5 STYLISH OFFICE ALTERNATIVES TO THE BORING BUSINESS SUIT

When was the last time you actually felt stylish at the office? Some gents spend forty-plus hours a week wearing a suit that suppresses who they really are: a boxy business suit, cheap shoes and a novelty polyester tie-and-shirt combo that they got on sale three-years ago.

Considering dress-codes, we understand that some are bound to elements of the traditional business suit – day in, day out. But office wear can be fashionable, with some simple planning and preparation to iron the sartorial creases out.

Here are five office alternatives to the boring business suit – whether you’re the number crunching financial guy or the creative agency chap.

#1 Sharp and Sleek

‘Sharp and Sleek’ caters to the sartorial confinements of inner city working. Staying in line with traditional business attire, tailoring is key. Swap a plastic-y poly suit for a two-piece wool or cotton/silk blend suit, offering a contemporary look for the office.

Play around with office-ready navy, grey or brown – instead of standard black – ensuring the fit of the neutral suit fits like a glove, with an inclination for tapered trousers and a pressed leg crease at the front of the pant.

Crisp cotton shirting (in business blue or white) takes style cues from an incredible fit and a chic cutaway collar. Paired with a woven silk tie and matching pocket square, play around with texture and micro-patterns – if your dress code allows. Then, add this season’s shoe – the double-strap monk – as an alternative to the classic Derby.

#2 Sartorially Traditional

It’s never been cooler to dress like our style forefathers. Channelling the office class of Steve McQueen in the ‘Thomas Crown Affair’, a three-piece suit (minus the pocket watch and chain) is a dapper way to dress this season.

For a contemporary twist, look to mid-to-light grey if you’re more neutral-inclined or a fine square window-pane check (out-dated in recent decades the plaid experiencing a renaissance this season). And look to double-breast silhouettes for a stately jacket over tapered pants.

Going check? Keep the shirt plain and simple white streamline black tie and black brogues. Three-pieces should be experimented with a bit – a fine striped shirt and polka dot tie break away from the stuffiness.

RELATED: 50 WAYS TO WEAR A GREY SUIT

#3 Separately Chic

As we move down the ranks, the office suit becomes less formal. This is where colour blocking separates, come into the workplace – a great look for casual Fridays or the not so serious firms.

A double-breasted jacket in an earthy tone sits well over a muted cotton trouser – teal, marsala and mustard big colours this season with the return of Seventies hues.

Shirts – again – drop their formalities – adopting coloured cottons with a straight point collar or this season’s club variety. An indigo, denim look shirt cool look under a light jacket underpinned by a navy woven tie and picnic check pocket – creeping slyly from the coat.

#4 Creative Casual

Jeans to work? Yes, though the blazer-denim combination leans toward the agency type – those working in media, the arts or Google-esque start-ups. Letting those creative juices flow, start with your blazer; selecting a weightier herringbone or textural tweed in winter and a cotton or linen blend in summer. Single-breast is best with denim – the double-breasted jacket looking a touch nautical over jeans for work.

The shirt deserves experimentation too. Go for wide check or vertical stripe for a classic print or an on trend retro design, keeping the repetitive motifs (sail boats, palm trees or hibiscus flowers) tasteful in size and colour.

The jeans should be slim, never skinny or boot cut – but trouser-shaped in fit and cloth weight. Finally, shoes look sharp in suede – as a loafer or brogue – but keep the socks on for the office.

RELATED: HOW TO WEAR A SPORTS JACKET WITH JEANS

#5 Urban Luxe

Channelling the active wear influence on men’s fashion and tailoring, look to luxury sneakers for a sport-inspired business look.

Before you start throwing things, we understand that sneakers are totally uncouth at certain workplaces, so keep the kicks for casual Fridays or if you’re part of a more innovative workplace – in regards to dress-code.

The suit needs to be lightweight (think cotton/linen, summer wool or an active jersey fabric) with heavy tweeds and herringbones typically too formal and hefty with sneakers.

Socks add a smartness to the suit – especially with a tie, pocket square and waistcoat – or if you’re wanting more active accents, supplement the button down shirt for a tee – and loose the socks for urban freshness inspired by the weekend.

The sneakers must be minimal, slim in silhouette and kept clean – cared for meticulously just as you would a dress shoe.

Final Word

The key to stylish office dressing is balancing creativity with courtesy. Adhere to the rules of the workplace (your boss does determine the likelihood of a promotion) so don’t offend with eccentric suit colours, neon shirts, peacock pocket squares.

But don’t fall prey to dull tailoring either – letting your choice of suit, shirt and shoes show upper management (and colleagues) exactly why you’re the man for the job. And your dream job, hereafter.

5 MEN’S SHOES YOU NEED TO STOP BUYING NOW

Shoes are a perilous slope in men’s fashion. Balancing the perfect fit, colour and price has many men avoiding the shoe issue altogether – until it’s too late, snapping up a ‘looks-good-online’ pair of leather lace-ups for a ‘bargain’ price, and when they arrive in the mail the look and plastic smell of the shoes is vile.

For others, horrible shoes have become their forte. Unashamedly rocking square-toed lace-ups to weddings and pleather loafers to summer parties, these men are the worst fashion offenders, often set their in ugly footwear ways. Until now, that is.

The following five men’s shoes need to be extinguished from the daily shoe collection. Identify as an offender? All judgment has been revoked. Just so long as you dispose of the evidence quickly, garbage bag or better yet – flame torch – at the ready. The latter being the best solution, ensuring no other poor fool picks them up, and starts wearing them.

#1 The ‘White Wedding Tapper’

Prolific in the Nineties, the ‘wedding tapper’ still shows its ugly head at today’s wedding celebrations and inner city night clubs that are open mid-week. The white slip on type tends to be the the footwear of choice for wannabe Italian style gents – though we don’t know remember seeing white shoes in Florence this spring at Pitti Uomo.

Sentence the ‘wedding tapper’ to death, along with the gel-spiked Beckham mohawk, and chalk-stripe pants – and that glaringly fake luxury belt buckle that is more bling than style.

The Alternative

Fans of white coloured shoes should look to a tan leather Derby or a sandy-hued suede brogue instead – but with laces and a round toe. White isn’t always wrong, but it’s certainly the hardest dress shoe colour to pull off. So maybe look elsewhere, if you’re not new to having great shoe-game.

#2 The ‘Square-Toe Business’ Shoe

It’s laughable that the ‘square-toe business shoe’ even had a fashionable moment (well, come to think of it the year was 1995 and three-quarter pinstripe shorts and blue-flame wrap around sunnies were also trending). In terms of aesthetic, the square-toe shoe looks like a boat trawler – an oblong body with a blunted end. Even worse, is when ugly shoes are paired with a chic business suit.

While other trends – wide-legged pants, Birkenstocks and rollnecks – have returned for another day the season, the square toe business shoe is easily done and dusted. Unlike the other renaissance items, there’s nothing retro cool or vintage charm about square-toed, anything.

The Alternative

Opt for a double-strap monk or wingtip Derby, the width especially appropriate for the gent who likes a meatier shoe with his business suit.

#3 The ‘Fat Skater’

The ‘fat skater’ shoe should conjure up memories of angst and hating the world. And awkward fashion moments when you had no idea how to dress your pubescent skinny frame. Yes, those teen years. Enter modern times, and the sneaker is experiencing a fashion renaissance. But, not of the ‘fat skater’ shoe kind.

The Alternative

For the sneaker freaker, look to lean and flat silhouettes instead of the ‘fat skater’ shoe, sticking to retro-inspired styles (well before the Nineties) that come in neutral hues such as clean white sneakers, monochrome black or tan.

#4 The ‘Canvas Karate’

A relatively new shoe – when compared to the previous bevy of shoes which hail mostly from the Nineties – the ‘canvas karate’ has fast become the casual shoe of choice for hipsters and hippies. And the odd karate kid.

Practically speaking, these samurai shoes fall apart after a week’s wear (so we’ve witnessed) and with all that canvas, no-sock nonsense, the smell (which we have actually experienced as bystanders) that the ‘canvas karate’ gives out is putrid.

The Alternative

Want a summer kick? Stick to the classier, longer lasting (and far more breathable) boat shoe or leather loafers. And wear a sockette, if you’re inclined to sweat. Please.

#5 The ‘Lad-ish Loafer’

Speaking of loafers, this one’s a doozy. A bogan’s (redneck or chav for our American and British readers) attempt at class, the ‘lad-ish loafer is recognised for its plastic-y leather, Frankenstein stitching and rubbery sole that is supremely unstylish.

It gets around with muscle-tight polos (with the collar popped) and knee-length boardies or cargoes – all making for a dire attempt at summer smart casual.

The Alternative

Look to the classic driving shoe in soft calf leather and minimal stitching. Suede is a sophisticated summer option too, and then play around with colour; bright driving loafers are an easy way to add some spark to neutral-heavy outfit.

Final Word

Shoes are the first thing people notice at work, in the street and make (or break) your arrival on a dinner date. So choose, and invest, wisely. When making the transition from ugly to nice, buy a few affordable, foolproof dress shoes for men, trying out different silhouettes and shapes before you invest, in the best.

Then, play around with coloured dress shoes and luxury dress boots. The men’s shoe market has so much to offer this season, so there’s no reason to be repping the Nineties anymore. Square-toed, white slip-ons, be gone.

10 WAYS TO MAKE A STYLISH IMPRESSION AT THE OFFICE

The arrival of the office festive season is not a free pass to start rocking business shorts to work. Nor is it a nod to hitting on that cute HR lady. A true gentleman never drops his game even on the very last day of the working calendar.

Today we present to you the simple steps to cultivating a positive workplace style and keeping that suave reputation of yours intact in the office. We can’t guarantee you a promotion, but we can make sure you’ll be punching above your weight.

#1 Have A Signature Scent

A man’s own scent is just as important as his clothes. We’re not talking about leaving your pheromones on every cubicle wall. Instead pick a subtle fragrance that isn’t too common and overpowering, and use it to build your office presence in a pleasant manner. Whether you’re in a lift or in a meeting, it’ll ensure you’re putting the right foot forward for being noticed.

Note: Banana Republic’s Creative Director Simon Kneen once told Forbes that “I don’t wear a fragrance to work. But I do think a modest scent is O.K. I do really believe in signature fragrances though. I have been wearing the same fragrance for 25 years.”

#2 Correct Your Posture

Too many years spent hunched over your PC playing DOOM has likely diminished your body’s natural posture. It’s now time to fix it. A bad posture emanates the wrong message in an office environment, making you appear run down and unfit for the job – not a good look if it’s only 10 a.m. Put your back into it. Sit up straight, get yourself a decent ergonomic chair, see a physio if you must and ride the wave of perceived success until the day’s end.

#3 Eye Contact Is Everything

If you got down on one knee and asked your partner to marry you whilst looking at their feet, do you think they’d say yes? Possibly – if you both had a foot fetish. But the point is, maintaining eye contact assures that the party you’re engaging with is taking you seriously. Compulsive liars tend to avoid eye contact and when you’re about to shake on a multi-million dollar deal, this is the last impression you want to be giving off. So project your voice adequately and maintain eye contact with your subjects. It’s called respect.

#4 Never Neglect The Shoes

Many men still believe that a good suit will excuse a bad pair of shoes. This is not the way of the Magnificent Bastard. The daily wear and tear will diminish even the nicest pair of work shoes so always keep them in check and out of the rain in order to look your best. See our guide on how to shine your shoes like a real manfor maintenance and if you’re unsure as to what qualifies as a fine pair of work shoes, see our pick of the five most affordable and best looking dress shoes. Once you’ve chosen your weapon, learn how to style them correctly with your clothes.

#5 Work On Your Accessories Collection

In some parts of the corporate world, men’s accessories such as ties, pocket squares and subtle jewellery get frowned upon by colleagues. This often stems from the casualisation of the work space where well-dressed men today are perceived as power hungry, attention-seeking fiends (also met with snide remarks of “you going for a job interview, mate?”.

We disagree with this movement and believe that keeping things simple yet stylish goes a long way in building your personal career profile. The right people will notice you along with those who don’t matter. So play up the average pastel shirt and dark grey suit with a bit more punch. Add a nice pocket square or a tie bar and be careful never to overdo it. The key is to stand out from the crowd by not looking like a walking dressing table.

#6 Be Careful With Colour

Similarly, colour can be your friend and your worst enemy in the office so play it with absolute caution. Studies have shown that wearing colour can lead to pay rises and promotions as it emanates a degree of authority and confidence. We must stress to keep things restrained though.

Think a brighter tie or dress shirt as opposed to a full blown clown suit. What you also want to avoid is being more ‘colourful’ than your superiors. Remember your goal is to stand out from the crowd, not take away attention from your boss.

#7 Maintain Your Facial Hair

Facial hair is one of the most natural ways a man can make a good impression in the workplace. The catch? Maintaining it to respectable standards is also the hardest part. Depending on the workplace, the traditional office is often not a place for the popular hipster beard.

A clean, crisp suit also won’t help much in masking this distraction so if you do intend to rock facial hair, keep the stubble short and clean to avoid the boyish look. A light beard is also fine as it projects a degree of maturity and authority in the workplace. Think Tony Stark minus the cockiness. See our guide on how to do it right.

#8 Go For Quality

This is a general rule across the board that applies to everything from suiting to shoes to men’s grooming products and accessories. We’re not talking about wearing loudly branded clothing, it’s more about feeling comfortable in your own clothes through quality. The better the quality of the thread, the more likely it is you’ll perform at your peak at work. It’s an obvious point but often overlooked forcheaper alternatives. Ever wanted to shake hands with that sweaty polyester guy in the lift? Neither have we.

#9 Hygiene Is Prime

Personal hygiene is not only important in the workplace, it’s something every man needs to be accountable for. Start off by clipping those finger nails. No client wants to shake hands with you if you’re rocking grubby long finger nails or worse, the lone extended pinky nail. If you’re prone to sweating, shower in the morning before heading to work or leaving the gym. There’s nothing worse than the odour of men’s sweat masked by clothing masked by a lathering of cologne.

#10 Let Others Take The Lead

Last but not least, let the authority fall to those who are calling the shots. If you’re new to a workplace, let those who are more respected set the example of fashion and attitude first and be sure not to diverge too far from that standard. It’s the key to integrating into any new workplace culture and could form the building blocks to your own reputation amongst peers.

HOW TO WEAR THE NEW BLACK SUIT (WITH A DIFFERENCE)

The black suit is touted as the classic men’s suit: a staple in every man’s wardrobe. But what if – in our desperation to emulate timeless style – we’ve dampened the style power of the traditional black suit?

It’s time to reawaken the style prowess of black tailoring. And while it’s easy to add a bright pastel here and a muted Seventies hue there, to bolster the fashion credentials of a plain black suit, we’ve decided to use other means – aside from colour – to bright your sartorial resonance.

Here’s how to wear the men’s new black suit – designed especially for the office, the races and the all important party season. Bring on the holidays.

Back-To-Black

With monochrome continuing its furore in menswear this season, all-black tailoring is a sophisticated approach to styling the black suit.

By all-black we mean just that: black jacket, trouser and shoes, as well as a black shirt, tie, socks (even the usually audacious boutonniere or lapel flower), leaving colour back in the wardrobe for another time and place.

The lack of colour or print works best with a slight rock aesthetic. So, make sure the suit fit is lean in trouser and super sharp on the jacket. Another important rule with all-black: the shade of the blacks need to match – ensuring the shirt (in particular) is exactly the same black as the suit.

A change in the tone makes the shirt look old and faded – and cheapens the look – instead of appearing strong and fresh.

Checked Out

Checks are the official pattern for suits this season. And black is no exception. Once relegated to casual tailoring or separates, a slew of designers are making the square pattern the design mogul for two-piece men’s suits again today.

The best bit about checked tailoring? It can be as ‘statement’ or ‘subdued’ as you (or your workplace) like. The tonal check is the milder version but a huge step up from plain black. Classic and elegant, it’s perfect for the Spring Races or a stylish alternative to the boring business suit.

Other – more risky – checks are the larger windowpane, known for their gargantuan squares often made with white criss-cross lines. If you only invest in one type of patterned tailoring this season, make it tonal check suiting and for the style brash – go windowpane.

Jovial Jacquard

Jacquard is a fabric made on a special loom, which allows cloth to be woven into an intricate pattern or print. In other words, the design is incorporated into the weave instead of being printed or dyed on.

Jacquard cloth looks particularly stylish in black and let’s the gentleman incorporate typically outlandish patterns onto his jackets and trousers. This includes paisley – the boisterous floral normally reserved for pocket squares or ties. And it works for less audacious prints – chalk stripes and the aforementioned, windowpane check.

Essentially, jacquard adds vibrancy and more texture to a monotone black suit – without sacrificing the all-black colour. Keep accessories matte or sans print when rocking a black jacquard suit – letting the suit feature.

Barely Black

Stuck on black due to office practice? Now you don’t have to be. Selecting almost-black suit separates is a tonal way of breaking up the boring shade. Midnight blue, charcoal grey and dark chocolate brown -as a jacket and trouser – add some shade to a black waistcoat and black leather lace-ups.

The key is selecting the darkest of non-black hues, so it’s only really noticeable – that the jacket isn’t black – to the all-scrutinising eye. Wearing like-for-like fabrics also helps with the blend or opt for differing textile textures for a stylish punch – especially for a wedding or the weekend.

Play around with combinations and stick to monochrome or grayscale for nights, switching in navy for day time antics.

Statement Separates

Statement separates are essential suit spice in the sartorial mix. In keeping with the monochrome palette, white is a sure-fire way to introduce a stellar pattern – especially stripes.

For the brasher gent, a chalk stripe blazer à la Beetlejuice and crisp white shirt is a rocker’s choice, with an open neck shirt and an inch of cuff better showcasing the clean, fresh lines.

For a blink-and-you-miss-it subtlety, keep the jacket and pant molten black, shafting the commonplace waistcoat with a barber-pole white-grey combination that adds an iciness to the black shirt and leather shoes.

Grace your feet with the the silver buckled, double-strap monks, which are the new season’s must-have.

The Finer Things

The final, and finer things pertaining to the black suit, will sort the fashion man from the boys: accessories. When restricted to a monochrome palette, ties should adopt old-world traditions with paisley montages or chinoiserie landscape – in black, grayscale or white.

New world patterns – polka dot and stripes – are business and function appropriate too – leaving flowery boutonnieres for a dandy summer party, the races or a wedding. The lapel is a style changer when cut in a strong peak silhouette. And a contrast lapel fabric – silk or satin – against a cotton, wool or even a velvet jacket, enhances the textural integrity of an all-black blazer.

It’s still a black suit. But the finer elements have upped their aesthetic strategy. And, therefore, so has your suit style game.