There is no doubt that appearances count in today’s world. Behavioural scientists tell us that your evaluation by a stranger takes 30 seconds or less and can be so strong that it could take as much as five years to erase. Since up to 90 per cent of you is covered by apparel, the clothing you choose makes a significant impact. As the speed of the business world accelerates, the "instant communication" of your appearance increases in importance. With more pressure on time, people are more likely to make fast judgements. The appearance factor extends beyond first impressions. Public speaking experts report that over half of communication is non-verbal. It’s not only what you say, but how you look when you’re saying it.

Even material success is linked to appearance. An experiment involving over 1000 companies showed that employers offered well-presented candidates starting salaries between 8 to 20 per cent higher than poorly presented candidates with identical resumes.

SUCCESS DRESSING

Career advisers say that people in the workplace should dress for the position they aspire to, not the one they currently hold.

Studies have also shown that well-presented people get better tables in restaurants and superior service in shops. In the end, dressing well and appropriately for the occasion is about respect for other people and institutions. It projects an image of confidence and decisiveness. If a man is not well-dressed, people will be distracted by his poor presentation rather than focused on the substance of what he is trying to communicate or achieve. So while style is no substitute for substance, the way a man dresses is a powerful tool for success.

Parker & Co.’s fashion tips for the modern man.

Although times and dress codes change, the fundamentals of looking your best remain. Should you need advice about appropriate dress for any occasion, simply call in or contact us. We’re happy to give you the benefit of our experience.

Suits and jackets are symbols of authority and give you a broad shoulder line. While alternatives may sometimes be appropriate these days, a jacket is a reliable standard for the well-dressed man. Traditional authority colours for suits are navy and charcoal grey. Remember, never do up the bottom button on your jacket – it should be left open.

Short-sleeved shirts should never be worn with a tie. Generally they are best avoided in business situations.

Shoes are perceived as a key indicator of a man’s presentation both in business and social settings. Your shoes should always be clean, shined, in good repair and appropriate to the occasion.

Socks should be the same shade or darker than your trousers or coordinate with your tie colour and should be long enough to avoid revealing your bare leg when seated.

Belts should match your shoes.

Ties should reach your belt.

MODERN DRESS CODE

Today’s informal lifestyles have caused a relaxation of male dress codes. However, this easing of the rules has created some confusion.

At Parker & Co. we are happy to give you the benefit of our experience regarding appropriate dress for different occasions. Following is a decoding of some dress code terms:

Business (or Corporate)
Generally this means a classic business suit and tie. Conservative environments like finance, law and government usually dictate more conservative dress. Creative environments like architecture, advertising and IT are more open to interpretation. (For details, see Businesswear.)
W here seen:
• The Office

Relaxed Corporate (or Business Casual)
Alternative to the suit, defined as a comfortably relaxed version of classic corporate attire. The look may or may not involve a jacket, although this is recommended for meetings and more formal situations. Tailored trousers and a woven collared shirt are safe choices. Any knitwear should be fine in finish and plain in design. A tie is optional.
Where seen:
• The Office

Smart Casual
Similar to Relaxed Corporate. However, as this mode of dress is worn for social occasions there is more scope to dress it down with knits and more casual trousers. Jackets are still a good idea, because if you go somewhere dressed in smart casual attire and no-one else is wearing a coat, you only need to remove your jacket to blend in. In summer, linen suits can qualify as Smart Casual. In winter, leather and suede jackets work well.
W here seen:
• casual parties
• casual weddings
• social get-togethers
• restaurants
• bars

Sporty Casual
A more dressed-down version of Smart Casual. May include active sportswear garments such as sweatshirts, windcheaters, polo shirts, T-shirts, jeans, bulky knitwear, as well as shorts and sandals in summer.
Where seen:
• spectator sports
• weekendwear
• boating
• barbecues

Resort Casual
Think linen suits or navy jackets and light trousers for more formal events; polo shirts and shorts for barbecues and more casual get-togethers.
Where seen:
• conventions held at resorts
• beach weddings
• yacht clubs
• cruises

Lounge Suit (or Semi-formal, Formal or Cocktail)
In each of these cases, a dark-coloured business suit is appropriate. Luxury, refined fabrics (for details, see Fabrics), and a dressier shirt and tie than you may normally wear for business will help give your suit a sense of occasion. If the event has an artistic edge, you may consider substituting your shirt and tie with a piece of high-necked fine knitwear worn underneath your jacket.
Where seen:
• cocktail parties
• functions
• nightclubs
• bars
• restaurants
• parties
• racewear

Urban Chic
Sophisticated designer wear, often in a monochromatic colour grouping. Ties are not necessary. Try pairing leather with knits, or of-the-moment pieces with classics.
Where seen:
• sophisticated parties
• nightclubs
• bars
• restaurants
• art gallery openings
• theatre and music events

FORMAL WEAR

Black Tie
A black dinner jacket, black trousers, white dress shirt and a black tie form the basics. (For details, see Black Tie.)
Where seen:
• balls
• award nights
• gala openings

Creative Black Tie
Creative Black Tie leaves room for post-modern interpretations of formalwear. Be advised by a Parker & Co consultant as to the current seasons trends. Where seen:
• the Oscars
• award nights in "creative" industries like film and advertising
• parties

White Tie
A long black tailcoat worn with a white wing collar dress shirt and white tie.
Where seen:
• Usually ceremonial or official government occasions.

BUSINESS WEAR

The suit is the uniform of the well-dressed man in our culture. While there is increasing informality in dress codes, the classic suit remains the wearable calling card of the corporate world.

The suit suggests professionalism and commands respect. And no-one has yet devised an ensemble more flattering to the average man. Most women love the look of a man in a well-cut suit. Parker & Co. has supplied fine suits to some of Australia’s most influential men for more than 100 years.
A suitable history.

A suit is defined as a set of clothing consisting of trousers and jacket – and sometimes matching vest – made from the same fabric. In the 19th century, a gentleman used to wear a tailcoat, frockcoat or morning coat with a vest of a different fabric, and trousers of yet another material. By the 1930s the matching suit of clothes had become the accepted mode of dress in business and public life. The pedigree of the suit resides in England, where the tailors of London’s Savile Row traditionally clothed the gentlemen of the city. Today, the Italian suit is recognised as the epitome of elegance. At Parker & Co. we are Australia’s leading purveyors of suiting by Ermenegildo Zegna, Brioni, Cantarelli and Saintandrews of Italy. We also stock Paul Smith London, the label credited with reinventing the Savile Row suit with a contemporary twist. For customised fit and fabric, we also offer a made-to-measure service in collaboration with Zegna and Brioni.

TIPS ON CHOOSING A SUIT

The cut and fit of a suit are its most important attributes. The cut should bring out the best in its wearer. A good fit begins with the shoulders and chest of the jacket. At Parker & Co. we offer expert guidance on the right fit and cut for the individual.

Whatever a man’s physique, he should shop with his individual body type in mind. The principles of proportion and colour can be applied to enhance a man’s appearance, regardless of height or build. At Parker & Co. we are experienced in advising on the right shapes, colours and patterns to flatter your body type.

Quality is appreciated long after the price is forgotten. A quality suit is an investment. The world’s finest suits are made using labour-intensive methods and exquisite fabrics of Superfine Australian wool.

Navy blue and charcoal grey are considered traditional "power dressing" colours.

The suit jacket is a symbol of authority and is worn in formal business situations. Its removal signifies informality and relaxation. The jacket’s buttons are worn buttoned up when the wearer is standing (except the bottom button which is always left undone) and is undone when the wearer is seated.

When selecting a business shirt, cut, fit and fabric are again of supreme importance. The point collar and spread collar are the two basic shapes, of which there are many variations. The collar’s shape should flatter a man’s facial bone structure and fit perfectly. Quality business shirts are usually made from pure cotton.

The shirt cuff may be a double French cuff, which is worn with cufflinks, or a single buttoned cuff. The sleeve length of a suit jacket should just cover the wrist bone so that the shirt cuff is visible below the jacket sleeve to dress the hand.

tie adds a finishing touch to the suit.

Shoes are arguably the most articulate items in a man’s corporate wardrobe. Many people judge a man’s character and standing by his shoes. They should be of high quality and meticulously polished and maintained. Socks should be in the same shade or darker than the suit or coordinate with the tie and should be long enough to avoid revealing any bare leg when seated. Parker & Co. carries an exclusive selection of handmade couture shoes crafted by Europe’s most esteemed footwear artisans.