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June 06, 2010

Business Attire / Public Behavior (Part 1)

Business Attire is the art of correct dressing. One of the most memorable signboard of a tailor said, “God made man, we will make him a gentleman”.

Business is all about communication. How we can communicate with our words, thoughts and with our dress. The Americans talk of power dressing – dressing that gives an unfair advantage.

What comes even before attire is personal hygiene. A bath everyday is a must and an investment in a good deodorant is essential. People don’t expect the employees to be bathed in scents but a pleasant smell and a good after shave would enhance a person’s likeability. Remember good smell is a hygiene factor. If one is smelling nice it is hardly noticed but people with bad body odour are targeted or in many cases even ostracized.

The typical dress in the corporate world has remained British. That is shirt, trousers and shoes. Many a Britisher is amused when they see the shirt tucked into the trousers while the person is wearing casual footwear. The dress code makes it mandatory that if the shirt is tucked then shoes are mandatory.

The trouser should be of a dark colour. The number of pleats is also specified. No more than three plaits. The cut should be sober. Bell-bottoms and crotch huggers are best left to the film stars. Moreover, six pocket trousers should not even be considered.

The shirt should be of a very light colour. The styling should be easy fit and comfortable. The tie should preferably be of a contrasting colour. Broad ties are in vogue. The tie should smugly sit at the center of the collar. No slack should be visible. Whether single or double knot is a personal choice but when the tie is worn care should be taken to see that the collar is not crumbled. If the collar is crumpled it means that the collar is over sized and if the skin at the collar is pinched, it means that the collar is too tight.

The length of the tie is also very important. The end of the tie should be touching the top part of the belt. By nature ties are very visual and care should be taken to see that one does not wear funny designs, or psychedelic figures. Ties should not be crumpled. A Tie pin will keep the tie in place and will ensure that the tie does not become a portable broomstick.

What ever is the quality or the type of clothes ensures that they are always clean and well pressed. Remember that in tropical countries people perspire a lot and unwashed clothes result in obnoxious odors especially in air-conditioned offices.

The belt of-course should always be worn. The belt should not be very wide or too thin. The loose end of the belt should not be left hanging out. The length of the belt is also of very vital importance. The belt should be worn that matches the waist size with a maximum of three or four holes.

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