Another article I wrote for NotableTV.com:
Round toe shoes or sandals, jeans or a suit, wide leg or straight? What did you wear to work today?
Small details such as a wrong shade of khaki or an extra inch in the width of the pant can make your office attire look sloppy and unflattering. Use the following list to remember which common mistakes to avoid, and learn how to fix them by following the examples in the right column.
Note: I took these photographs at the downtown Toronto financial district.
NO | YES
Inseam – too long: If your pants are too long, they will get dirty and even rip at the back. But that’s not the worst part – the pants will bunch up at the bottom, block all the movement from the ankle down and hence create a genie-pant effect. To find the right length, when trying on pants make sure the seam just hits the floor as you stand barefoot.
Inseam – too short: The general rule is that no one should be able to see your socks while you walk. Also please note the shoes in both photographs – two thumbs up!
Khakis: It’s okay to wear khakis to work as long as you match the rest of your outfit accordingly, and of course, have a pair of perfectly fitted khakis. The ones on the left are too wide, and black shoes clash with the colour of the pants. To stay within the khaki colour family, opt for brown, burnt orange, and red tones. The gentleman on the right nailed it.
White pants: This is considered to be beach/patio wear. However, even in those situations, never pair white pants with black shoes. Go for beige, brown, or navy – boat shoes, that is.
Sandals: Never! Even if you frequently hit the spa and get a pedicure, your office is not the right place to show that off.
Width: If the leg is too wide, your pants will “dance” around as you walk, creating unflattering shapes. If you like keeping up with current trends, then go for straight leg pants but make sure they’re properly fitted to compliment your body type.
Pointy toe shoes: … are so 2007. Hence you can buy a pair for $19.99. But please don’t. Go for round toe ones instead – for example a pair of oxfords.
3 Comments
Hey great post, i was wondering if you can do a spread on ladies office wear (esp young ladies), also within a budget, thanks
why not :)
A decent post, but men’s clothes/advice on men’s clothes should be left to a man who knows what he is doing. Far too often, women think they know what is correct for men. Only, they’re not.
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