Men's Fashion Tips : How to Dress Up a Black Suit

When accessorized properly, a black suit can look very elegant. Dress up a black suit with help from a men's clothier in this free video on fashion tips. Expert: Larry Davidson

How to Dress Like a CEO (Men)

What are you silently shouting? When a CEO is not appropriately dressed his message gets lost! This article exposes secrets on how to portray authority and exude control and power by wearing the right combination of clothing, thereby sending the right subliminal messages!

*Choose what you will wear based on your audience. Your image is your most valuable marketing tool and your wardrobe is one of your most important investments. You should have appropriate attire for all occasions, from power suits for business and board meetings to sophisticated business causal ensembles for more relaxed meetings or social engagements.

*Your clothing and appearance speak volumes about you. Before you utter a single word, an impression and a visually-based opinion has been formed in the mind of your viewer. Impressions include your position, stature, intelligence, socio-economic level, respect level and morals as well as your level of education.

*Although there are stereotypical wardrobes designed for "power", you need more than the cliché. A President / CEO should display leadership, control and direction. True leaders instill calm, as well as leadership and discipline. The suit you wear to inspire your sales force will be significantly different than the one you wear when addressing the board of directors. For each occasion, you need to consider what subliminal messages you are transmitting to your audience.

 *Choose dark conservative suits in navy or charcoal, pinstriped, solid or with a minimal pattern or texture for ultimate control. Contrast this aura with a friendlier, more forthcoming appearance by wearing olive, tans, or medium shades of gray.

*Appropriate business casual attire is important. Even on the most casual of days, a President / CEO needs to exude an air of success, control and authority. (Remember, there's a reason why the General does not wear the Private’s uniform!)

*Everyone has his own unique coloration, physique, stature and personality. The key to successful dressing is marrying your attributes with the clothing. Your outfits should never be separate from you. Instead, they should be part of you. (In essence, the clothing becomes the splash and the paint that finishes the canvas that starts with your face and finishes at your feet.) For this reason, one should choose colors that are flattering to one’s pigmentation, styles that enhance your best features and camouflage the unfavorable ones. Essentially, choose outfits that are harmonious with your attributes, goals and mission.

  

*Always send the right subliminal messages and "slam dunk your outfits." Your choice of suit, shirt and tie is paramount. Different combinations convey different messages. Business leaders need to clearly understand and control these messages and then visually communicate them to achieve the best results.

*Choose an expert image/wardrobe consultant to polish your appearance. This is a professional who understands how to communicate the visual messages in the business world. The cost of clothing must be looked upon as an investment. This is your “Business Suit of Armor"; the money spent on your image will make your work easier (as impressions are half the battle) and will actually return a higher profit. Not knowing the business world can wreak havoc on the outcome and yield disastrous results. For these reasons, it's best to seek the advice of an expert! A good wardrobe consultant, by carefully crafting your image, will make you look and feel great, exude power, and communicate effectively, thus making you more successful.

                                                            Darker suits project authority. 

How to Choose a Dress Shirt

Whether for yourself or for someone else, choosing a men's dress shirt can be more complicated that you think. Here are a couple of steps to keep in mind when selecting a dress shirt.

                                          

Choose a color. Are you buying a dress shirt for a job interview, or are you looking to dress up more fashionably?

• For an interview, the traditional choices are conservative colors. A light blue is usually the safest. White is very formal. Grays are also generally safe.
• If you are looking to portray a more lively image, choose bright, unconventional colors. Bright greens and oranges are relatively popular, as well as pink.

Choose a pattern. Solid colors are considered wardrobe staples because they are easiest to match, but you might consider choosing stripes or a plaid pattern.

• Solid shirts are beneficial in that you can wear virtually any tie with them [solid or patterned].
• Patterned shirts are a bit more difficult to match with ties.

Choose a style. Are you looking for a more trendy, tapered-cut shirt, or would you prefer to stick with a standard, full-cut shirt? Do you want a standard collar, or a spread collar? Will your collar be buttoned down, or will you use collar stays? Each of these are points to consider.

• A tailored-fit, or slim-fit dress shirt is slightly tighter around the chest and sides. A standard-fit dress shirt has a slightly baggy, but traditional "full-cut" appearance. Finally, athletic cut shirts have a full chest but are tapered at the waist.
• A standard straight collar is the most common type of collar, where the collar edges point downward and there is little space between the section where the collar meets.
• A spread collar is a bit more modern and is considered by some to be "youthful" and "effeminate". It is smaller, and has a wider spread, as is illustrated in the image. Since a spread collar gives a wider appearance, it is a good choice for men with slim builds, and perhaps less so for stockier types.
  
                                                 

Determine your neck size and sleeve length. If you are shopping at a retailer, most salespeople can help you find your neck size and sleeve length by using measuring tape. The chart below displays a guideline for common neck sizes and approximate sleeve lengths, determined by normal shirt size.
Shirt Size Neck Size Sleeve Length
Small 14 - 14 ½ 32 - 33
Medium 15 - 15 ½ 32 - 33
Large 16 - 16 ½ 34 - 35
X-Large 17 - 17 ½ 34 - 35
XX-Large 18 - 18 ½ 35 - 36


Complete with a suitable tie. You will want to choose a tie that matches the rest of your outfit. The color of your tie should closely complement with your shirt, whether in the "background" of the tie, or inside of a subtle pattern on the tie. Striped ties are classic and conservative. Solid ties are generally more formal.