What to wear to your company’s business parties

Lounge suit is a term describing a dress code that is specific to corporate events, gettings-together organised at various times of the day – be they during the workday or in the evening. There is no such thing as an actual lounge suit. It’s just a formula used on invitations in order to hint to the attendees to the type of attire they’re expected to choose.

Lounge suit usually describes a standard outfit, one to which very little adjustments or creative accessorising can be made. We are, of course, talking about business looks, since it’s expected that the guests are going to arrive at the event straight from the office. Nonetheless, as the format of the meeting is that of a party, elegance should definitely be turned up. That’s why a business outfit is not always enough and needs to be upgraded with sophisticated yet discreet elements, pieces that can paint a classy picture that continues being formal in a clearly professional way.

The gentlemen can wear a three pieces suit: jacket, trousers, vest, but the two pieces suit is also accepted. When the jacket has a single row of buttons, the last one needs to be left unbuttoned – this is the way the cut is conceived and buttoning it would cause the fabric to crease unaesthetically. If you choose to also wear a vest, the use of a belt should be dropped. The same goes when wearing a two rows of buttons suit. As far as the chromatic palette goes, black is the most popular option, with striped wool also being a good choice, one often displayed by those working in finance or management.

As far as the shirt goes, a white, classic look is recommendable. The shirt should be fastened up to the last button and worn with a simple or Windsor style knot, the latter in the case of a light, silk tie. Opulent knots should be avoided. Likewise for tie pins, that are slowly stepping out of fashion. So, for a fresh, contemporary look, all jewelry and decorations should be stripped out of the equation. The only exceptions are the wedding ring, cufflinks and a watch, the sole accessories accepted on a man’s hand when in a professional setting.

The shoes should be formal, laced, and preferably black. For business functions, the Oxford model maintains its reference status. The socks need to take cue from the suit as far as the colour choice goes. Should a different colour be preferred, it must always be at least as dark as the suit. Also, it is a must that they be free of logos or any kind of printed inscriptions. Their length is also important – it should go half way up the calf in order to be able to conceal your leg, even when seated.

The real danger, nonetheless, is upon the ladies – their far more varied options also mean that a lot more tricky decisions need to be made.

Women in leading management positions or heading their own entrepreneurial pursuit often show a tendency to gravitate towards two extremes.

On the one side are those who understand that business is a masculinised world and who, in order to fit in, have adopted a fashion strategy that makes them sport a look similar to that of men. They go for austere outfits, most often made up of pants suits, with no ornaments or additional details that could highlight their femininity.

At the other side of the spectre are the aficionados of ultra-feminine outfits. In this case, we need to remember the rule saying that too many elements belonging exclusively to a woman’s look are, also, not recommended. Heels as high as the Eiffel Tower have nothing to do with a business woman’s look, as do loud colours, deep cleavages, accentuatedly form-fitting or see-through clothes. Shortly, nothing that could put you under a light different to that of a flawless professional.

What is all means is that ladies should wear dresses, preferably with sleeves, or paired with a jacket or a blazer that covers their arms. Cocktail dresses are, also, accepted, if not too extravagant. Definite don’ts are spaghetti straps and plunging necklines. The length of the dress should also not be anywhere above the upper half of knee-cap. And if the party is organised at any other time of the day besides evening, a deux piece is accepted (a suit made up of a skirt and jacket). Trousers are also fitting options, but only as long as they are part of a coordinated ensemble.

Remember that you are in a conservative environment, and accessories such as opulent jewelry should not shift the focus from the professional capacity you are attending the meeting in. A pair of discrete earrings, a precious-looking brooch or a fine necklace will be enough to underline your femininity without interfering with your image of capable business woman, of an accomplished business person. Excesses do nothing but put forward a message that can come to contradict the one your professional activity is building arduously, day by day.

The shoes should be closed-toed, and the heels kept at a medium height. Again, even if we are talking of a party, a professional context and extravagance have never been a good match.

As a rule, concerning each and every one of the choices we make, we need to remember that this is an event, truly, with the purpose of socialising, but one which potential employers, collaborators and business partners will be attending. This is why it is highly important to project a sophisticated image.

The business look is a convention that all abide by, like a nonverbal communication channel that brings people closer together, enabling them to improve their working together. Studies show that an overstating of individuality is counterproductive in business. People, in general, prefer doing business with people that inspire reliability and earnestness, that are similar to them and which they feel they can communicate and work with for the long haul.

This is the reason why an almost-uniform is the most efficient fashion language for bringing about new relationships, new alliances and business success.

And if you feel ambitious and dream of a certain job or aim at a promotion, don’t hesitate to dress the part. People who look alike are more quick and fluid in their communication – truly, well-balanced outfits can improve interpersonal communication as well as professional accomplishment.

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