Image Building- Tips for Mind, Body & Work

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Image Building- Branding Self Created By- Rohit Bhatia
Taking Care Of Yourself

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Steps for taking care of yourself
1 .Did you know that 75% of women are actually dehydrated on a regular basis? Get into the
habit of drinking more water. (The "8 Glasses of Water" thing isn't accurate. You can actually
obtain at least 4-6 glasses of water from your food alone!). It's important to be hydrated in order
to get clearer glowing skin, healthier hair, and also to feel healthier. To verify you are properly
hydrated, check that the color of your urine is clear or very lightly colored, not dark. Dark urine
indicates severe dehydration.
2. Be hygienic. Wash your face every day and night using the correct skin cleanser for your
skin type. Don't clean inside your ears, it can damage your ear drums. Brush your teeth twice a
day. Floss before bed at night, with a little tooth paste in your mouth to keep your gums
healthy. Shower at least once daily to avoid body odour.
3. Get enough sleep. Tiredness is not attractive. It is suggested that you should get about 9
hours sleep every night, however everyone needs different amounts.

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4. Do not get obsessed by these instructions and do not get disturbed if you are not
able to adhere to them. Because everybody is a different person.
5. If you are an adolescent [or younger] and involved in strenuous physical activities or
sports, then you would require 8 to 9 hours of sleep. But as you grow older or the physical
activities diminish, the requirement of sleep reduces. More over people of the same age and
same occupation also differ in their sleep requirement.
6. Thirdly, waking up and sleeping at the same time may not fit in your schedule and
justifiably so, if you have night shifts [security persons], traveling [corporate executives,
marketing people], irregular working schedule [fire fighters, police, soldiers].

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7. Don't bite your nails, always do them evenly, and file or clip them. Biting nails also gets a
lot of germs into your mouth. Keep your nails nice looking. Be patient and wait for them to grow.
Buy a nail strengthener (topical) or take gelatin internally to toughen up your nails. Wearing
acrylic nails can be beautiful, but when you take them off, your real nails aren't. Plus, it's hard to
bring back the health depending on the type of body you have. If you're having a hard time
stopping biting your nails mix lemon juice or Tabasco sauce w/ your nail polish so when you bite
them the harsh tastes will make you stop.
8. Wash your hair every other day, because your hair has natural vitamins in it and
you don't want to keep washing those out every day. But always make sure it looks clean and
healthy, not greasy. If you play sports and need to shower everyday wear a shower cap some
days.
9. Make sure you wear deodorant or antiperspirant. Deodorant stops your sweat from
smelling. Antiperspirant stops sweating altogether, so it is up to you what to choose.
Antiperspirant stops the part of your shirt under your underarms from getting wet.

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10. Always be confident. It's a very attractive feature in both females and males. Don't
be cocky, just confident. It really does help.
11. Wear things that compliment your body shape. If you aren't sure how to (it can be
difficult), find a shopping buddy. Ask a friend for advice and tips, or get them to go shopping
with you. Pick a friend who looks great in their clothes (hopefully someone of similar body type
as you).
12. Exercise at least 3-5 times a week. You don't have to do a hard-core workout, just jog, do
sit-ups, just things to get you in shape. A simple work-out would be to walk/jog/run for at least
10 minutes or longer. Try doing sit-ups, crunches, side crunches, and push-ups. This will work-
out the main attractive features on your body.

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13. Stretch everyday because being flexible will help your body, which will make you feel
confident.
14. Wear lotion or anything to keep your skin ageless.
15. Wear attractive perfume/body spray, but be careful not to apply too much. 1 - 3 sprays is
sufficient. If you have a strong expensive perfume you may only need to spray once. Your
perfume will last longer if you spray the back of your neck and/or your wrists. Don't spray your
hair because the oils may cause it to smell different.
16. Have good posture. Great posture makes you look confident and taller. Try not to lean to
one side. Keep your back straight when sitting. It may be hard at first but you'll get use to it.

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17. Have good eye contact with people, don't look at the floor. But don't just stare.
18. Be mindful of extra hair: for females check your upper lips and side burns and always your
armpits. Males and females, keep your eyebrows, nose-hair, ear hair in check. Take a look around
for stray hair on or around moles, check the back of your neck and upper back for stray hairs.
Proper hair grooming should be practiced on the entire body. Trimming (in lieu of shaving) any
long hairs that are below the neck is a good idea.
19. For girls, if you have blotchy skin, zits, or undereye circles wear a little concealer or
foundation. If you want to add some color to your look wear a lip gloss or colored eyeliner. Be
careful not to over-do it.

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Tips
 Smile. Frowning, stuck up, bitter people will never be beautiful. Show your inner
beauty.
 Treat others as you wish to be treated. Kindness and compassion are some of the most
attractive qualities you can find in a person.
 Go to the dentist every 6 months.
 Stick with classic accessories. Clean leather tote. Comfortable flats (if you walk a lot).
 Shoes with pointy toes will lengthen your legs, but be careful on them.
How to Care for Your Hair and Body
Its normal to have a shower but do you know the proper way to clean yourself? How to wash
your face, deal with hairdryers and others things? Come right along and learn how to care for
yourself in this article!
Steps
1.
Take care of your hair. Your hair is a great part of your appearance as it frames your
face. So in the shower make sure it is soaking wet before putting shampoo. Use about 2/4
of your hand full of shampoo. Massage it in your head with your finger not your nails, if
you want to grow you hair shampoo your hair twice
2.
Then place conditioner on your hair but never put conditioner on your hair. Always
leave the conditioner for approximately 5 mins, then rinse off.
3.
Once or twice a week, do a deep treatment on your hair whether it be something
natural like egg yolk mixed with mayonnaise etc, or something good from a shop.
Make sure it is something good for your hair and aim to avoid sulphate and silicone on
your hair.

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4.
Make sure to clean your body too! When cleaning your arms or legs don't forget to
clean the back as well as the front.
5.
Don't comb you hair in the shower as it will weaken your hair and break it. This is
unless it is with a wide-toothed comb or you can even gently remove tangles with your
fingers. Put your hair in a unicorn towel structure, when you get out of the shower with
a silk towel.
6.
When your hair is dry, comb it or brush it. Don't use straightens or curlers outside the
shower, and in general aim to avoid putting your hair under too much pressure.
7.
Wash your face with a mild face soap every morning and evening. Use about 10
splashes and pat dry your face with a towel, but never rub.
8.
Brush your lips with salt or sugar water about once a week to exfoliate the dead skin
cells off.You can also exfoliate it with a toothbrush. Put a layer of chap-stick of lip balm
on every morning and evening, whenever you think your lips need the extra moisture.
9.
Brush your teeth thoroughly every morning and evening for 2 or more minutes. After
that floss for 30 seconss then mouthwash. Brush your tongue and gums very lightly.
10.
At night tie you hair up loosely to keep it out of your face because you can get
pimples that way.Or to be you can always do a loose braid.

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11.
When it's sunny put sunscreen on you face because you don't want to get sunburnt do
you? Keep hydrated and drink 8 cups of water a day.
12.
Cut your sugar and salt foods for better skin.
13.
When you eat wash your hands properly because you don't want grime from your
hands smearing all over your face!
14.
Exercising can help you deal with acne. But you have to wash your face so your face
won't be irritated so it won't lead to breakouts.
15.
Exercise regularly about half an hour or more every day.Drrink lots of water and eat
healthy foods to make you strong and beautiful. Don't smoke or use drugs because it
will only lead to problems.
16.
Moisturize you hands and feet and legs to have smooth skin.For your hands scrub the
nails to get the dirt out and use a great smelling hand soap. Don't bite your nails and
soak them in warm water and file them to a manageable length.
17.
Be a friendly, smiling person. It will make you look much more beautiful!

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A Woman's Guide to Business-Formal Dress
By Sue Fox from Business Etiquette For Dummies, 2nd Edition
If your business is formal, or for those formal meetings and presentations, you need the right
women's formal business-wear. Get some women's suits and appropriate, conservative
coordinates in your business wardrobe:

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 Suits: The keys to suits (either skirt suits or pantsuits) are fabric, fit, and comfort. For
autumn, winter, and spring, wool is still the best choice. For summer, cotton, gabardines,
and linen are good choices.
Have the suit professionally fitted if you have problems with off-the-rack clothes.
Choose suits with jackets and skirts that are appropriate for your body type.
 Skirts: Don’t make your skirt too tight, and don’t make it too short. Business skirts
typically are hemmed just around the knees.
 Blouses and shirts: What you wear with your suit is as important as the suit itself.
Blouses made of transparent material are inappropriate. High-quality cotton and silk are
good choices, as are high-quality microfiber blends.
 Stockings and pantyhose: Pantyhose and stockings are both acceptable in the
workplace, so long as they’re matched to your other clothes, aren’t heavily patterned,
and don’t suggest anything other than a commitment to work. During warm months, or
if you feel comfortable doing so, going without pantyhose is fine.
 Shoes: Take care of your shoes. Keep them functional, attractive, clean, and shined. Most
women find that low-heeled pumps or flats are suitable for the vast majority of business
situations.
Heels can be as high as, say, 1 1/2 or 2 inches, but heels much higher than that look
unprofessional.
 Accessories: Welcome to the bottomless pit of accessories! Just keep it simple and
sophisticated:
o Handbags: Large enough to carry a few items of makeup and whatever
technology you use to plan your week, but no larger.
o Briefcases: Some women carry a briefcase in lieu of a handbag, which is much
neater.
Increasingly, the briefcase and notebook computer bag are merging into one
article. Briefcases traditionally are made of black or brown leather (black is the
dressier of the two). Don’t skimp on quality. If you choose a separate notebook
computer bag, in addition to a briefcase (and maybe handbag), make sure they all
coordinate.
o Belts: Leather, 1/2- to 3/4-inch thick. Coordinate the belt's color with your outfit.
Proper attire dictates that when a garment (such as pants) has belt loops, you are
supposed to wear a belt to be fully and properly dressed.
o Scarves: Made of silk, wool, cashmere, or a blend of these fabrics.

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o Jewelry: Less is more. Keep your jewelry simple and understated.
o Eyeglasses: Glasses are among the few areas in business dress where you’re
allowed to assert your individuality, even in conservative environments.
3 Tips For Women To Improve Their Body Language At Work
Up to 93 percent of our communication is nonverbal. This means that our body language, facial
expressions and other nonverbal behavior is even more important than our verbal content —
yet most people don’t even think about what their body language is saying to others.
As a result, many women don’t ever realize how much their body language is holding them
back at work. I recently did body language coaching with a woman who was having a lot of
trouble advancing in her career. She had all the right things going for her — great education,
awesome performance reviews, successful sales, you name it — but still was not getting the
promotions and upward mobility opportunities she deserved.
Within the first five seconds of meeting her, I knew what was holding her back—her body
language. Her nonverbal behavior was timid, weak and disorganized, which was completely
opposite of her quiet confidence and intelligence. I taught her a few of the tips below and as she
adapted them, she started to get invited to sit in more high-level meetings. Then she got to
represent her company at a big conference. Finally, she got an offer to head up a department in
their new offices—a major promotion.
Here are a few tips you can use right now to start to improve your body language in the
workplace:
1. Assertive Body Language for Women

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Sometimes women need to show confidence and assertiveness in their opinions and points.
There are a few body language techniques that are universal signs of strength:
 Take Up More Space: Women who are timid tend to keep their arms close by their side
and tuck their feet under their chair, taking up as little space as possible. If you want to
show confidence, you have to claim space by firmly planting your feet shoulder width
apart, or if you are sitting, leaning back in your chair and using the armrests during
meetings.
 Steepling: Steepling is when you press the tips of your fingers together with palms
facing each other in front of your torso. This move (which looks like a steeple) is the
universal sign of confidence. You can do this at a business meeting on the table or even
when speaking and trying to emphasize a point.
2. Rapport-Building Body Language for Women
Building rapport is important for both men and women—it’s great for interviewing,
networking and getting along with office colleagues. There are a few specific things women can
do with their body language to help make connections.
 Point Your Feet: Our brains actually subconsciously pay attention to a person’s feet and
you will notice our feet tend to point in the direction we want to go. For example, at a
networking event someone who is itching to leave might be talking to someone but have
their feet pointed towards the door. So, if you want to show you are actively engaged,
point your feet and angle your body towards the person you are speaking with.
 Mirroring: When we really get along with someone, we subtly mirror their body posture
and movements. You can use this to your advantage when trying to bond with someone.
Subtly—very subtly, mimic their body posture or you can also try to speak at the same
voice cadence as they do. Our brains register this as “friend” not “foe.”
3. Calming Body Language for Women
Negotiating, interviewing and tense situations in business are never easy. Women need
nonverbal ways to calm themselves down if they are nervous and be nonthreatening for others
who might be nervous in their presence. If you are a manager or leader in your organization,
these tips are great for calming a hostile employee:
 Uncrossed Arms: When we cross our arms we are protecting our vital organs and it is a
naturally defensive position. If you want to stay calm and open-minded be sure to leave
your arms loose at your side. If someone else is crossing their arms, give them papers,

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coffee or even a pencil to hold. As soon as they get out of that position they will feel less
close-minded.
 Suprasternal Notch: The suprasternal notch — the space in between your collar bones —
is actually touched when people are nervous as a way of self-soothing. Lightly
massaging this area or the back of your neck can help lower your heart rate and make
you feel more calm.
Body language is a fascinating science that can only be applied artfully. The best tip I can give
is to be genuine, because people do pick up on inauthenticity.
10 Powerful Body Language Tips
By: Carol Kinsey Goman, PhD
The effective use of body language plays a key role in communication. Here are ten tips for
powerful body language I’ve learned during the past two decades of coaching teams around
the world:
1. To boost your confidence, assume a power pose
Research at Harvard and Columbia Business Schools shows that simply holding your body in
expansive, “high-power” poses (leaning back with hands behind the head and feet up on a
desk, or standing with legs and arms stretched wide open) for as little as two minutes
stimulates higher levels of testosterone—the hormone linked to power and dominance—and
lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone.
Try this when you’re feeling tentative but want to appear confident. In addition to causing
hormonal shifts in both males and females, these poses lead to increased feelings of power and
a higher tolerance for risk. The study also found that people are more often influenced by how
they feel about you than by what you're saying.

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2. To increase participation, look like you’re listening
If you want people to speak up, don’t multitask while they do. Avoid the temptation to check
your text messages, check your watch, or check out how the other participants are reacting.
Instead, focus on those who are speaking by turning your head and torso to face them directly
and by making eye contact. Leaning forward, nodding, and tilting your head are other
nonverbal ways to show you’re engaged and paying attention. It’s important to hear people.
It’s just as important to make sure they know you are listening.
3. To encourage collaboration, remove barriers
Physical obstructions are especially detrimental to collaborative efforts. Take away anything
that blocks your view or forms a barrier between you and the rest of the team. Even during a
coffee break, be aware that you may create a barrier by holding your cup and saucer in a way
that seems deliberately to block your body or distance you from others. A senior executive told
me he could evaluate his team’s comfort by how high they held their coffee cups. It was his
observation that the more insecure individuals felt, the higher they held their coffee. People
with their hands held at waist level were more comfortable than those with hands chest high.
4. To connect instantly with someone, shake hands
Touch is the most primitive and powerful nonverbal cue. Touching someone on the arm, hand,
or shoulder for as little as 1/40 of a second creates a human bond. In the workplace, physical
touch and warmth are established through the handshaking tradition, and this tactile contact
makes a lasting and positive impression. A study on handshakes by the Income Center for
Trade Shows showed that people are two times more likely to remember you if you shake
hands with them. The trade show researchers also found that people react to those with whom
they shake hands by being more open and friendly.
5. To stimulate good feelings, smile
A genuine smile not only stimulates your own sense of well-being, it also tells those around
you that you are approachable, cooperative, and trustworthy. A genuine smile comes on
slowly, crinkles the eyes, lights up the face, and fades away slowly. Most importantly, smiling
directly influences how other people respond to you. When you smile at someone, they almost
always smile in return. And, because facial expressions trigger corresponding feelings, the
smile you get back actually changes that person’s emotional state in a positive way.
6. To show agreement, mirror expressions and postures
When clients or business colleagues unconsciously imitate your body language, it’s their way of
nonverbally saying that they like or agree with you. When you mirror other people with intent,
it can be an important part of building rapport and nurturing feelings of mutuality. Mirroring
starts by observing a person’s facial and body gestures and then subtly letting your body take
on similar expressions and postures. Doing so will make the other person feel understood and
accepted.

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7. To improve your speech, use your hands
Brain imaging has shown that a region called Broca’s area, which is important for speech
production, is active not only when we’re talking, but when we wave our hands. Since gesture
is integrally linked to speech, gesturing as we talk can actually power up our thinking.
Whenever I encourage executives and others to incorporate gestures into their deliveries, I
consistently find that their verbal content improves. Experiment with this and you’ll find that
the physical act of gesturing helps you form clearer thoughts and speak in tighter sentences
with more declarative language.
8. To learn the truth, watch people’s feet
When people try to control their body language, they focus primarily on facial expressions,
body postures, and hand/arm gestures. Since the legs and feet are left unrehearsed, they are
also where the truth can most often be found. Under stress, people will often display
nervousness and anxiety through increased foot movements. Feet will fidget, shuffle, and wind
around each other or around the furniture. Feet will stretch and curl to relieve tension, or even
kick out in a miniaturized attempt to run away. Studies show that observers have greater
success judging a person’s real emotional state when they can see the entire body. You may not
know it, but instinctively you’ve been reacting to foot gestures all your life.
9. To sound authoritative, keep your voice down
Before a speech or important telephone call, allow your voice to relax into its optimal pitch (a
technique I learned from a speech therapist) by keeping your lips together and making the
sounds “um hum, um hum, um hum.” And if you are a female, watch that your voice doesn’t
rise at the ends of sentences as if you are asking a question or seeking approval. Instead, when
stating your opinion, use the authoritative arc, in which your voice starts on one note, rises in
pitch through the sentence and drops back down at the end.
10. To improve your memory, uncross your arms and legs
Body language researchers Allan and Barbara Pease report a fascinating finding from one of
their studies: When a group of volunteers attended a lecture and sat with unfolded arms and
legs, they remembered 38% more than a group that attended the same lecture and sat with
folded arms and legs. To improve your retention, uncross your arms and legs. If you see your
audience exhibiting defensive body language, change tactics, take a break, or get them to
move—and don’t try to persuade them until their bodies open up.
Makeup Tips for working women
planetzuri / zoori.in
by Vaishali Sudan Sharma

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Easy makeup tips for working women that will make you feel good and confident
Just as dressing for work is imperative, looking good is equally important. Appearance makes a
huge difference in making or breaking a job opportunity or success on the job. Besides,
favourable image by styling appropriately to work creates conducive atmosphere. Here is how
to achieve it.
Look Professional:
Just as when dressing for work, one thinks of comfort, weather and activities planned for the
day, I reckon a similar rationale should also be going behind wearing makeup as well. Liberty
can be taken while dressing up for a relaxed culture, however, any workplace with a traditional
corporate culture will have employees dressing up in serious business attire. So, in such a
scenario, makeup, including eye shadow, eyebrow pencil, kajal, blush and lipstick, should be
applied with a light touch to accentuate facial features during the work hours.
For the skin:
 Get a pretty glow on your face by moisturizing it on a daily basis. A good moisturizer
helps retain moisture and prevents dryness.
 For flawless skin, I suggest a concealer that matches your skin tone, it covers-up dark,
under-eye circles, blemishes and marks.
 The skin tone needs to be even. So when applying foundation, it is recommended that
you do this where enough light is falling on your face from all the directions. In case you
have clear skin you can skip the foundation.
Zuri recommends:
 Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 day Cream Touch of Foundation SPF 15
 L’Oreal True Match Liquid Foundation
For the eyes:
 In my opinion, bright colored eye shadows, such as electric green and blue should be
avoided. I recommend going for 2 colors of eye shadow, a base color which is neutral in
nature and a shade that compliments your eyes.
 Black mascara is a makeup must-have!
Zuri recommends:
 Maybelline Diamond Glow Eye Shadow (Shades: Copper Brown/Wine Pink)

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 L’Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara
For the lips:
 Subtle lip stain is good but if red is desired then it is recommended to go extremely light
on eye makeup.
 For long days at work or meetings scheduled in the evening, opt for extended wear
lipstick.
Zuri recommends:
 Max factor Lipfinity Color and Lip gloss
For the nails:
 Nails need to be clipped, filed, and smoothly shaped. Opt for oval or round shape for its
gracefulness. No offbeat nail paints please.
Zuri recommends:
 OPI Nail Lacquer (Shades: Rosy Future/I’ll take the cake)
For the hair:
Wear your hair nice and neat. A simple hairstyle communicates loyalty towards the
organisation. Half up and half down style, ponytail for long and short hair and flat ironed
chignons are equally stylish yet professional.
5 Minutes tips:
While I understand that wearing makeup everyday to work might not be liked by every
woman, but in order to look fresh and confident, try if you must these quick tips.
 A little concealer for dark circles
 Kohl to accentuate tired eyes
 A dash of blush – peach, pink colors are highly recommended
 Lip gloss/lipstick that doesn’t clash with your skin tone. I suggest sticking to basic and
neutral shades such as pink, peach and flesh tone.

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Zuri recommends:
 Lakme Absolute Kohl Ultimate
 Lakme 9 to 5 Pure Rouge Blusher
 M.A.C blush (Shades: Peaches/Melba)
 Colorbar Perfect Pout Gloss (Shades: Whisper/Playful)
 M.A.C Lipstick (Shades: Mocha/See Shear/Kinda Sexy/Half N Half)
A small makeup kit kept at the desk cupboard comes handy, especially before meetings,
presentations and team lunches. I personally feel that a compact, lip gloss, wash cloth/muslin
cloth/face wipes and a bottle of your favorite perfume (not too strong) are the items that should
be there in the handbag. They are particularly useful on the way to the office.
For women who spend most of their time on the field, it is advised that they carry a good
sunscreen, sunglasses and a scarf/umbrella in their handbags. It protects the skin, eyes and hair
from bright lights outdoor. In fact, dry skin has become a major concern for working women.
Thanks to the 24 hour artificial air conditioning that leaves skin cracking or scaling. Use a
moisturizer and a moisturizing foundation to prevent skin from getting dry in the AC.
Daily Regime:
Healthy skin and hair boost self esteem which helps in superior productivity at work. Start
your day with a splash of lukewarm water on your face, thereafter, drinking at least 2 glasses of
water. The intake can be anywhere between 8 to 10 glasses a day. I recommend a healthy mid-
meal snacking. Carry salads, nuts or oat bars to work and stay away from dehydrating
beverages. It has worked for me! Try to keep your hair clean and tidy always. Massage your
scalp once or twice a week to soothe the over-strained nerves. Shampoo hair every alternate
day to ensure they are dirt and oil free. Follow it up with a conditioner and/or hair serum.
Once you are back from work, it is best to remove all your makeup with a good quality makeup
remover and soon after, wash your face with a mild soap. I generally dab a bit of Vaseline on
my lips before going to bed. The petroleum jelly keeps them soft and moisturized. Try to tie
your hair back at night. It prevents the strands from getting entangled. Moisturize your skin,
elbows, hands and knees. Gently massage your legs and feet with a soothing foot cream. It is
relaxing and prevents cracking. If under-eye bags are bothering you, don’t hesitate to apply
night eye serum in little quantity.

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Do remember that you don’t have to stress yourself. Simple and non-time consuming tricks and
tips can simplify life. So, are you all set to say hello to a gorgeous you at work?

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You can create you customized workout plan by referring to this link: Even without any
equipment,
this professional website creates just about perfect workout plan for you with images and
illustrations. Comes with no cost.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_plan_generator.asp
Wish You All The Success and Career Heights!!!
“A woman is like a tea bag –
you never know how strong
she is until she gets in hot
water.

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Image Building
Content:
1. Unclassified Laws of Etiquette
2. The Art of conversation
3. How to make introduction
4. Being a gentle man at the office
5. Understanding the Dress Shift
6. How should a Suit Fit
7. How to match tie & Dress
8. How to Roll Up Your Shirt Sleeves

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9. Shaver’s Mistake
10. Quick Tips (pictorial)

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1. The Unclassified Laws of Etiquette
When Kate and I were in Vermont last summer, we stumbled upon a book called Hill’s Manual of Social
and Business Forms. It was published in 1880. The book is a hodge podge of information that would be
useful to a man of business back in the late 19th Century. There are sections dedicated to penmanship,
business letter writing, and the dos and don’ts of social and business etiquette. One section in the book
is called “Unclassified Laws of Etiquette.” It’s a list of different rules of etiquette that didn’t quite fit
under the other specific headings (funeral etiquette, etiquette in the home, ect). While the list was
written over 100 years ago and some of the suggestions are a bit archaic and random, the advice is still
strikingly resonant. It manages to cover many, many of the gaps in etiquette which have transformed
society into a veritable Swiss cheese of incivility. If a man puts these suggestions into practice, he will
definitely set himself apart for the other knuckleheads out there trying to land a job or catch the eye of
a good looking gal. Looking down the list, I can see several areas where I could use some improvement.
 Never exaggerate.
 Never point at another.
 Never betray a confidence.
 Never leave home with unkind words.
 Never neglect to call upon your friends.
 Never laugh at the misfortunes of others.
 Never give a promise that you do not fulfill.
 Never send a present, hoping for one in return.
 Never speak much of your own performances.
 Never fail to be punctual at the time appointed.
 Never make yourself the hero of your own story.
 Never pick the teeth or clean the nails in company.
 Never fail to give a polite answer to a civil question.
 Never question a child about family matters.
 Never present a gift saying that it is of no use to you.
 Never read letters which you may find addressed to others.
 Never fail, if a gentleman, of being civil and polite to ladies.
 Never call attention to the features or form of anyone present.
 Never refer to a gift you have made, or favor you have rendered.
 Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none.
 Never look over the shoulder of another who is reading or writing.
 Never appear to notice a scar, deformity, or defect of anyone present.
 Never arrest the attention of an acquaintance by touch. Speak to him.
 Never punish your child for a fault to which you are addicted yourself.
 Never answer questions in general company that have been put to others.
 Never, when traveling abroad, be over boastful in praise of your own country.
 Never call a new acquaintance by their first name unless requested.
 Never lend an article you have borrowed, unless you have permission to do so.
 Never attempt to draw the attention of the company constantly upon yourself.

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 Never exhibit anger, impatience or excitement, when an accident happens.
 Never pass between two persons who are talking together, without an apology.
 Never enter a room noisily; never fail to close the door after you, and never slam it.
 Never forget that, if you are faithful in a few things, you may be ruler over many.
 Never exhibit too great familiarity with the new acquaintance, you may give offense.
 Never will a gentleman allude to conquests which he may have made with ladies.
 Never be guilty of the contemptible meanness of opening a private letter addressed to another.
 Never fail to offer the easiest and best seat in the room to an invalid, an elderly person, or a lady.
 Never neglect to perform the commission which the friend entrusted to you. You must not forget.
 Never send your guest, who is accustomed to a warm room, off into a cold, damp, spare bed, to
sleep.
 Never enter a room filled with people, without a slight bow to the general company when first
entering.
 Never fail to answer an invitation, either personally or by letter, within a week after the invitation is
received.
 Never accept of favors and hospitality without rendering an exchange of civilities when opportunity
offers.
 Never cross the leg and put one foot in the street-car, or places where it will trouble others when
passing by.
 Never fail to tell the truth. If truthful, you get your reward. You will get your punishment if you
deceive.
 Never borrow money and neglect to pay. If you do, you will soon be known as a person of no
business integrity.
 Never write to another asking for information, or a favor of any kind, without enclosing a postage
stamp for the reply.
 Never fail to say kind and encouraging words to those whom you meet in distress. Your kindness
may lift them out of their despair.
 Never refuse to receive an apology. You may not receive friendship, but courtesy will require, when
a apology is offered, that you accept it.
 Never examine the cards in the card-basket. While they may be exposed in the drawing room, you
are not expected to turn them over unless invited to do so.
 Never, when walking arm in arm with a lady, be continually changing and going to the other side,
because of change of corners. It shows too much attention to form.
 Never insult another with harsh words when applied to for a favor. Kind words do not cost much,
and yet they may carry untold happiness to the one to whom they are spoken.
 Never fail to speak kindly. If a merchant, and you address your clerk; if an overseer, and you address
your workman; if in any position where you exercise authority, you show yourself to be a gentleman
by your pleasant mode of address.
 Never attempt to convey the impression that you are a genius, by imitating the faults of
distinguished men. Because certain great men were poor penmen, wore long hair, or had other
peculiarities, it does not follow that you will be great by imitating their eccentricities.
 Never give all your pleasant words and smile to strangers. The kindest words and the sweetest
smiles should be reserved for home. Home should be our heaven.
.”

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2. The Art of Conversation
I think we’ve all encountered men who halve a knack for good conversation.
It’s easy to think that the art of conversation is a skill that the gods bestow on a happy few, while
cursing most men with turbid tongues.
While it’s true that some men simply have a greater portion of innate natural charm, the art of
conversation is a skill in which all men can become competent. You may never have a silver-tongue, but
you can learn to converse in ways that make you a valued party guest, set you apart at company
functions, impress the ladies, and win you new friends. Below, we provide some tips and guidelines as
an introduction (or reminder) on properly engaging in conversation.
5 Do’s of Conversation
Listen more than you talk. Ironically enough, the key to the art of conversation is not in thetalking, but
in the listening. Avoid conversational narcism. Ask those you converse with interesting and thoughtful
questions. People love to talk about themselves. Don’t ask what someone does and leave it at that. Ask
them what the hardest part of their job is, how the future of their profession looks. Then ask follow-up
questions to tease out more details. Act genuinely interested by focusing on who’s talking, nodding your
head, and adding “hmmm’s” and “uh-huh’s” at appropriate moments.
Come to an occasion armed with topics at the ready. On the way to a party or dinner, I think about the
people I will be seeing that night and brainstorm stories I can tell and questions I can ask. “George will
like to hear about how the woodshed is coming along. Grace just got back from seeing her folks in
Minnesota, so I’ll ask about that, and I’ll see what Tyler thought about that book he just finished.”
If you don’t know the people you will be conversing with, think about the things that will probably
interest those you meet. Ask them about the unique aspects of their locale-(“I saw an interesting statue
in the way into town. What’s the story behind it?”), read up on the company they work for (“I hear you
will be expanding into China soon-when will that be happening?) and ask those who do know the others
better for some background information.
Tailor the conversation to the listener. It’s easy to say, “Don’t talk politics, sex, or religion.” And when in
any doubt, don’t. But a much better rule is simply to tailor your conversation topics to those you are
conversing with. Talking about politics, religion, and sex with new acquaintances can be awkward;
arguing with the same buddies you’ve been arguing with for ten years at your weekly poker night can
be the highlight of the week. Talking about motorcycles in mixed company will bore half the
room; not talking about them with your riding posse would be unthinkable.
They can talk to anybody about anything in a laid-back, casual manner
that sets people immediately at ease. A complete stranger can walk
away from these conversational maestros feeling like he’s known them
for years.

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Take your turn. A conversation is a group project, with each person weaving in a tidbit here and there.
It’s no time for monologues. If you notice that you have talked for a few minutes without any questions,
comments, or general signs of life from other people, you are likely sucking up the air in the room. Cede
the floor to someone else.
Think before you speak. Most foot-in-mouth moments occur because of a failure to think before
speaking. You rant about the war and then remember your friend’s boyfriend just returned from Iraq.
To avoid offending, don’t throw out statements laden with value-judgments. For example, instead of
saying, “The mayor sure is a moron, huh?” Ask, “What do you think of the mayor’s rebuilding
proposal?”
5 Don’ts of Conversation
Don’t interrupt. There are actually two forms of interrupting, as 1954’s Esquire Etiquetteexplains:
“The obvious one, interrupting the speaker in mid-sentence, is easy to avoid: just wait until the other
has stopped talking before you start. (And don’t ever say, “Have you finished?” You might as well say
right out that he’s a windy numskull and you thought he’d never run down. ) The other kind of
interruption, equally culpable, is often prefaced by “That reminds me…” or “By the way.” Such phrases
usually signal a digression or irrelevancy. When you interrupt another’s train of thought, or send a
discussion off into a tangent, you indicate that you are either stupid or rude, either unable or unwilling
to stick with the speaker’s point.
Even if everyone observed these rules, telephones, doorbells and new arrivals would always conspire to
interrupt you in mid-point. When you are interrupted, the politest thing to do is the hardest thing: shut
up. Don’t go back and finish a story-don’t excavate a buried point-unless you are asked to do so. If a
new listener has come up in mid-story, a polite someone else will brief him on the subject and ask you
to go on; the polite newcomer will second the nomination; only then, with the briefest possible synopsis
of what you said before, can you go on. If you are not given these cues, it may be because your story is
not appropriate for the newcomer’s ears or because the situation gets beyond control; it’s not always
because your audience was bored. So, if you get a chance to make your point later on, don’t air your
annoyance with a petulant, “As I was trying to say a little earlier…”
Don’t talk to only one person when conversing in a group. This leaves the others dangling and awkward
on the periphery. This is not simply a matter of whom you are physically conversing with-you can also
ice people out by choosing subjects on which they have no interest or knowledge, such as the intricacies
of your job that only your co-worker understands and inside jokes and “remember when’s” with your
buddy. Bring up topics on which everyone can chime in.
Don’t engage in “one-upping.” The one upper not only makes a lousy friend, he also makes a highly
annoying conversationalist. You say you just bought some new boots; he raises you one by talking about
the shoes he cobbled together himself with leather he got by killing a deer with only a bowie knife. The
one upper believes that his stories show his superiority; on the contrary, they reveal his naked
insecurity.
Don’t overshare. We’ve all met the man who pours out his life story as soon as you meet him. Within
two minutes you know why his girlfriend dumped him, how worried he is about losing his hair, and why
he’ll never be promoted at work. This instant unburdening reads as desperation and repels people

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faster than water off a duck’s back. You have to cultivate a little mystery-leave people intrigued and
wanting more.
And at the same time, you don’t want to dig too deeply into the personal life of other people either.
Respect the privacy of others. To avoid inadvertently touching on a sensitive spot, instead of asking
someone about X, volunteer that information about yourself. A person who is comfortable talking about
X will typically offer up their own experience in turn. If they don’t respond in kind, change the subject.
4 Things Not to Say
“Am I boring you?”
An embarrassing question-the person will never answer no, it comes off a bit accusatory (the person
will feel as though they were looking at you with an uninterested expression), and even if you weren’t
previously boring them, the power of suggestion will plant the idea in their head that the
conversation had been rather tedious after all.
Instead of asking a question like that outright, simply pay attention to the person’s facial expressions
and body language. If they look bored, they probably are. Time to switch things up.
“Huh?” “What?” “Say What?” “Eh?” (the latter is okay if you use an ear-horn).
Too abrupt. The speaker will feel awkward. Instead ask, “What was the last thing you said- I didn’t catch
it.” And don’t nod and smile when you don’t know what was just said. Sometimes it works; sometimes
the person just said, “A dingo made off with my baby last night.”
“Actually, you should say ‘between you and me,” not ‘between you and I.'”
If grammatical mistakes make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you may find it difficult to
restrain yourself from correcting the errors of others. But a conversation is no time to be pedantic.
You’ll come off as smug and patronizing and bring any rapport you were building with a person to a
screeching halt. Don’t miss the forest for the trees.
Actually, if grammatical mistakes make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, you might want to
look into taking up some new hobbies.
“Stop me if I’ve told you this story before…”
No one will ever stop you. So your question just prolongs the time they have to act like they’ve never
heard the story of the time you almost ran over Barry Switzer while he was riding his fixed gear bicycle
near the OU dorms.

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The Number One Rule of Conversation: Be Natural
As with most matters of etiquette and sociality, once you understand the ground rules, stop thinking
about them so much and let things flow. You can follow all the above do’s and dont’s, but if it seems to
others like your conversating by a checklist, then you might as well be waxing poetic about your butt
hair. It doesn’t matter how polite you are if you come off as a phony. Drop the affectations. Talk about
things that you’re comfortable talking about; use words that you’re comfortable using. As Esquire
Etiquette advises.
“You’ve often heard that what you say and how you say it is a first impression give-away to your
character and your background-but there’s a sleeper in that bromide: It’s a bigger give-away to pretend
to be something you are not then to be what you are without apology. No matter what the lady-books
say about “cultivated speech,” a man’s speech had best not be cultivated; it ought first of all to be
natural…The pretty politeness of speech you find in the girls’ books are not for you, sir. If you mean
“Sorry,” say “Sorry”-not I’m so sorry,” not “I beg your pardon.” If you mean that the dinner was damned
good say so; don’t mince around with uneasy words like “exquisite” or “lovely.” Leave the “my dears” to
the aged, and “do comes” to the feminine gender. And forget about the supposedly gallant phrases like
“Allow me” and “After you.” It is not etiquette to say things the long way or the fancy way. Be yourself.
Be a man.”

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3.How to Make Introductions Like a Gentleman
Have you ever been at a party with a guy who runs into somebody he knows and starts yammering
away while you stand there awkwardly, holding your drink? Man, I hate when that happens. You’re left
in social limbo. I usually have to just take things into my own hands and introduce myself, which is fine,
but the exchange would have been much smoother had my friend introduced me to his buddies.
Being introduced invites you into the conversation and makes you feel like part of the group, which is
why making an introduction shows your respect for your guest. Neglecting to make an introduction
leaves a person feeling ignored and, well, awkward. Making introductions is particularly important in
business settings as they establish a rapport of respect, get relationships off on the right foot, and give
you an aura of being confident, prepared, and in control.
With our more casual culture, the art of the gentlemanly introduction has disappeared, but we’re here
to help bring it back.
Making introductions used to be a much more formal affair, with bowing, scraping, and a lot of rules,
but nowadays just remembering to make them sets you apart from the cads out there. So there’s no
need to adhere to ironclad laws or be all flowery about it. Keeping it simple and respectful goes a long
way, and doing so requires following just one basic guideline:
The Big Rule
The overarching principle when making introductions is deference and respect. You show
chivalrous deference to women by introducing the man to the woman. You show respect for your elders
by introducing the younger to the older. And in a business setting, you show respect to higher-ups by
introducing the person of lower rank to the person of higher position. Below we break down this rule
into a few easy to understand examples so you can see how this works.
Business Introductions
Situation: Introducing business associates of different ranks
 How to do it: Introduce the person of lower rank to the person of higher rank, regardless of age or
gender.
 Example: “Mr. CEO, I would like to introduce Mr. Frank Underling from accounting.”
Situation: Introducing a business associate of any rank and a client
 How to do it: Introduce the business associate to the client, regardless of rank, age, or gender.
 Example: “Mr. Client, please meet our Vice President of Marketing, Andrew Smith.”
Situation: Introducing two business associates of equal rank
 How to do it: Introduce the person that you don’t know as well to the person you know better.
 Example: Let’s say your manager, Foster Knight is meeting the manager of the Detroit office, Cynthia
Brown. “Foster, I’d like you to meet the manager of the Detroit Office, Cynthia Brown.”

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Social Introductions
Situation: Introducing a man and a woman
 How to do it: Introduce the man to the woman
 Example: “Amanda, this is Jake Nelson who has been helping me study for the bar.”
(Note: In social settings, a man is always introduced to a woman, regardless of the individuals’ ages.)
Situation: Introducing a younger person and an older person (of the same sex)
 How to do it: Introduce the younger person to the older person.
 Example: “Mr. Mothballs, I’d like you to meet my friend Roy. He’s my roommate in college.”
Situation: Introducing a person and a relative
 How to do it: Introduce the person to the relative.
 Example: “Dad, I would like to introduce my girlfriend Carly.”
Situation: Introducing one or more persons and a group of people
 How to do it: Introduce the group to the individual(s).
 Example: “Sarah and Andy, I would like you to meet Mike, Bruce, Jim, and Harvey.”
Notes on group introductions:
 Say the names of everyone in the group slowly so that your guest will have a greater chance of
remembering them.
 If you bring your guest to a small gathering, you may introduce him or her to everyone there. If you
bring your guest to a large party, just introduce them to whom they’re sitting by or those people
who enter into a conversation with the two of you. Don’t bring them around the room and
introduce them to every single person there.
What to Do When Being Introduced
Remember that first impressions are always the time to shine, so when being introduced to someone,
look them in the eye, offer a good handshake (when meeting a woman, wait to see if she extends her
hand first), and say something like:
 “I’ve really been looking forward to meeting you.”
 “I’ve heard such great things about you.”
 “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
 “It’s great to finally meet you.”
Then, immediately follow-up with a conversation starter. “Rodger told me you’ve been training for a
marathon next week. How’s that going?”

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Other Tips
 Rely on common sense when choosing whether or not to use a person’s title when making an
introduction. In formal situations and when the person has not given you permission to use their
first name, use titles like Mr., Mrs., Dr., etc. A good rule is simply to refer to the person as you
normally refer to them. If you’re introducing your boss and you call your boss “Mr. Cooper” at the
office, don’t suddenly call him Bob.
 Always stand up for introductions.
 Make sure you know how to pronounce people’s names correctly when making introductions.
 Say something interesting about the person you’re introducing so that the person he or she is being
introduced to will have an easier time remembering their name and transitioning into conversation.
Like so:
 Sam: “James, I’d like to introduce you to my friend Eddie Hill. Eddie caught a 20 lb bass last week.
 James: That’s incredible! Where were you fishing, Eddie?
 Boom-instant rapport.
 When being introduced or making an introduction outside, remove your hat and keep it off until you
part ways again.
 If outside and wearing gloves when meeting someone, remove your glove before shaking his or her
hand.
 What do you do when you’re introducing your guest to another person and realize you don’t
remember their name? Say to the person, “Have you met my friend John?” The person will then
hopefully reply with, “No, I haven’t. I’m Sophia.”

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4.Being a Gentleman at the Office
The Dos and Don’ts of Business Etiquette
The rules of business etiquette are very similar to the rules of social etiquette.
But there is a difference between the two sets of manners.
In the social sphere, the assumption is that you and your associates are equals, with some allowances
made for age and sex.
The business world, on the other hand, is a hierarchy. Whether you work at a traditional, highly-
stratified corporation, or a modern and casual upstart, whether the hierarchy is spelled out, or entirely
unspoken, one exists. Just step on some toes and see what happens. Business etiquette dictates that
employees defer to employers, sellers defer to buyers, and seekers defer to sought-afters.
This difference in the dynamic of social and business relations accounts for things like the fact that
when you make introductions outside of work, you always introduce the man to the woman, while in
the business world, you make introductions based on rank and importance, regardless of gender. So if
you’re introducing a male CEO and a female employee, you would say, “Mr. Robert BigCheese, I would
like to introduce Mrs. Samantha Underling from accounting,” rather than the other way around. (Note:
if Mr. Graham was meeting a client (of either sex) as opposed to an underling, the client’s name would
go first; remember, the seller defers to the buyer.)
This is also why your boss can call you by your first name, but you shouldn’t reciprocate, unless he or
she has specifically invited you to drop the Mr. or Mrs.
Another difference between the rules that dictate etiquette in the social and business worlds is that in
the social sphere, etiquette doesn’t necessarily have to be efficient or practical; in fact, this can be part
of its charm. But in the workplace, tradition matters less and getting the job done matters more.
So for example, while in a social situation you would want to stand when a woman entered the room, at
work you should rise from your desk when receiving visitors of either sex, and you shouldn’t stand up
every time a female secretary or assistant walks in and out of your office.
Those caveats aside, the rules of business etiquette and social etiquette are not so different; it’s all
about acting with integrity, knowing the appropriate behavior for a particular situation, behaving in
ways that show respect, and treating others as you’d like to be treated.
While certain areas of business etiquette deserve their own posts, today we will outline some general
dos and don’ts for being a gentleman at the office.

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The Dos
Dress with respect. Be clean and presentable each and every day. Follow the office dress code at a
minimum—and don’t be the guy who constantly toes the line. Of course it’s fine to dress a cut above
everyone else, but just a cut. Dressing up far beyond the standard sported by everyone else will come
off as putting on airs.
Come to work with teeth brushed and body washed. Your co-workers are stuck with you in a small
space for eight or more hours a day. Don’t make them avoid your cubicle like the plague as they gather
to discuss whether presenting you with a gift basket of soap and chewing gum would send too overt a
message.
Keep things pleasant with your co-workers. Unlike friends, if things get awkward with your co-workers,
you cannot choose to stop seeing them. No, cause an uncomfortable rift with a co-worker, and you’ll
have to look at their contemptible face each and every day for months, and maybe years. So keep your
relations with them pleasant. This means not delving too much into your private life, avoiding
discussion of topics like religion and politics, and typically choosing to ignore annoying habits, rather
than calling attention to them (although every man has his breaking point).
When it comes to dating at work, don’t risk it unless she’s someone you truly connect with. And if you
do pursue something with a co-worker, review your company’s policy on such relationships and let HR
know what’s going on.
Keep company secrets, secret. Our Wiki-leaks-loving generation tends to scoff at the notion of keeping
anything secret. And yes, your company’s secrets may seem so boring or unimportant as to not even be
worth the effort of keeping them under wraps. But no matter—they’re still nobody’s business. Even if
the spilling of secrets doesn’t cause actual harm to your company, doing so will still make you look
careless.
So keep your files tucked away when receiving visitors, guard your end of the phone conversation when
a visitor is standing nearby, and if outsiders ask you questions that might reveal company secrets,
simply give intentionally vague answers–never volunteer any information they could not have
otherwise been gleaned from the news. If information is truly confidential, don’t send it over email.
There’s no such thing as a “private” email; they can be monitored by your company, and sometimes
retrieved long after they’ve been “deleted.”
Finally, don’t volunteer more information than necessary: “Dan is not in today,” not “Dan’s not here.
He’s meeting with the head of mergers at Dyna Corp.”
On another style note, while you might take off your jacket and roll
up your sleeves during the day, when there are visitors present in
the office or you’re receiving callers, put your jacket back on and
present a professional appearance that reflects well on your
company.

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Work with your boss—not against him. Keep him informed. Let him know when you’ve made a mistake
so he doesn’t paint himself into a corner out of ignorance. Back him up–if you have concerns about
something, let him know in private instead of airing your grievances at an open meeting.
When you use the last of something, replace it. Whether it’s the last paper in the copy machine or the
last cup of joe in the coffee maker, don’t just walk away—replace the paper and make another pot.
Ditto for copy machine paper jams—don’t whistle as you slowly slink off. Fix it.
Treat your underlings with kindness and respect. They keep the office running. And you never know if
that lowly clerk will one day be your boss.
Respect the chain of command. Both up and down. Don’t step on anybody’s toes. Don’t go over your
boss’s head without permission.
Hold the door for people approaching the elevator. Don’t hide in the corner while secretly wishing for
the doors to close as quickly as possible.
If you’re using speaker phone, let the person(s) you’re speaking with know who else is on the call with
you before you begin the conversation. That way, they will not be confused when another person’s
voice suddenly pops in later on.
Bring donuts or bagels to a meeting every once in a blue moon. This is not expected of you. But if you
do it, you’ll be a hero.
The Don’ts
Pass the buck. Generally, making excuses reflects more poorly on your character than admitting the
mistake would have on your competence. If you blame an underling, you reveal yourself to be a
mediocre leader, for you should have seen to it that the job got done correctly. If you blame an equal,
you simply look like a whiner and run the risk of souring your relationship with someone with whom
you’ll likely have to continue to work. And if you blame a higher-up…well common sense dictates that
it’s not a good idea to anger the people who hold your job in their hands.
Come late to meetings. Your late arrival is disruptive and may prolong the meeting if they have to wait
to get started until you get there or if they have to catch you up on what has already been discussed.
Linger at someone’s desk. Nothing wrong with stopping by to say hello to your cubicle buddy. But, if
after some brief chit-chat, your co-worker shows signs of trying to get back to work, move on!
Eat other people’s food. The crime that launched a thousand passive-aggressive notes.
Eavesdrop on co-workers’ private phone calls. Now obviously if someone is having a conversation a
cubicle over, it’s impossible not to hear what they’re saying. But you can certainly pretend like you don’t
hear. In other words, if Bob just got off the phone from having an argument with his teenage son, don’t
saunter over and ask, “What’s the problem with young Johnny, Bob?” If your co-worker wants to bring
up the topic with you, then let him initiate that conversation. Otherwise, consider what you heard to be
off-limits.
Listen to radio/music/Youtube videos without headphones. Not everyone shares your affinity for Enya.
Let your personal life get in the way of your business life. Always maintain a business-like attitude. This
doesn’t mean being cold or aloof from others. What it means is that your personal life should very
rarely interfere with getting work done. Not that you can’t leave early because your kid got sick, but
that you don’t come in late because you got plastered the night before, you don’t ask the boss for a
raise because you just had a baby, and you don’t spend half your time at work arguing with your ex-wife
about alimony payments.

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Come back and visit your old office. And now we return to the point made at the beginning of the
article: the business world is different from the social world. In the social sphere, when you make close
relationships, the expectation is that those relationships will last no matter where life takes you. At the
office, you might develop relationships that feel very close with your co-workers, but once you move
on, those relationships typically do too. When you leave a company to take another job elsewhere,
don’t come back to your old workplace expecting to be heralded as a long lost friend. People will find
the situation a little awkward and you a good deal lame.

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5. Understanding the Dress Shirt
Custom Shirt Giveaway
A man’s dress shirt can elegantly frame his face during a presentation and later absorb his perspiration
during a tough round of questioning. It can play a supporting role by enhancing his sport jacket or it can
stand alone and be the centerpiece of his outfit. The dress shirt ranges in price from the $9.99 Wal-Mart
polyester special to over $600 for a name brand custom shirt. But why would you want to read an entire
article about dress shirts?
What is a Dress Shirt
A proper dress shirt is a button-up shirt with a collar, long sleeves, and wrist cuffs. It is usually made
from a cotton fabric woven and dyed into various, non-obtrusive patterns and colors. By altering these
characteristics, a dress shirt can either send the message its wearer is ready for sport or ready to meet
the president.
Dress Shirt Fit
Most men wear dress shirts that do not fit them properly. The problem is that ready made garments are
made to fit many; as a result, they fit no one perfectly. We all compromise somewhere if a shirt fits us in
the neck it fails us in the sleeve length; if it fits well in the sleeves, it billows out around the stomach. So
the fit I’ll describe here is generally only achievable on a custom shirt or one that’s close to fitting and
then tailored by a skilled hand.
Because details matter. In any given day we only speak with a
small percentage of the people we see; the shirt you wear, in the
absence of a jacket, is the most powerful signal you are using to
non-verbally communicate with those around you. Your shirt,
whether you like it or not, is speaking for you; make sure it’s saying
what you intend.

41
A well fitted dress shirt should first and foremost be comfortable; this is different for every man. Larger
men are usually complimented by a looser fit while petite and thin men are complimented by a more
form cut. In general, though, a shirt should:
 Allow two fingers in the collar when buttoned.
 Be tight enough around the wrist so that the cuffs must be unbuttoned to slip them off.
 Have long enough sleeves so that you can raise your arms like wings and not pull the cuffs down the
forearm; they should be short enough so that you don’t have more than 1 inch of fabric bunching
near the cuff when your arms hang.
 Shoulder points that extend to the end of the shoulder and no farther.
 Have room in the chest and waist to pinch out 1-3 inches of fabric (depending on fit desired).
Dress Shirt Fabric
Cotton. The undisputed king of shirt fabrics, cotton has been the choice of those in the know for
centuries. A finely woven cotton fabric exhibits all the properties a man could want from a garment
worn close to the body, good heat & moisture conduction, durability, smoothness, and the ability to
take shape when ironed.
Man-Made Fibers. Although they do not exhibit the same desirable properties as cotton, man made
fibers have made a huge impact on the shirt scene due to their ability to do an acceptable job at a rock
bottom price. Often wrinkle and stain resistant, these fibers have and will continue to play a major role
in menswear. Although I recommend staying away from shirts with more than 50% man made fiber, for
the budget minded, they may be a viable alternative.
Silk. A luxury fabric easily recognizable because of its sheen and light drape, it is not recommended for
most as, the maintenance costs are high and long term durability low. But that’s just my opinion!
Dress Shirt Color
To this day, white still reigns as the most formal color, and its popularity has safely placed it among the
iconic garments a man can wear. Where ever you may be, a man can safely assume a white shirt will
never be out of place.
Blue – Blue’s dominance has more to do with its ability to compliment most men’s complexions rather
than heritage. The popularity of blue exploded in the United States as more and more off-the-rack
manufactures looked for colors and patterns that would sell. Today the color firmly holds a place as a
safe alternative to white. And unfortunately, this is often the extent of the variety found in a man’s
dress shirt collection.
Other Colors – Pink, gold, lavender, off-white, forest green, and even red, just a few of the multitude of
colors available to the man who is willing to walk a different path. Whether these colors dominate the
White – The most common shirt color; historically it has
dominated the scene and was initially the only choice for a
gentleman. The lack of color on a man’s collar and cuffs
signified he did not have to do dirty work; colored shirts
were looked upon with suspicion as it was assumed they
were colored to hide stains

42
dress shirt, or highlight the pattern woven into it, they can compliment every complexion out there.
And with less than 10% of the shirt wearing population even dabbling into these shades, the man who
masters wearing them can easily set himself apart in a room of like dressed men.
Patterns
Solid – The simplest and most formal pattern, yet the most versatile. A solid shirt’s defers attention
away from the color (unless it is gaudy) and instead helps a man better display the style and fit of his
garment. And solid doesn’t always mean solid; different weaves can slyly give the impression of
monotony from a distance only to reveal their true nature up close. A solid white poplin fabric has a
very different look and feel from a solid white twill or herringbone.
Check – Historically the purpose of the check was to signify a wearer’s background. Today, most men
are intimidated to wear such a pattern with a suit as they think it will appear overpowering. It won’t, as
long as you remember not to mix like patterns; a checked shirt with a solid suit and striped tie are a
great combination. However, it is the least formal pattern and should be worn carefully in business on
the US East Coast and abroad.
Stripe – Most of us can’t go wrong with a classic blue on white, but
consider adding certain accent colors such as red or pink to liven up
the hues in the face. This pattern looks especially good with a solid
colored suit.

43
Dress Shirt Style
The Shirt Collar
The purpose of a shirt collar is to properly balance and frame a man’s face. It’s the most visible part of a
shirt when wearing a jacket and because of it’s proximity to the face, plays a very large role in
determining the formality and use of the shirt. For this article we will only talk about turndown collars
and its two major variants, the point and spread.
Point Collars – The most common collar style seen in the US is the point collar; found on 95% of off-the-
rack dress shirts, it is cut so that the collar points are reasonably close together with the collar angle
being at or less than 60 degrees.
Unfortunately, most off-the-rack point collars seek the middle ground and do not have a small enough
angle or long enough points to reap the full rewards of this effect.
Spread Collars – The second style is the spread or “cutaway” collar. These collars have the points “cut
away” thus the name, revealing more of the upper shirt area; typically we see these collars with angles
greater than 90 degrees.
Shirt Cuffs
Besides the collar, the shirt’s cuffs are the only visible parts of a shirt when a jacket is worn; they are
divided into two types, button (casual to formal) and French (formal).
Button Cuffs –
Button cuffs are single cuffs which wrap around the arm and are buttoned into place. These are the
cuffs most commonly found on ready made shirts. Button cuffs may have a single button or may be
adjustable, with two buttons side-by-side.
The advantage of this collar style is that longer, more closely set points
tend to draw the eye down which elongates the face.
Spread collars are excellent for the gentleman with a medium to long
shaped face, as they do the opposite of the point and spread out a
man’s features.
Some have two buttonholes and two vertical buttons- a more formal
option often called the “barrel cuff.” Button cuffs may also have a
small button on the sleeve, between the cuff and the end of the cuff
opening, intended to prevent the area from opening and exposing
the gentleman’s wrist.

44
French Cuffs – French cuffs are the most formal option, yet are perfectly appropriate for daily wear in
many industries such as finance. The French cuff is a double cuff, folded back and fastened with
cufflinks to create a distinctive and distinguished appearance.
Dress Shirt Buttons
Most buttons today are made of plastic, a suitable material for the job asit is inexpensive and fairly
strong. However, if a low quality resin is used, the base of your buttons will crack, and they may break
within a year.
Cufflinks must always be worn – though there are more subtle options
available, such as fabric knots – so the gentleman must be prepared to
keep a reasonable selection on hand.
An eloquent alternative to plastic is Mother of Pearl. Not actually pearl,
these buttons are made from shell and are so hard that they can break
needles. They are only found on higher end clothing today because of
their cost and tendency to disintegrate over time when exposed to
harsh detergents.

45
6.How Should a Suit Fit? Your Easy-to-Follow
Visual Guide
What a “Good Fit” Looks Like
Practice standing in that relaxed, upright pose, and then start trying on suits in that posture. Look for a
good fit in the following areas when you’re in your natural stance:
The Shoulder
Shoulders are one of the hardest parts of a jacket to adjust after construction, so don’t buy a piece with
an ill-fitted shoulder. Odds are you’ll never be able to get it quite right with post-purchase alterations.
A well-fitted shoulder lies flat. The seam on
top of the shoulder should be the same
length as the bone under it, and should
meet the sleeve of the suit right where your
arm meets your shoulder.
If the seam that connects the sleeve to the
jacket is hiked up along your shoulder
bone, or dangling down on your upper
bicep, the jacket is never going to sit
properly. In these instances, you’ll see
“ripple effects” that create lumps or
wrinkles on the sleeve and the top of the
jacket.
Can you guess which man had his suit tailored to fit?
When you try on a suit, you’re looking for a good fit in
what’s called your “natural stance.”
That means standing up straight, preferably in the kind of
dress shoes you’ll be wearing with your suits, with your
arms relaxed at your side.
It’s not actually a very natural posture for a lot of us, but
it is the base from which most of our movement flows. If
the suit doesn’t fit well in this stance, it’s not going to
move comfortably with your body either.

46
The Seat
A tailor can “take in” a seat to make it tighter in the back without too much difficulty, but there’s a limit
to how far he can go. If the seat was way too loose to begin with, it’s not possible to adjust it to fit
without pulling the pockets out of place.
Unless the pants have an unusual amount of spare cloth on the inside, seats can’t be “let out” very far
to make the fit looser. Err on the side of too loose rather than too tight when buying.
Trouser Break
The back of your trousers should be a smooth drape
over the shape of your rear end — whatever that
happens to be. A good fit in the seat will lie loosely
against your underwear, without pulling tight
against your butt or draping loosely down your
thighs. You can spot a bad fit in the seat when there
are horizontal wrinkles just under the buttocks
(caused by too tight of a fit), or by loose, U-shaped
sags on the backs of the thighs (caused by too loose
of a fit).
The “break” is the small wrinkle caused when the top of your shoe stops your trouser cuff from
falling to its full length.
This should be a small, subtle feature. One horizontal dimple or crease is usually ideal. The cuff
should indeed rest on the top of your shoe — there needs to be contact — but it shouldn’t do
much more than that. The trouser can fall a touch longer in the back than in front, so long as it’s
still above the heel of the shoe (the actual heel, not just the back of the shoe).
This is one of the easiest adjustments to
make, so you can rely on making some
changes here if you need to. In fact, dress
pants are often sold unhemmed, with the
assumption that the purchaser will take the
trousers to a tailor (or make use of the
store’s tailor if there is one) to have the cuffs
fitted.

47
The Jacket Closure
The button should close without strain, and there should be no wrinkles radiating out from the closure.
A little bit of an opening at the bottom of the suit is fine, but the two halves beneath the button
shouldn’t pull apart so far that you can see a large triangle of shirt above your trousers. (Ideally, you
shouldn’t see any, though a bit is socially acceptable, especially when you move.). Taking in or letting
out the waist to help the jacket close more comfortably is not a difficult adjustment, but it’s one with
limits. Don’t expect a tailor to be able to make huge changes here. If the jacket closure looks really bad
unaltered, it’s probably due to problems beyond the waist measurement, and you should be looking for
a different jacket rather than planning on getting that one altered.
This means that part of the trying-on process is
checking how the front of the jacket closes over your
body.
Close a single-breasted jacket with only one button
when you’re testing the fit, even if it’s a three-button
jacket. You’re looking to see if the two sides meet
neatly without the lapels hanging forward off your body
(too loose) or the lower edges of the jacket flaring out
like a skirt (too tight).

48
Jacket Sleeve Length
Similarly, the jacket sleeve should never hide the shirt sleeve entirely. At least a small band of shirt cuff
should always be visible.
For most men, that ends up being a jacket sleeve that terminates just above the large bone in the wrist.
But everyone’s arms are slightly different, and sleeve length is a very easy adjustment for a tailor to
make, so get the best sleeve length you can (erring on the side of too long if possible) and then have it
adjusted to fit.
Jacket Length
The hands are also a good marker here, and this is why it’s important to have your arms relaxed in your
natural stance. The hem of the jacket should hit right around the middle of your hand — at or just past
where the fingers meet the palm.
“A half-inch of linen” is a good, old-fashioned guideline for the
relationship between a suit jacket and the shirt worn under it
— about half an inch of the shirt cuff should be visible beyond
the jacket cuff. That said, it’s a general guideline, and you
don’t need to get too obsessive. What you do need to be sure
of is that the suit sleeve doesn’t rise above the cuff entirely —
the seam where the shirt cuff joins the shirt sleeve should
never be visible.
Not enough time or writing gets devoted to the overall
length of men’s jackets. It’s more important than most
people think!
A good suit or sports jacket should fall past the waist
and drape over the top of the curve formed by the
buttocks. An ideal fit will cover a man down to the
point where his butt starts to curve back inward, and
stop there (but anywhere in that general region is
okay).

49
If the hem of the jacket is sitting on top of the butt, with a small little flare in the back, it’s too short. If it
falls past the bottom entirely, longer than the arms, it’s too long. The hem can be adjusted upward
without too much trouble, but if you go too far the front pockets start to look out of proportion, so
don’t count on more than an inch or two of adjustment here.
Jacket Collar
A tight collar is a little harder to spot on a jacket, since (unlike a shirt collar) it’s almost all in the back.
Turn from side to side as needed and check it out in a mirror. A tight collar will create bunching and
folds just beneath it, and often wrinkles the shirt collar underneath it as well.
Bad collar fit could just mean the neck size is wrong for you, but it’s often caused by a larger fit issue:
bad shoulder sizing, a back panel that’s too small for you, or even a jacket that’s constructed with more
of a forward or backward tilt than your neutral stance.
Since these adjustments cost time and money to fix, you want to get as good of a fit in the original
jacket as possible at the collar.
It’s easy to tell a well-fitted collar from a poorly-
fitted one, although identifying the cause of the
bad fit can be challenging.
Your jacket collar should rest against your shirt
collar, which in turn should rest against the back of
your neck. All of these should touch lightly, without
significant gaps in between.
If the collar is too loose, it’s very easy to spot —
there will be a gap where it’s flopping back off your
neck.

50
Four Automatic “Bad Fit” Warnings
There are a couple of easy to spot problems that are major warning signs. A suit with these “bad fit”
signs is one that you probably won’t ever be able to adjust to a really good fit.
Unfortunately, most of them are caused by the core structure of the suit — and that means that your
body just isn’t a good match for the way that particular brand makes its pieces.
Be patient, try on lots of brands, and don’t compromise (unless you know it can be fixed!).
If you can’t afford bespoke (made to order), an adjusted off-the-rack suit can work — but you have to
start with a pretty good fit in the first place, or it’s never going to get the results you want.
Unless you want to pay for alterations, be careful buying any jacket that’s showing these serious
warning signs:
The Dreaded X-Shaped Button Strain
Front button strain is indicative of a bad fit in the torso, and it can go beyond just the waist size —
you’re probably straining at the shoulders or in the back, too. On a more basic note, it also means the
button is going to be prone to popping off.
Don’t buy a jacket that shows strain lines radiating outward from the button. If you’ve got an old jacket
that used to fit but has started showing them, it’s possible that you’ve either gained weight or
accidentally shrunk the jacket in a wash — in that case (assuming the fit was good before), you may be
able to have the waist let out a little and keep the jacket in use.
Shoulder Divots & Upper Arm Wrinkles
If you can see wrinkled lines radiating outward
from your jacket button when you close the
jacket, it’s too tight and will need adjustment.
The Dreaded X, as my friend Barron over at
Effortless Gent likes to call it — is not a look you
seek in a well-fitted jacket.

51
You can also get those wrinkles if you’ve got a somewhat slouched stance and the jacket is stiffly-
constructed for a more upright posture. In either case you’ll need to get a smaller size, so that the seam
where the shoulder meets the sleeve matches up with your body’s shoulder, or give up and try a
different brand.
Shoulder Wrinkles — Top Rumpling
Try a slimmer fit, if the manufacturer offers multiple styles, or a smaller size. If you’re still seeing
wrinkles on the tops of your shoulders, the brand probably isn’t going to work for you.
If the sleeve of the jacket seems to dip in slightly just
under the shoulder, and then flare back out again, the
shoulders are too big. What you’re seeing is the
shoulder padding protruding beyond your arm, and
the cloth of the sleeve tucking back in underneath it.
If you’re getting noticeable bunching on top of your
shoulder, rather than on the upper sleeve, the
jacket is too large in the shoulders.
This could be a simple length problem, but more
likely it’s that the interior space is simply too large
— your shoulders aren’t broad enough, front to
back, to fill out the jacket.

52
Twisted Sleeves — Bad Sleeve Pitch
Keep trying until you find a jacket where the sleeves fall smooth and straight when your arms are
resting in their natural stance.
Faint spiraling wrinkles on the outside of the
sleeve occur when the angle of your arm in its
natural stance doesn’t match the angle that the
sleeve was constructed with. The result is a
sleeve that looks slightly twisted even when your
arms are hanging still at your sides. A tailor can
theoretically remove the sleeves and reattach
them at a slightly different angle, but it’s not a
simple or a cheap fix. Generally speaking, you
can consider this one a deal-breaker.

53
7. How to Match a Tie with a Dress Shirt and Suit
When it comes to dressing for more upscale events, women have far more style decisions to make than
men; we know we’ll be donning some version of a dress shirt and suit. But when it comes to adding the
finishing touch–the tie–some men feel confused as to how to choose a tie that will complement the
other elements in their ensemble.

54
The biggest mistake I see men make when trying to match their neckwear to their clothing is that they
have bought the wrong tie for the clothing in their wardrobe.
Like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, they will either frantically try to match garments
together at the last moment or not care at all and reinforce the stereotype that men can’t dress
themselves. In order to easily match your ties with your shirts and suits, you need to
own neckwear that complements the more expensive clothing already in your closet.
Match your tie to your clothing, not your clothing to your tie.
The point is don’t buy a tie just because it looks great–buy neckwear that is of the right proportion for
your body and is of a color and pattern that works well with your shirts and suits. You want your ties to
match your clothing–not look good by themselves.
Coordinating your tie, dress shirt, and suit isn’t rocket science. All it requires is a basic understanding of
proportion, pattern, and color which can be used to build an interchangeable wardrobe. Start with easy
to match shirts and suits–then add a range of flexible neckties that accent and enhance the outfits you
put together. Do this and you’ll find yourself wanting to wear a necktie more often as it adds color to
your complexion and makes you look better overall.
Principles of Matching
The Necktie
Necktie Proportion
Necktie proportion relates to the necktie’s width and length in regards to a man’s body build and
clothing style. A large man with large suits and a wide front is going to look best when he balances it
with a wider than average tie that is long enough to reach his belt buckle. A petite gentleman has the
opposite problem and should look for smaller neckties that are not only skinnier width-wise but also
shorter in length. These special size ties can be found at many online retailers
For those of us who are close to average in size, proportion can become a problem when we purchase
from high-end fashion designers or pick-up vintage pieces from thrift shops. Average-sized men should
try to wear ties ranging in width from 3 to 3.75 inches. Anything wider or thinner is best reserved for a
man whose size calls for it–otherwise you are drifting into the realm of fashion, not style. Here is
an example of a skinny tie worn right.
If you find yourself shopping for ties and need a quick way to measure the width, pull out a dollar bill. If
the tie is close to Washington’s nose, you’re safe. If it extends out past the portrait frame or is behind
his head–consider passing on the necktie.

55
Here we can see this necktie is well within the range of acceptability.
Necktie Color
There is not a perfect answer to which color goes best
with any given outfit. Two factors that determine the
right color for a man include the message he is trying to
signal and the color combination that works best with
the natural colors of his complexion.
For a muted but sophisticated look, consider pairing
semi-solid and lightly patterned blue and green ties with
cool blue colored clothing. If you’re looking to draw
attention to yourself, opt for the stark contrast of a bold
red colored tie on a light colored shirt. The red tie is
called the “power tie” for a reason; this combination
works well for presenters as it captures wandering eyes
and points them right to the speaker’s face. As far as
what colors work well with a man’s particular features,
you’ll want to mimic your natural contrast levels. Men
with light colored hair and fair skin have low contrast and
should stick with pastel and monochromatic color
combinations.

56
Men with dark hair and light skin are high contrast and will look best selecting color combinations which
have clearly defined lines between them. If you have dark hair and medium to dark colored skin, you
can pull off both low and high contrast tie and shirt/suit combinations. Your difficulty in this case will
be separating acceptable suit/shirt/tie combinations from great looking suit/shirt/tie combinations. It’s
a small distinction, and one best made by taking the clothing in your wardrobe and experimenting with
various shades.
What about how the colors within a necktie work with one another? Multicolored neckties fall into two
categories–ties whose colors complement one another and ties whose colors do not, because the tie
designer/manufacturer did not create the tie with a discerning eye. The colors on the computer screen
are not always true to real life, so I purposely choose to buy my ties through businesses whose
judgment I trust. I can rest assured that 99% of the time my ties’ color combinations will be solid and
complementary, even if the colors aren’t quite the same as what I saw online. Cheap ties and novelty
neckwear often violate basic color combination rules and should be avoided.
Finally, it should be noted that 8% of men are colorblind and have great difficulty matching clothing. If
you fall into this category, the best advice I can give is to ensure your wardrobe is interchangeable and
to consider working with a trusted clothier, friend, or image consultant who can ensure you’re not
wearing color combinations that clash.
Necktie Pattern
Matching neckties with strong patterns is the hardest neckwear issue for most men. This difficulty is
directly reflected in neckwear sales–strongly patterned ties sell infrequently when compared to solid or
semisolid ties. I rarely see them worn, and even then they are almost never worn to full
effect. However when worn correctly, these rarely used neckwear gems can breathe life into an
otherwise dull outfit.
The key to wearing patterned neckwear is to first ensure that the tie’s own colors do not clash (see
above as to how to avoid this) and second, that the tie’s patterns do not conflict with any patterns in
your shirt or suit.
When combining a patterned tie with a shirt and suit ensemble, ensure the pattern is not already
present in the clothing. A thin-striped shirt should not be combined with a thin-striped tie; however,
that same thin-striped shirt will work well with a polka dot, solid, or even thick regimental striped tie as
the patterns are not similar. The reasoning behind all this is that similar patterns placed close to each
other can create distorted visual effects such as the illusion of movement.
If you’re new to combining necktie patterns, the easiest way to add neckwear with complex patterns is
to ensure your suit and shirt are pattern-less. If this isn’t possible, start with ties which utilize small
repeating patterns such as dots, foulard, or small images (club or sport ties). Stripes are the next step,
keeping in mind the rule of pairing them with shirt and suit combinations that either have no stripes or
have ones that are of a different width and size than the tie’s stripes. Paisley and plaid ties are solid

57
options as well; I don’t usually push them though as they are sometimes too eccentric for many
men. Their larger patterns, however, make them even easier to match to a shirt and suit than striped
ties.
Starting at the top: solid twill, semi-solid repeating pattern, dotted, repeating multi-pattern floral, paisley, thin stripe, thick
regimental stripe, and plaid.
The Dress Shirt
The dress shirt is the first garment you should ensure matches your tie; next to the jacket, it is the most
important clothing accessory in determining what tie color and pattern you can wear. However, unlike
the jacket which you may peel off by lunchtime–your shirt stays on all day. Without a jacket, the dress
shirt is the only surface upon which the tie sits, and if there is a color clash it will be impossible to
hide. So get it right!
A solid navy blue suit fabric paired with a blue contrast miniature
herringbone shirt fabric. The top tie matches OK, but the second tie
matches better and the final yellow & navy striped necktie creates a
very regal and bold combination.
Starting off, the easiest shirts to match are
solids. Whites offer a neutral base and match
anything. Light blues are very close, as the few
colors that would clash with them are seldom
found in neckwear. Off-white and pastel colored
shirts are easy to match as well, although you
always want there to be a clear distinction
between shirt and tie fabrics.
As for striped shirts, again you’ll want to avoid
matching similarly sized stripes. If there is any
doubt that the shirt stripes are too close in size
or width to the tie’s pattern, move on and select
another tie. With check fabrics, look to match the
casualness of the pattern with a tie that is more
playful in tone. Club, foulard, and paisley ties all
work, as do solid wool knitted ties with square
ends.

58
More advanced pattern matchers can combine various sized checks, but leave this to those with
practice as the look can come off as too busy and distract attention from your face.
Finally, you should always avoid color combinations that are either too jarring for your lack of contrast
or too monotone as to washout your complexion.
The Suit
Navy blue suit and a white dress shirt.
At the top we have a very subdued
combination that signals formality yet
allows a man to blend in. In the middle
a classic stripe, with a hint of color for
individuality. The bottom is a bright
attention grabbing piece of neckwear
that would be used to call attention to
the wearer.
Dark solid colored suits, especially grey and navy blue, go well
with most tie color combinations by default. They are the
easiest to match as most tie makers assume their wares will be
worn with one; if you have already matched the tie to the shirt,
either a grey or navy suit will more often then not complement
your ensemble.
The exception to this is when you take dark ties with blue tints
and try to wear them with dark grey or black suits. Although it
can be done, blue tinted ties rarely complement these dark
suits, and they should instead be reserved for navy blue, blue,
or lighter colored suits where the color combination is more
natural. If you’re looking to combine a dark tie with a grey or
black suit, look to deep purple or a dark tinted red.
If you’re looking to draw attention to yourself while wearing a
dark suit, select a bold and rich colored necktie with a small
repeating pattern. A solid tie is an option as well, but when it’s
woven from a bright hue it can be too bright and come off as
informal. Instead, choose a deeper and darker solid color
tinted with black–this will still work with the dark suit while
drawing the attention you seek.
Light colored suits invite darker colored ties for contrast yet can
be worn with pastels successfully if the man wearing them has
light hair and skin with little contrast. Bright and warm hues
such as yellow, red, orange, and pink should be avoided.
Striped suits fall under the same rule mentioned previously–do
not mix clothing with the same size patterns. Thus if you’re
wearing a pin-stripe suit with a thick butcher stripe shirt, I
would advise you to pair it with a dot or foulard tie

59
Trying to fit in a regimental stripe or even a solidcolored necktie is pushing the boundaries of looking
sharp vs. looking like a clown.
Sport Jackets and Blazers
. Similar to a suit, blazers call for more formal ties and are
traditionally paired with stripe or club ties. Sport jackets,
on the other hand, are often more informal, and depending
on the tone of the fabric can call for a wool patterned
necktie or silk foulard or paisley. Consider matching
smooth silk ties with rough weave jackets, while reserving
the knitted neckwear for sport jackets that need a more
casual feel. In both situations, the wearer should create
balance by paying attention to the aforementioned rules of
matching

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