Grooming for men

Proper business attire is about being professional and not about being fashionable. It's about presenting yourself in a way that makes your clients feel comfortable and confident with you. Following are few tips that men should consider while dressing up for business:

A solid white or blue dress shirt with long sleeves offers the most polished look. The shirt collar is very important as it frames the face. The sleeves of the shirt should stop at the wrist and the cuffs should not fall into the palm of the hand. Half sleeved shirts should hang loosely and reach half an inch above the elbow.

The legs of the trousers should not make folds over the shoe. The trouser leg should hang free and barely break over the instep when a person is in a natural easy standing position. Ideally, trousers should be short enough to look neat and long enough to cover the bare skin above the socks when they are hitched in a sitting position.

In business clothing, a printed, striped or checked shirt ought to be worn with plain trousers and vice versa. Printed shirts, however, should be avoided. A long sleeved shirt should always be buttoned at the cuffs. When wearing a shirt without a tie, only the top two buttons may be left undone.

Choose a conservative suit in navy, black or gray either pinstripe or solid. The quality of the material speaks as loudly as the color and can make the difference between sleaze and suave. Wool and wool blend are the way to go for suit fabrics. Even in summers a lightweight wool fabric is good.

The jacket should be long enough to cover the seat entirely. When buttoned, the bottom of the jacket should be parallel to the floor from all sides. Generally, we use the top button only.

The sleeves of the jacket should expose about half an inch of the shirt cuffs when the arms hang loose and more when the arm is bent.

The collar of the jacket should fit low and close around the neck, and slightly expose the shirt collar at the back.

When the collar fits properly, it ensures that the lapels lie flat.

Ties should be made of silk or a silk-like fabric. Try simple and subtle ties to enhance your credibility. Even if you have tied the most perfect knot, if it doesn’t have a perfect dimple just under the knot, it isn’t perfect! Sophisticated men and women notice a tie knot’s dimple. Ties should end within the area of the belt buckle (not above and not below).

Care of Clothes: Whatever one wears, it should always be well pressed, well brushed and scrupulously clean. The collar, if not laundered properly, will lose its shape. A suit that is ironed with a very hot iron gets an unattractive shine. Carelessly pressed trousers can get a wrong crease. When hanging a jacket, take care to see it is properly buttoned and that the collar and lapels are lying straight. Use padded hangers to keep jackets in shape. Hang air freshener sachets in the closet to keep clothing fresh and fragrant and slip perfume sachets in underwear shelves.

Socks should be calf-length or above. Make sure they match not only what you are wearing, but also each other. Socks should be changed daily and those which have lost their elasticity or with holes must be discarded immediately. Thick sports socks must be worn with keds and sports shoes only.

Shoes should, without question, be conservative, clean and well polished. Lace-up shoes are the best choice. Many people will look at your feet before your face. Shoe horns should be used to avoid bending the rear of the shoes.

Use only freshly laundered, good quality absorbent handkerchiefs. Some men like a handkerchief in the breast pocket. It is of the same material as the tie or of plain coloured matching silk. Before setting out anywhere, make sure the handkerchief points are neatly arranged in breast pocket. Men should refrain from straightening their handkerchiefs in public view.

Belts need to match or closely coordinate with your shoes.

Men’s jewellery should be plain, masculine and functional. A smart pair of medium sized cuff-lings, a ring, a tie-pin and a good watch look nice on a person.

The wallet should be slim and should not bulge out. A bulging out wallet is an eyesore and very unflattering to the silhouette of a gentleman.

If carrying an attaché, it should be sleek and of polished leather.

The pen should be smart and of a good brand.

Hair, usually parted to one side, should not reach the top of your shirt collar. It should be brushed back and kept in place, if necessary with a styling gel or mousse. Men need to have their necks shaved, people do notice. And of course, the hair running out of the nose and ears!

A man should either be clean shaved or sport a neatly trimmed beard.

Men need to take care of their hands and feet too, not necessarily going for pedicures and manicures.

Under arm fresheners should be used for people (men and women) who sweat profusely.

People with bad breaths (Halitosis) should take adequate treatment. This is mainly due to decaying teeth or stomach troubles.

Do not pick your nose, burp or let off wind in public.

Tattoos and piercings should not be visible.

Remember’ dress for the audience, the circumstance, the corporate culture, and yourself.