There once was a power-suit archetype that lasted too long. It had hard lines with rigid structure. The navy blues and grays shone, as did the silk ties. And since powerful men wore it, it became a symbol of power itself, even if the too-wide shoulders slouched.
Today, circumstances may at times require a smart suit, but daily confidence doesn’t require those tired hallmarks. It demands instead an examination of how close you want to stand to tradition. The outfit to the right is an example of what can be done now. We’ll break it down.
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Behold the power of the T-shirt
The rule has long been that a dress shirt — with a tie or a few buttons undone — is the shirt that exudes the most power. But opposing the powerful is power, too. Thus the T-shirt: it’s so far from the old style that you cannot wear it with a traditional suit jacket (particularly one with some sheen). Instead, find a jacket with texture and heft.
Consider brown
Blue or black? Blue or black? *Yawn*. If you want to make a statement. It’s the halfway point between time immemorial (navy and grey) and Technicolor.
…and sea blue
Here’s a free tip, wearing only earthy tones will make you look like an earth-science teacher. If that’s your target, fine. But don’t rule out a sea blue tone. The brightness and contrast will punch up everything else, like a cool splash of — okay, you get it.
Tucked? Untucked?
The proper length of T-shirt is one that is just long enough to tuck in. As long as you check that it doesn’t really matter if you tuck it in or not. Don’t stress about it, but you definitely do not want an over-sized T-shirt under a jacket, let alone one that hangs below the bottom.
A bag of smarts
Man-bag naysayers have long been put in their place. For work reasons, most men should carry a bag or briefcase, but consider your needs carefully before you buy. If you need to carry your MacBook or a notebook to jot down ideas then get a bag that caters for the shape of it. it Someone really considered it during the design, and you should too.
The sly chino
We like to believe that every outfit should deliver a subtle eff-you. A smart pair of chinos for example: classic, but add an understated printed pattern on the surface and it gives it a bit of daring that the guy next to you doesn’t have.
Close with a hybrid
Suede is sophistication (upkeep required); boots are rugged. Rugged sophistication: if that doesn’t come off as bold, poised, and compelling, nothing will.