Luxe Beat Magazine APRIL 2015 | Page 90

Global Business Etiquette Dress Matters

�asual �ress
For women , try a skirt in a daytime fabric — not a mini , but it can be a little above the knee , mid-calf or long ; also slacks or crop pants .
For men , try slacks , a shirt with collar or golf shirt , with a sweater or sport coat , depending on the weather .
If you are attending a sports-related event , i . e ., tennis , pool , golf , -- appropriate attire is expected . Skimpy swimsuits are not appropriate if colleagues may be attending .
�nfor�al �ress
This term is misleading , as it really does not mean informal . It means one step below formal . Six o ’ clock is the bewitching hour .
By Maralyn D . Hill

The phrase , “ You only have one chance to make a first impression ,” is still as accurate as when it was originally said . It has been around so long , I could not find out to whom to attribute the advice . In any case , John T . Molloy , author of the best-selling books Dress for Success in the ‘ 70s , and then The Woman ’ s Dress For Success Book brought the subject to light and would agree . There have been a handful of books written on the subject , most recently Molly Gotham ’ s Dress for Success : A Step-by-Step Guide to Looking Polished and Professional at Work . It is an important topic , and how we dress at work , and particularly when traveling abroad is just as critical as the work we do .

People notice , and it is best to
maximize the positive reaction to your meetings . This is true dealing locally or internationally . Whereas this author would suggest that being culturally aware matters everywhere .
Let ’ s start in the U . S . and then take it further , as we move along . Many of these tips are true for all countries .
It is best to know the dress code of the company you are calling on . You �ant to �t in� �t i� �n� to �oo� �i�� you work there , but until you are well aware of the culture , err on the side of conservatism . It is not the right time to say : “ I didn ’ t have time to change ” and possibly sabotage your chances by careless dress . Avoiding extremes is best .
Plan your business wardrobe and ho� it �t� yo�r �o�� r��ar����� o� whether you are male or female .
Clothing that is appropriate for your profession or geographic region , your job , title and the occasion all matter . However , here again , I would err on the side of conservatism . For women especially , inappropriate mini- or tight skirts are out , and so are low-cut or revealing blouses or dresses . For both genders , keep jewelry , as well as cologne , to a minimum . Highly important are shoes , as they should be clean , well polished , without worn down heels . If your appointment is on “ Casual Friday ,” that does not mean it is casual for you . Dress as if it were a regular workday . Not all businesses have casual Friday . It is better to be over dressed in a conservative sense , than have interviewers or potential clients look better than you do .
Business Events
Generally , when you receive an invitation to a business event , it will indicate appropriate attire . If it is not clear or you have any questions at all , call the host . If your company sponsors it , the person in charge or Human Resource Department will have the answers .
O��e �ress
For women , a tailored skirt and blouse works . It is handy to have a blazer or jacket . Pantsuits are also quite popular and suitable . If wearing a dress , a tailored dress is best , and the ability to add a blazer is a plus .
For men , a tailored suit with or without a tie works . So do a sport coat and slacks .
For women , before six , a dress , suit , or pantsuit is appropriate . After six , a fancier suit , pants suit , long or short cocktail dress should be selected . You can dress up a suit or pantsuit with a fancy scarf , pin or appropriate accessory .
For men , before six , slacks with a sport coat and tie -- or dark or light suit works . After six , switch to a dark or light business suit with tie .
�or�al �ress
For women , a dress , suit , dressy slacks and top , long or short evening separates are called for .
For men , before six , a dark suit with white shirt and tie works . After six means black tie or white tie – a single or double-breasted dinner jacket ( with black silk bow tie ) known as a dinner jacket , better known as a tuxedo or tux . White tie is full evening dress and not as common where men wear long black tailcoats and white bow tie or an equivalent military uniform .
Let us venture on to appropriate �r��� in �iff�r�nt �o�ntri��� �n London , for business and even visiting in someone ’ s home , for men , it ’ s a suit and tie or sport coat and slacks , and for women , a suit or tailored dress . Items to forget or don ’ t bother to pack except for the workout room at the hotel are jeans , jogging shoes , t-shirts , shorts , ti�ht��ttin� ���at�r� ��om�n� an� open to the navel shirts ( men ). Funny hats are not considered funny .
For the UK in general , a classic more conservative style than the US is standard for men and women . You ’ ll �n� �ar� �o�or� i���� �har�oa�� ��a��� navy blue , and the like being the
IMAGES COURTESY OF SXC . HU
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