SUIT UP! // DRESS FOR SUCCESS
But how necessary is the suit in the workplace today? Is casual becoming the new professional in more office spaces? “For a casual meeting, sure,” says Abouhassan. “For the serious transaction, though, a suit, or a jacket and pants, and tie should be worn.” “Clients still expect the pros to look like pros,” he explains. “You don’t want to over-dress, but you also don’t want to underdress. You should have a feel of what those expectations are. It is true about the first impression. If you are dealing with hi-caliber clients or co-workers, you are not going to get away with a lower-quality suit that does not fit.” “Dressing appropriately ensures you’re taken seriously for the position you’re in or aiming to be in,” Dickin agrees. “Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘dress for the position you want, not the position you have’? A well-fitting suit immediately gives a first impression of overall competency; You are viewed as the authority and the expert because you look the part.”
flat front, fitted style with a slim but not too skinny leg are classics for both genders.” “Suiting in both genders is trending toward a narrower leg,” Dickin adds. “This elongates the silhouette and, for women, allows the pants to be tucked into a boot. But when I say a ‘narrow silhouette,’ I don’t mean skin-tight. Bottoms don’t need to be snug across the backside—and shouldn’t be, in a professional environment, unless they are paired with a jacket or blazer that covers the backside.” “Over the past several seasons, there has been a trend in womenswear to wear a blazer open. For this reason, designers have come up with styles that have no closures. This is a timeless look—provided the blazer is not a sloppy fit,” says Dickin. Cruickshank adds that, for a classic blazer, you want a “medium-width lapel—not too skinny, not too wide—with a notch feature. A two-button style is the most classic for both men and women. One-button is also good. Black is always good, but navy and grey are the new classics.”
‘Looking the part,’ however, also means taking into consideration the appropriateness of the attire, and that is something that is seen as a greater challenge for women. “I think women get more flak in their dress because, traditionally (since the 1960s), there have been more options for womenswear than there have been for menswear. It’s impossible to make a dress code that covers every possible parameter,” Dickin explains. “Therefore, with men, the dress code is often, ‘shirt, tie, jacket, dress slacks, and dress shoes’. Conversely, for women, the dress code needs to attempt to address the many varying styles women can wear while still looking professional.” Like, for instance, leggings. “I cannot stress enough that leggings are not pants!” Dickin expounds. “Leggings need to be worn with extreme caution, particularly in the workplace. Think of leggings as pantyhose or tights; leggings must be paired with a tunic, dress, or skirt that covers the back and the front of the body.” The “fingertip test” is the best bet for ensuring the appropriateness of your leggings, she adds: “stand with your arms comfortably at your sides. Your tunic/dress/skirt should be at least the ABOVE: JANEL DICKIN, OWNER, HYE FASHION INC.
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AUGUST 2018 // BUSINESS IN EDMONTON // BUSINESSINEDMONTON.COM