Corporate wellness: Dress for success
And to hide a multitude of sins. This is the first article in a two-part series where Guillaume Mariole, from Ignite Fitness & Wellness, talks about power dressing for business and for your body type.
In Dubai we are spoilt for choice with super-sized malls and within them, endless corridors featuring clothes for every budget and style. So when it comes to office attire, there’s really no excuse for not looking good!
This month, we give you guys some top tips to make sure you make smart choices when it comes to buying new threads. Choose well and you could easily disguise that well-fed belly or unsightly moobs. However, that’s no excuse to put a stop to regular physical activity. Just think how great you will look when you combine both!
As for you ladies, fear not, as next month this column will be all about YOU and what you should be wearing!
Telling the men from the boys
Dressing for your body type is crucial, not only to look and feel good but because it pays dividends in how people perceive you and, in turn, your business.
You can reap the benefits of dressing for your body type by investing in a custom made suit. Here in the UAE there is no shortage of top tailors and with keen prices and an excellent supply of top cloths to choose from.
Rule number one when looking for a suit is that it should always fit with ease. You should never feel you need to pull here or adjust there. Beyond this, check out the specific tips for your personal body shape to keep you on track when hitting the rails.
If you are tall…
You want to avoid looking gangly or gawky.
Dos:
• Wear heavier cloths and patterns that are a bit busier such as plaids.
• Accessorise in detail; pop a handkerchief in your breast pocket and wear cufflinks on your shirts.
• Your jacket shoulders should extend slightly past your natural shoulder width and you should have at least three outside pockets.
• Your pants should always be cuffed at least an inch and a half.
Donts:
• Never wear tight-fitting suits.
• Avoid suit jackets with thin lapels as well as bulky, built-up square shoulders.
• Never button your bottom button.
If you are heavy set…
You want clothes that give a slimming effect.
Dos:
• Dress in dark, solid or striped, two-button single breast suits.
• Wear suits jackets that are cut generously around your waist.
• Your pants should be worn at your natural waist – that is fastening at the belly button or above.
• Ask a tailor about “English” or “forward” pleats as these hide bulk well.
Donts:
• Never wear double-breasted suits as their buttons attract attention to the midsection and emphasise width.
If you are shorter…
You want to wear clothes that accentuate length visually and avoid cutting the torso in half.
Dos:
• Solids and stripes are your friend as they make you look taller and leaner.
• The stripes on a suit should be no more than 3/4 of an inch and even less for shirts.
• Your sleeves should always show a bit of shirt cuff, a half inch or so.
• Look for suit jackets with high shoulder pads jackets and that are ventless.
• As far as patterns are concerned, select patterns whose vertical (up and down) aspect dominates the horizontal (side to side) aspect.
Donts:
• Avoid tweeds, flannels and plaids.
• Don’t wear suit jackets that are extra long – the tail should cover your rear and no more.
• Avoid double-breasted suits.
If you are very muscled…
You want to find suits that accommodate your large upper body without making your waist and lower body appear large as well.
Dos:
• Look for unpadded or lightly padded shoulders.
• Choose suit coats that have a bit of waist suppression – that is they come inward a little bit at the bottom.
• Opt for solid, striped or some elongating type pattern.
• Two and-three button, single-breasted jackets work best.
Donts:
• Never put your faith in “athletic cut” suits; these are not cut differently for you rather they are simply paired differently – that is bigger jackets paired with much smaller suit pants.
• Avoid jackets with narrow lapels and dress shirts with tiny collars.
• Stay away from double-breasted suits.
Ultimately, dressing for your body type is as much an art as a science. Combine that with a fitness regime and you’ll feel fantastic inside and out.
