Success
• “You never get a
second chance to
make a first
impression!”

6. Non –Verbal Cues
• Human behavioral scientists state that it is a scientific
fact that people who don’t know you will make up their
minds about you on a subliminal/subconscious basis in
30 seconds or less.
• This evaluation of you by others is lightening fast and
deeply etched in the cerebral cortex.
• Behavioral scientists tell us that we notice the following
about another human being and in this order:
• Appearance (clothing, grooming, etc.)
• Bearing (height, body language, etc.)
• Direct Eye Contact
• Speech

7. Good News
• YOU CAN DO
SOMETHING
ABOUT THE WAY
YOU ARE
PERCEIVED!

8. Appearance-Based
Conclusions
• Your Professionalism
• Your Level of
Sophistication
• Your Intelligence
• Your Credibility
• Your Tidiness

9. The Basics
• “What ARE the
rules?”
???

10. Overlooked Details
• Men - Never wear a short
sleeve shirt with a tie. Short
sleeve shirts are generally
perceived as lower class apparel.
Fine as part of a uniform or if you
aspire to be a fast-food manager,
not if you want to project a
professional image

11. Overlooked Details
• Shoes are one of the most evaluated
elements of a man’s wardrobe.
• Your shoes should be clean and in
good repair as well as appropriate for
the occasion.
• Don’t wear the same shoe on
consecutive days.
• Keep shoe trees in your shoes when
you’re not wearing them.
• Be sure to edge dress and polish your
shoes before going out for the day.
• It is a fact that people will make
judgments about your tidiness if your
shoes are scuffed and old looking.

12. Overlooked Details
• Minimal glitz - Choose a
couple of key accessories
• Men - a nice watch and
cufflinks
• Women - small earrings and
simple rings
• The suggestion is that lot's
of sparkles and glitz can be
distracting. Understated
accessories suggest a
practical more serious
approach to work, "less
show and more go”.

13. Overlooked Details
• Ladies-Suit coats are a
must. It is harder for
females to quickly establish
a professional presence
without a suit coat.
• A skirt is recommended,
again, because it conveys
professionalism much better
than slacks. Skirts should
be no more than 2” above
the knee, and not much
longer than mid-calf.

14. Overlooked Details
Tailoring your garments
to fit
• Spend what is necessary
to insure that your
garments fit you.
Regardless of what they
look like on a hanger or
what they cost you
should ensure that they
are fitted to your body
by a proper tailor.

15. Overlooked Details
Scent (For Men & Women)
• Any perfume, cologne, or perfumed
grooming product should not be
noticeable at normal business proximity.
This means that you can exit the elevator
and no one entering should be able to
guess that you were there. As with the
other aspects of your grooming, scent
should not call attention on its own. Scent
should never be a distraction, but, if
anything, a subtle adjunct that the vast
majority of people you encounter will
never notice or be close enough to
perceive.

16. Socks & Hose
• Over-the-calf
• Appropriate Color

17. Pants
• Pleats vs. Plain Front
• Cuffs or Plain Bottom
• Appropriate Length

18. Coat
• Looks Good
• Fits
– Coat Length
– Sleeve Length
• In Style

19. Belts Or Braces
• Belts match the
shoes ALWAYS
Braces

20. Shirts
• Colors
• Collars
• Cuffs
• Pockets
• Fabrics

21. Formal Wear
• Cummerbund or
Vest
• Lapel Style
• Shirt Collar Style

22. Fabrics
• 100% Wool
• Blended Cloths
• Higher “Content”

23. Ties
• Finesse Items
• Length
• Coordination
• At least two
looks per suit

24. Colors

25. Navy
• Power Color
• Odds in your
favor
• Public speaking
• Big Meetings
• Presentations

26. Gray
• Confidence color
• Financial stability
color
• Darker = more
formal
• “Close-the-deal”
color

27. Earth tones
• Great Friday suit
• Approachable
color
• Nice change of
pace suit - mixes
up your rotation

28. Black
• Your most formal
color
• Best color for
evening events
• Great travel suit

29. Final Thoughts
• Explain what a
proper rotation
should be
• Dress to Fit Your
Audience

30. Working with a professional
clothier
• Most successful
business people
have a
mastermind group
of people that help
them get where
they are. Working
with a professional
clothier will help
you get where you
want to go.

31. Thank You!