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

 

I would skip the black and consider navy and charcoal.

 

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

 

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.

 

I would skip the black and consider navy and charcoal.

+1. Simple yet gets the job done.

 

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.

 

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.)

 

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

 

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.

 

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."

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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!

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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!

 

I agree with others that one shouldn't wear an identical "uniform" outfit every day, but there may be a middle-ground here - the ability to establish a distinctive look for yourself.

The focus on certain makes/cuts of suits, certain shirt materials/collar/cuff styles, consistent tie patterns/weaves, and dress shoe looks give you the opportunity to make something of your own image. You want to avoid noticeable quirks in the effort, but it can be a subtle way to accomplish the goal. There's also the need to establish certain "not for me" rules in your wardrobe.

I don't know your tastes, but can offer as an example what I settled into for my own approach to business suit wear...

• Charcoal, med. grey, or navy tropical wool suit fabrics (focus on low-wrinkle characteristics and no flannels, tans or browns).
• Notch lapel, single-breasted, two button jacket with double side vents. No double-breasted or peak lapel for business use, though I like them for evening occasion/personal use).
• Straight unpleated trousers worn with a belt (I still get braces buttons installed but wear them rarely right now).
• Waistcoats, worn optionally depending on occasion and season (I love them myself, but use them sparingly).
• Straight collar white (some color-striped) or solid blue broadcloth shirts, with just a few French cuffs for evening use (no oxford cloth and no button-downs or spread collars).
• Silver or dark nickel-tone cufflinks and belt buckles (no gold).
• Solid and dark colored socks (no patterns or flash).
• Ties are mixed-pattern or solid in blues, purples, or red/burgundy (no stripes or paisleys).
• The occasional white linen handkerchief in the jacket breast pocket for work, and pocket silks only for personal/evening wear.
• Lace captoe oxford shoes in brown, cordovan, or black (no slip-ons).

So while not a uniform per se, I have a consistent and flexible suit wardrobe - easy to travel with and very flexible for mixing/matching. I have a look that people occasionally compliment or notice a theme, but mostly the consistency effect is just for me.

 

What do you wear now? Its pretty rare that a company would have you working with High Net Worth Individuals straight away, so I presume you are currently working with lower net worth customers now. Assuming that's the case, what do you currently wear to work?

 

(easier to get dressed half asleep)

Attempting this in the morning, with 'choices' in a diverse closet (I'm a marketing consultant) can lead to disaster. Unless you do the navy/charcoal suit and white shirt regiment, lay your clothes out the night before. I travel quite a bit, so I'll find myself with 3, 4, and sometimes 5 days of wardrobe picked out ahead. Makes those sleepy mornings go that much faster and with confidence.

All of that said, if you work with HNWIs daily, I would assume that you have a schedule and know your appointments ahead of time. When you're meeting with someone new for the first few times, I'd keep it very conservative, but if you have an agenda of clients that have come to know you, and with whom you have a solid rapport, use those days to take license with brighter colors (purples, yellows, pinks, or bolder ties). No matter how 'crusty' of a client, if you keep the fit/tailoring PERFECT, and shiny shoes, they'll appreciate your 'difference' from the rest of your peers.

There are days I'm meeting with high level factory executives; those days I'll skip the brown shoes with a charcoal suit, or the silk poof in my breast pocket and stick to black wholecuts and a sharp TV fold in a solid color. Other days, if I'm meeting with people I've known for some time and they know my standard of dress, I have no problem donning seersucker and a bow.

 

Why not black?

I've read a few times in this posting that "never black," not even at funerals. Perhaps this is my New York bias, but black a black suit is a very important piece of a wardrobe.

Black is perfect for winter (northeast winter at least, perhaps not Houston), ideal for evening dress, and perfectly suitable for office wear. In NYC, black suits are everywhere. If that is the issue, then that is another conversation.

Of course, do not wear black everyday - that point has been discussed in great length and detail.

We sell more black suits than any other type, and am more shocked and surprised to see movement against it. For my bias in this case, it doesn't matter to me which colour is most popular.

 

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

To illustrate:
https://www.styleforum.net/t/230619/cbd-waywrn-an-experimentCBD WAYWRN = Conservative Business Dress: What Are You Wearing Right Now?

 

Black is perfect for winter (northeast winter at least, perhaps not Houston), ideal for evening dress, and perfectly suitable for office wear. In NYC, black suits are everywhere. If that is the issue, then that is another conversation.

We sell more black suits than any other type, and am more shocked and surprised to see movement against it. For my bias in this case, it doesn't matter to me which colour is most popular.

The fact that you find a black suit to be perfectly acceptable for business tells me something about your age and clothing experience.

The fact that you sell more black suits than any other color tells me something about the age and clothing experience of your average customer.