# Question about formal business meeting attire **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 21, 2009, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852 "2009-04-21T15:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/41 "2009-04-22T06:41:04Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > . . . I might not want my I-banker rocking up in, well, [whatever the hell this is.](http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/416/bb2009q.jpg) Perhaps if you were playing Halloween dress-up as Andy from the office. OMFG, that really is the home page for [brooksbrothers.com](http://brooksbrothers.com). Ewwwwww! ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/42 "2009-04-22T07:37:38Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > That is not a suit, that’s a casual summer outfit. I’d still be embarrassed for and wonder about our hypothetical I-banker if I saw him rocking that outfit on a golf course. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3ec8ea/32.png) [@The\_Great\_Philosopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Philosopher)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/43 "2009-04-22T08:55:24Z")
> [@AK12345](#): > > My question: > What should I wear to a business meeting that will allow me to blend in with the rest of the stuffy, rich old farts? I am likely to be looked down upon, scorned and ridiculed behind my back because I don’t drive a Mercedes or shop at Moda on a regular basis. I don’t particularly care about the criticism considering it’s source. I would, however like to present a professional image to the company I am representing. I will be wearing a tie and coat to the meeting, but my gray shirts just aren’t the right color of gray, according to the office, and I guess my khaki pants aren’t expensive enough. So, I am a little confused as to what I should do. > > Thank you I don’t know what line of work you’re in, but I can’t think of any ‘formal business meeting’ with clients, in office work, to which it would be acceptable to wear khaki pants, regardless of how expensive they are. You’ve got to wear a suit and tie to those. And if the _de facto_ dress code in your office is to wear a suit, wearing khaki pants can be a fairly blatant show of disrespect to the managers. Also I’d like to just say I find it’s rarely a case of the bosses ‘looking down their noses’ at someone for not having expensive enough clothes. If someone’s clothes are clean, well-kept, worn properly, fitting and appropriate I can’t imagine any boss who would have a problem with that. Instead of griping about how the bosses are snobs I think you should probably consider whether you’re at fault here. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/44 "2009-04-22T09:27:09Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > That is not a suit, that’s a casual summer outfit. Still looks terrible. Light blue jacket and yellow pants? Even _I_ know that’s ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/45 "2009-04-22T12:57:28Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > We also have not looking like a slob on our side. And that’s just peachy for you. Not everyone cares about that, though, and those people who don’t shouldn’t be forced to care about it through social and economic pressure just because you do. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/46 "2009-04-22T13:40:48Z")
In these threads some douchebag always shows up who sees no problem wearing his Metallica '89 World Tour t-shirt and cutoffs to a funeral, because “what you wear shouldn’t matter”. The thing is, what you wear obviously does matter, as you’ve clearly already been called on the carpet about it and it is obviously affecting your job. These people are both inevitable and incredibly foolish. Also probably rude. And that Easter bunny Brooks Brothers guy is obviously a color-blind man with a horrible wife. Imagine how embarrassed the little boy in short pants must feel! ETA - I forgot what I actually came in to say - you know, those personal shoppers they have at the fancy department stores? They’re not just for rich people! I know several people (women, admittedly) who called them up after college and said, “I need my first interview suit. I don’t want to spend more than \_\_\_. Can you select a few things for me?” and then you just make an appointment and the lady has picked out, say, six or seven appropriate options for you. And those people absolutely know what’s correct. Of course, any salesman in a _good_ men’s department should be able to advise you well. My dad had His Guy at the local place who would call when a suit he thought my dad would like came in. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/47 "2009-04-22T14:14:59Z")
I think this belongs in In My Humble Opinion, so I’ll move it there from General Questions. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/48 "2009-04-22T14:16:23Z")
Am I that douchebag, **Zsofia**? I invite you to review my posts in this thread. I have very clearly stated my practical advice separately from my philosophical beliefs, one that the OP has already indicated he shares. I’ll note that other posters have also taken it upon themselves to state their own philosophical beliefs and call the OP on the carpet for his “attitude.” ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/49 "2009-04-22T14:22:17Z")
I think this belongs in In My Humble Opinion, so I’ll move it there from General Questions. **Gfactor** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/50 "2009-04-22T14:41:08Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > And that Easter bunny Brooks Brothers guy is obviously a color-blind man with a horrible wife. Imagine how embarrassed the little boy in short pants must feel! Tut tut. You people have no respect for this country’s great WASP traditions! Get thee to a Vineyard! Having grown up as Palm Beach bridge-and-tunnel trade, I can avow that outfits like these do get worn without a scintilla of irony. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/51 "2009-04-22T14:50:11Z")
I hope this doesn’t come off badly; but I didn’t see anything up-thread that would indicate your weight/size one way or another. Are you fat? I am 300 lbs and I have the damnedest time finding good looking and/or well fitting dress clothes. You can’t get “real” dress clothes for fat people at a regular departments store. Occasionally you can get decent casual clothes from a department/apparel store, but sometimes that can be hit or miss too. You will have to suck up your pride and go to a Big & Tall shop. If the Big & Tall shop has a tailor on premises, great. If not expect to have to go to a tailor for alterations, however minor. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/52 "2009-04-22T14:53:45Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > I’d still be embarrassed for and wonder about our hypothetical I-banker if I saw him rocking that outfit on a golf course. I suspect that wouldn’t be the only pair of yellow pants on the golf course. A lot of golf clothing is notoriously clownish. > [@AK12345](#): > > …but my gray shirts just aren’t the right color of gray… Just to clarify – were they gray when you bought them? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/53 "2009-04-22T15:02:42Z")
Go to a place like the Men’s Wearhouse. Tell them what the other people wear and ask them to help you assemble a few key pieces that will get your wardrobe started. They can advise on what suits, ties, and shirts are expected in your situation. They can also provide you with the business casual look your colleagues are pressing you for. These guys can SHOW you what you need, and if you need to take those ideas to a different, more affordable store, you will at least know what you’re looking for. In my opinion, Men’s Warehouse is pretty much middle of the road for professional men’s clothes. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/54 "2009-04-22T15:07:10Z")
You’ve gotten a lot of good advice in this thread about what to wear and how to buy it, but I’ll add this at the risk of offending you. That label by the cuff of your new suit or sport jacket? It’s supposed to come off after you buy it. When I see a guy who is proudly wearing his new/first suit with a label on the sleeve, I have to force myself not to point it out to him. Also, there’s a vent at the back of the jacket, which is usually sewn together at the base- cut the thread. While you’re at it, cut the threads that are keeping all the jacket pockets shut. And get it tailored, which should take care of everything I mentioned above. Unless they’re cheap- which you should avoid anyway- jackets and pants to a suit aren’t meant to be worn off the rack, they’re generally-sized but then meant to be custom-fitted to the wearer. Otherwise, you’ll look like you’re wearing your big brother’s suit. Sleeves have to be shortened, jackets tapered, pant legs shortened and adjusted, hems should have a break. It all might add $75 to the price of the outfit, but the difference will make you look like a million bucks. ---
**Author:** ![not\_alice](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_alice/32/7283_2.png) [@not\_alice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_alice)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/55 "2009-04-22T15:25:35Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > I > ETA - I forgot what I actually came in to say - you know, those personal shoppers they have at the fancy department stores? They’re not just for rich people! I know several people (women, admittedly) who called them up after college and said, “I need my first interview suit. I don’t want to spend more than \_\_\_. Can you select a few things for me?” and then you just make an appointment and the lady has picked out, say, six or seven appropriate options for you. And those people absolutely know what’s correct. Of course, any salesman in a _good_ men’s department should be able to advise you well. My dad had His Guy at the local place who would call when a suit he thought my dad would like came in. I linked to “my guy” Michelle upthread… ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/56 "2009-04-22T16:43:55Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Let’s not take this too far. > > For instance, I might not want my I-banker rocking up in, well, [whatever the hell this is.](http://img24.imageshack.us/img24/416/bb2009q.jpg) Perhaps if you were playing Halloween dress-up as Andy from the office. My company blocks Imageshack, but I imagine it can’t look much worse that [this](http://www.brooksbrothers.com/)tool dressed like an Easter Peep on the web site home page. I was thinking more like [this](http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=249). Straightforward, dark, conservative suit with some color in the tie. > [@corkboard](#): > > You’ve gotten a lot of good advice in this thread about what to wear and how to buy it, but I’ll add this at the risk of offending you. That label by the cuff of your new suit or sport jacket? It’s supposed to come off after you buy it. When I see a guy who is proudly wearing his new/first suit with a label on the sleeve, I have to force myself not to point it out to him. Also, there’s a vent at the back of the jacket, which is usually sewn together at the base- cut the thread. While you’re at it, cut the threads that are keeping all the jacket pockets shut. Assuming they are actual pockets. If they aren’t don’t cut them or you’ll screw up the suit. A guy who was dating one of my girlfriend’s friends will forever be known as “Today’s Man” because he didn’t take the sleeve tag off at a weding. Although I suspect it was so he could return the suit after the weding was over. > [@acsenray](#): > > And that’s just peachy for you. Not everyone cares about that, though, and those people who don’t shouldn’t be forced to care about it through social and economic pressure just because you do. Clearly the OP, his boss, and their clients do. So go preach the Business Sweatpants look in a new thread if you feel that strongly about it. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/57 "2009-04-22T16:46:05Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > All of this running around can be shortcutted a bit if you go to a standard mall store (say, Brooks Brothers or Jos. A. Banks), but you will end up spending more (although probably only like $400-$500). And even less if you have a bit of lead time and can watch the sales–I just refreshed my business suit collection at Banks because they had everything in the store on 2-for-1 or 3-for-1 sales last weekend, and if you catch one of those it’s entirely possible to get out of there with 3 good, tailored suits with shirts and ties (and, likely, matching casual slacks to match the suit coats for that upscale sport coat look) for around $750-$800. Which is about what you’d pay for the same amount of City Streets crap at Sears on a day-to-day basis. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/58 "2009-04-22T16:49:03Z")
Also, as a general agreement–fit matters a lot for how you look. I have not owned so much as a simple dressy shirt that I have not had to get tailored–even the Banks stuff is incredibly billowy around the waist pre-tailoring. This is especially true if you’re a relatively big guy–I wear a 17.5" neck and shirts in that size seem to be cut for obese guys rather than, say, for guys who go to the gym more than once a year. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/59 "2009-04-22T16:51:39Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Clearly the OP, his boss, and their clients do. So go preach the Business Sweatpants look in a new thread if you feel that strongly about it. Please show me how my practical advice to the OP is unhelpful or qualitatively different from yours. As for preaching, I was reacting to sanctimonious criticism of the OP’s “attitude.” ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852/60 "2009-04-22T18:00:28Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > My company blocks Imageshack, but I imagine it can’t look much worse that [this](http://www.brooksbrothers.com/)tool dressed like an Easter Peep on the web site home page. Holy Christ, that’s disgraceful. [QUOTE=msmith537] Assuming they are actual pockets. If they aren’t don’t cut them or you’ll screw up the suit. [/QUOTE] If it looks like a pocket but it’s not, it’s a cheap suit. Don’t buy it. [QUOTE=msmith537] A guy who was dating one of my girlfriend’s friends will forever be known as “Today’s Man” because he didn’t take the sleeve tag off at a weding. Although I suspect it was so he could return the suit after the weding was over. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I guess that’s what’s going on when I’ve seen it as well. God forbid the guy has a suit hanging in his closet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-formal-business-meeting-attire/493852.md?page=4)