Ajidica
High Quality Person
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2006
- Messages
- 22,209
I'm starting a new job on Monday and it is a definite step up from my old job; the only reason it doesn't have the "Director of" title is because they had to adjust it to match their internal HR scale as I had fewer years of experience going in. I'll be interacting quite a bit with commodity traders at the company, who from the few I've met tend to dress nicely and trendy.
My work wardrobe needs an overhaul. Pre-covid it was a fairly unflattering mix of poorly fitted khakis and button downs I got for Christmas. Post-covid, the work dress code slid massively and company-wide settled on what I would describe as "15 year old applying for a summer job". The stuff I have is old, never particularly liked, and doesn't fit me the best as I've slimed down a bit over the last few years.
I've been putting off going shopping because of decision paralysis and I never have any idea what a lot of fashion terms mean, so what better way to overcome that by asking you all for your thoughts! (The number of thoughts I will get is n+1, where n is the number of posts in the thread.)
When I interviewed, I interviewed with three women and four guys. I do not understand female business casual so all I can say it was not a suit. One of the male interviewers was the CEO and the other was a long-term board member, so they were exercising their prerogative to show up in a polo and khakis like they were about to go golfing. The other two guys wore nice fitted button downs, no ties.
(FWIW regarding shirts I always wear a t-shirt underneath, as when I get nervous I sweat a lot underarms.)
Some Initial Questions:
1. Are leather dress shoes needed, or can I get away with nicer sneakers?
2. Button downs, how bold or subdued should the pattern be?
3. On button downs, top up done or not done? I've seen it go both ways.
4. Button downs designed to be worn untucked - yea or nay?
5. Belts? I know the ones with a more mettalic / matte look are becoming popular over normal old leather and buckle belts, but I'm never sure if they fit business casual.
My work wardrobe needs an overhaul. Pre-covid it was a fairly unflattering mix of poorly fitted khakis and button downs I got for Christmas. Post-covid, the work dress code slid massively and company-wide settled on what I would describe as "15 year old applying for a summer job". The stuff I have is old, never particularly liked, and doesn't fit me the best as I've slimed down a bit over the last few years.
I've been putting off going shopping because of decision paralysis and I never have any idea what a lot of fashion terms mean, so what better way to overcome that by asking you all for your thoughts! (The number of thoughts I will get is n+1, where n is the number of posts in the thread.)
When I interviewed, I interviewed with three women and four guys. I do not understand female business casual so all I can say it was not a suit. One of the male interviewers was the CEO and the other was a long-term board member, so they were exercising their prerogative to show up in a polo and khakis like they were about to go golfing. The other two guys wore nice fitted button downs, no ties.
(FWIW regarding shirts I always wear a t-shirt underneath, as when I get nervous I sweat a lot underarms.)
Some Initial Questions:
1. Are leather dress shoes needed, or can I get away with nicer sneakers?
2. Button downs, how bold or subdued should the pattern be?
3. On button downs, top up done or not done? I've seen it go both ways.
4. Button downs designed to be worn untucked - yea or nay?
5. Belts? I know the ones with a more mettalic / matte look are becoming popular over normal old leather and buckle belts, but I'm never sure if they fit business casual.