Depending on whom you ask, people make their first impression within 7 to 30 seconds of meeting someone. That said, it’s worth putting in a few extra mirror minutes before you leave the house for interviews or formal gatherings. If you’re going to be rubbing elbows with some important people you’ll want to make sure your elbows are cleaning and looking rather spiffy. Anyone can throw on a suit and tie, here are some head to toe tips on how to do it right to make a great first impression.
Hair: Do you have a lot of grey hairs? Do you own any styling product? Is your hair getting a little shaggy in a not so cool, really did just roll out of bed way? While you may not spend as much money on products and beauty services as your female counterparts, if you need to make a good impression you really need to make an effort. Whether you are going to or getting married, going to a charity function, or going to an interview you need to make sure you hair says you care.
Face: If you really need to make a good impression you need to clean up your face a bit. This includes but is no limited to washing your face and giving it a good shave (with a new manual razor or a nice electric one). You want to think about purchasing a moisturizer for your face to help your skin look soft and well kept. Not only will keeping great skin feel good, but it will show those you meet that you care about your appearance and take care of yourself.
Shirt: Unless you’re planning on wearing a Hawaiian shirt (which I hope you’re not) you really should stick to long sleeve dress shirts. Short sleeves shirts generally just don’t look appropriate for formal functions or interviews. Your goal is to give the impression of class and sophistication, nothing says that like long sleeves dress shirts adorned with a pair of your favorite cuff links.
Jacket: The world of suit jackets is a vast and confusing one. There are several types, colors, and fabrics that make shopping for a suit seem more complicated than shopping for a car. When you get a suit coat, find one that fits properly, it’s generally a good idea to ask for some help from the sales clerk. Make sure your sleeves aren’t too long or shirt and that the overall condition of the jacket is good. Wear something that is appropriate for the weather, however if you tend to be hot no matter what your wearing, go for a light summer wool jacket. While there are several styles of jackets, choosing a single breasted one is usually a good idea since it’s so versatile.
Tie: Ties come in an infinite amount of colors, styles, textures, and patterns. If your going to an event that requires you to dress for the occasion, you should steer clear of the fun character ties or the ones with clever saying or pictures. Instead, opt for a solid colored silk tie or one that has a simple small pattern like paisleys or polka dots.
Pants: Making sure your pants fit currently is a good start at making the right first impression. You want o make sure that your pants aren’t too long (you don’t want to step on them) or too short (you want them to come down to right above your heel). You also want to make sure your pants don’t have any stains and that they are ironed showing a crease down the center of your leg.
Belt: You want to complete your bottom half by wearing a belt with your pants. For formal occasions, your shoes compliment your pants and match your shoes.
Socks: Generally socks are something you put too much thought into. You just throw a pair on in the morning before you put your shoes on and your set to go. When you dress for a formal occasion it’s absolutely imperative that you leave behind your white gym socks, trading them in for some nylon or thin cotton blend socks that match your suit. Generally, if you’re wearing black pants, wear black socks; likewise, brown pants call for brown socks.
Shoes: While you may think that wearing nice shoes means wearing brown or black shoes that resemble a classier sneaker, for formal events and interviews you’re going to have to go a step beyond that. Your shoes say a lot about you, so you want to make sure your shoes are well kept, match your outfit, and shiny. If your shoes are looking a little worse for wear with worn out heels and scuffs you should opt to buy a new pair.
Be ready for any formal occasions with accessories from Tateossian . Tateossian stands for unique contemporary design in jewelry. We offer the best and most exclusive men’s and women’s jewelry from cufflinks to bracelets. Visit us at www.tateossian.com.
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