[smthorpe]

I work with High Net Worth Individuals. Our office policy is suit and tie five days per week.

My question is - what do you think if I develop a uniform of my own?

I am thinking either black or dark charcoal suit, white shirts, and rep ties.

All thoughts/opinions are welcome.

 

[Canadian]

Don't wear black. I prefer to put a variety of suits in my closet. I find that if I wear the same style of suit all the time, people think I am either less than creative, or that I only own one suit.

That said, if you must have a uniform, as long as you are comfortable, wear any kind of suit you like (except black).

Thomas

 

[dks202]

I would skip the black and consider navy and charcoal.

 

[12345Michael54321]

1. Skip the black suit.

2. What advantage do you gain by further limiting your options with your own personal "uniform?" I mean, how does denying yourself the option of wearing navy pinstripe suits, or light blue shirts, or pin dot ties, benefit you?
--
Michael

 

[mrp]

Unless the high net individuals are cadavers, skip the black.
As to uniforms, great for the military, it's not bad to show some tasteful individuality when you are not in the military. Throughout history leading military figures have shown efforts to show individuality with their uniforms.

 

[cmacey]

I would skip the black and consider navy and charcoal.

+1. Simple yet gets the job done.

 

[PTB in San Diego]

I would skip the black and consider navy and charcoal.

+another

I think dressing virtually identically every day, by choice, would demonstrate discipline, and offer a real freedom. Especially if you are dressed immaculately and tastefully.

 

[CAG]

I'm not sure a forum dedicated to discussing the small details of men's clothing is going to be the best place to get an objective response. I dress similarly during the week, but enjoy the variations on the theme. (Also, no black.)

 

[arkirshner]

Agree that it will look as if you only own one suit.

 

[PTB in San Diego]

What was that Mickey Rourke/Kim Basinger soft porn fest? "9 /1/2 Weeks"? Isn't that the movie where he had a row of perfect, flawless, identical white shirts hanging in his closet? Left an impression on me. We're way too absorbed with the value of quantity.

An immaculate white shirt, an immaculate charcoal suit ... if you have the cojones to do it, I think the effect will be strong and in your favor.

Reasonable men may disagree. Do it for a year, I bet you fall in love with it.

What about seasons? Hmmmn ... you know, I just noted that you're in Houston. Suddenly I'm not loving the uniform so much -- isn't it summer there about 9 months of the year? Easier to to the uniform thing in the northeast or Chicago.

 

[Starch]

My opinion: don't.

You basically would be doing two things, the first of which is obvioius (and already commented upon) and the second perhaps not so:
- missing the opportunity to be a little bit interesting by varying what you wear;
- marking yourself as "different" from everyone else.

Both seems like a bad idea. The second, in particular, is very bad, unless you are some sort of mad scientist quant, in which case cultivating an air of weirdness could have some benefit. Generally, in the business world (and perhaps more so with high net worth individuals), it's a very bad idea. Rich people can sometimes be eccentric oddballs ... that doesn't mean they want to people who work of them to be the same. Indeed, more likely the opposite.

Even if you stop short of being outright weird, you don't want to be too far out of the norm. The danger is that - instead of being "that guy who knows everything about annuities" or "that guy who's so cool-headed" or whatever it is you want to be - you become "that guy who always wears a red tie."

 

[phyrpowr]

Agree that it will look as if you only own one suit.

+1. Did this at one point, in my case three navy 2B suits, and was asked more than once "Do you own, like, more than one of those?" I stayed with dark suits and white shirts (easier to get dressed half asleep) but got a grey, muted pinstripe, muted plaid, charcoal blue, etc.

 

[Jake Genezen]

1. Skip the black suit.

2. What advantage do you gain by further limiting your options with your own personal "uniform?" I mean, how does denying yourself the option of wearing navy pinstripe suits, or light blue shirts, or pin dot ties, benefit you?
--
Michael

My opinion: don't.

You basically would be doing two things, the first of which is obvioius (and already commented upon) and the second perhaps not so:
- missing the opportunity to be a little bit interesting by varying what you wear [...]

Second this.

 

[Jovan]

Agree with the others. Within conservative business dress, there's a surprising amount of variety to be found despite what it's named.

 

[Orsini]

I do not recommend this. You do not want to be "that guy" that always wears char suits/Hawaiian shirts/mukluks/etc., least of all, a "uniform." That ain't sprezzatura.

You are fortunate. You have the opportunity to dress impeccably every day. Lay on, Macduff!

 

[Fraser Tartan]

I think the only daily "uniform" that I've seen that works is the one that many Italian businessmen and politicians go with:

navy suit
light blue shirt
navy tie
brown shoes

The brown shoes would be more memorable in the U.S. than in Italy so black would likely work better here.

I don't think you'd want people to consciously realize that you are wearing the same thing everyday.

 

[Gurdon]

Except for evening clothes, no black suit, ever, not even funerals.
Don't.

You might want to think of your "uniform" as a rotation among a half dozen well-fitting business suits, each one of which is distinct from the others. That way you will be noticed, if at all, as the young man who is always nicely dressed.

Please keep your shoes well polished. No matter how well dressed you are, it will reflect badly on you if your shoes look scruffy.

Regards,
Gurdon

 

[mlongano]

I don't think it's such a bad idea, although I'd use navy or charcoal as opposed to black.

With about one hundred ties and pocket squares it could be a challenge to see how many different "looks" you can create with the variety they offer.

 

[CAG]

What was that Mickey Rourke/Kim Basinger soft porn fest? "9 /1/2 Weeks"? Isn't that the movie where he had a row of perfect, flawless, identical white shirts hanging in his closet? Left an impression on me. We're way too absorbed with the value of quantity.

Makes me think of Jack Donaghy's office closet full of the same suit.

 

[smthorpe]

I truly appreciate all the help. Biggest notes -

- No black suits
- Switch up the ties
- Only a few good suits can equal many options

Thanks again!