Agree about the shoes.

Start with some nice Allen Edmonds, or Alden if you live near a boutique. Whatever you do, please don’t wear square toes . The shoes you choose will heavily influence people’s opinion of how well you’re dressed.

I also agree with dressing for your clients - but you definitely need a sport coat/blazer in your attire. The best thing you can do right now is find a tailor who suits your aesthetic. Make friends with that person.

As I work in tech and live in a desert, I almost never need to don a full suit. If you don’t need to and it doesn’t suit your persona, I would recommend investing more in slacks/chinos/sport coats than full suits. There is a relatively new brand called Spier and Mackay that seems pretty promising for a low-ish price point. Otherwise, budget a few grand and get a decent made-to-measure suit from one of the usual suspects. Personally, if I’m gonna spend $3K on a suit, I might as well spend $5K and get a Kent & Haste.

Take a look at this ranking of RTW suits & coats

https://www.gentlemansgazette....to-wear-suit-brands/

While you’re styling yourself, don’t forget to build a good fragrance wardrobe

A good pair of shoes is a must.

I build store displays and we have some in our inventory.

If you need a pair or two we may have several depending on size.

You can wear them for as long as you want, just send them back when you are done with them.

Best of luck to you in your new endeavor.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Full disclosure - I work, and have worked, in extremely formal business environments. I know the difference between white tie, black tie etc.

What type of work do you do that even black tie is relevant, much less white tie?

I’m not trying to be snide, I’m genuinely curious.

I went to a deb ball that was white tie for the escorts, and I went to one very formal wedding where the father of the bride was in white tie. I can’t remember ever seeing anyone else wear white tie.

Thanks all for the advice. Luckily there are some good lower cost mens clothing stores around here (Jos. A Bank, Men's wearhouse and a Brooks Brothers outlet store)

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
What sort of color combos do you all like? I know khaki pants, white shirt and a navy blazer is always a good go to.

Personally, I think gray pants look better/more professional than khaki when paired with a white shirt and navy blazer, and also make you stand out from the majority of other guys who will be wearing khaki pants with their navy blazers.

My go-to for looking "respectable" is a navy blazer, light gray slacks, white or pale blue shirt, and a dark red tie with a subtle pattern. Good for just about every setting where a jacket and tie is appropriate, short of a very formal business workplace (full suit), a more conservative funeral (full black suit) or a black tie function (tuxedo).

Similar color combo to this (ignoring the fairly slim cut):

You can't wear a suit coat as a sport coat. They are cut differently, and anyone who knows can tell, and will peg you for a rube.

Get some wool or wool blend trousers, and not cotton twill khakis. They look dressier. Long sleeve shirts in solid colors or muted patterns. A blue blazer is always good to keep around, and you can dress up any pants and shirt easily.

Get good shoes. $375 shoes look better and will last 20 years, or more. They are cheaper in the long run. $100 shoes will be shot in three or four years, and can't be repaired. Those stupid white-soled dress/tennis shoes are comfortable and okay for casual, but don't mistake them for dressy shoes. They aren't.

On the shoe note, are lace-less or "loafer" style shoes appropriate? Or are laced shoes preferred/required??

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
On the shoe note, are lace-less or "loafer" style shoes appropriate? Or are laced shoes preferred/required??

Slip-ons are less formal.

The Allen Edmonds Park Avenue is a great shoe on the more formal side. The Strandmok or Strand or McAllister are a step down in formality. Then come your slip-ons.

If you’re buying one pair get something like the Park Avenue in a dark brown.

IMO…

Dress the same level as your clients or one step higher.

You can go a long way with 4-5 slacks, double that in LS shirts and a couple sport coats. Maybe a few ties.

Will you be on your feet a lot? Comfortable but appropriate shoes are required.

Belts should match your shoes.

Is this farm, commercial or residential? I think that matters. What’s the price point of the average prospect listing for your area ?

Be yourself. Be competent. Be appropriately transparent. Be friendly.

Your dress should make a positive first impression. That’s it. Not over the top and not sloppily casual. Either extreme will run people off. I know if a residential agent showed up in t-shirt/jeans or another agent arrived outfitted in a smarmy 1980’s “Wall Street” look complete with cuff links, a ten thousand dollar watch and slicked back hair then I’d run the other way.

Pick out what you like and feel good in while showing a little of your personality in your clothing.

It’s really just all about who you are as an agent and a person and whatever helps you easily build rapport and, ultimately, trust is the most important thing. Get rid of anything that gets in the way of doing that.

I will add that you should be aware of seasonal sales at your local men’s ware. Most department stores, such as Dillards and Nordstrom, will start their sales earlier then you would think and you can often build a new wardrobe for a reasonable price.

Feel good in what you are wearing and feel confidant, it will show.

I would recommend watching the YouTube channel Gentleman's Gazette, it can be both fascinating and educational.

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Full disclosure - I work, and have worked, in extremely formal business environments. I know the difference between white tie, black tie etc.

What type of work do you do that even black tie is relevant, much less white tie?

I’m not trying to be snide, I’m genuinely curious.

Private banking. Minimum client portfolio was $50m in AUM (assets under management). That’s not net worth, that’s (mostly) liquid assets…

quote:

Originally posted by ryan81986:
On the shoe note, are lace-less or "loafer" style shoes appropriate? Or are laced shoes preferred/required??

Loafers are more casual, but with a sport coat, they are fine. They are fine with a suit if they are dressier loafers, but lace-ups are always more formal.

(And to be confusing - patent leather pumps (a non-laced shoe) are more formal still, and are what you wear with a tuxedo to be pretty damned dressy.)

There aren't hard-and fast rules.

Trust JHE.

He has impeccable taste.

Except in friends.

residential real estate or commercial? commercial brokers have their own separate dress code. residential is much more casual. these days, if I were starting from scratch for a business casual wardrobe, I'd get:

1 - navy blazer, contrasting, but not gold, buttons
2 - 1 or 2 other patterned sport coats. windowpane, glenplaid, both in neutral colors like navy, gray, tan
3 - 2 or 3 pairs of 5 pocket dress pants. navy, khaki, gray. I like Peter Millar ultimate sateen pants but just because they fit me best. I get them hemmed a bit.
4 - at least 5 dress shirts in white, light blue, and a couple of patterns. wear patterned shirts with solid coats but be careful wearing patterned shirt with patterned coat.
5 - a few nice polo shirts. some standard cotton and some tech fabric.
6 - one nice pair of lace up oxfords, one nice pair of bit loafers or drivers. and one pair of "dressy" sneakers like On Clouds or something from Cole Haan's nike sole shoes. these are very in with the broker crowd. I know quite a few commercial brokers and they walk properties a lot so they wear comfortable shoes.

a few points...
1 - I disagree that you can't wear a navy suit coat as a blazer. they are usually cut a bit different but since everything is trending to shorter, more tailored coats, it doesn't matter as much. Brooks Brothers sells them as separates for a reason.
2 - the world is not as dressy as many think it is. thus, 5 pockets over chinos/trousers for most days.
3 - except for a few professions (attorneys, et al.) and a few occasions, ties are basically obsolete in the workplace.

Lots of good points.

I'd add, if you're running out of time or, frustrated with the help at the stores, you can sign up at Stitch Fix, and have a personal assistant put together some outfits/components that will work for you, just depends on the subscription level you buy into. Without getting into specifics, you sign-up, send some pics of yourself, write-up some descriptions about you, your style and important info and an assigned stylist sends you a bunch of recommendations, you return whatever you don't want. Their business has exploded over the last 5-years, principally amongst folks who are working in a white-collar environment that either don't have the time or, distance to shop for business dress.

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:

quote:

Originally posted by maladat:

quote:

Originally posted by reloader-1:
Full disclosure - I work, and have worked, in extremely formal business environments. I know the difference between white tie, black tie etc.

What type of work do you do that even black tie is relevant, much less white tie?

I’m not trying to be snide, I’m genuinely curious.

Private banking. Minimum client portfolio was $50m in AUM (assets under management). That’s not net worth, that’s (mostly) liquid assets…

That makes sense. I know a few guys in private banking, and they’re always in very nice suits. I hadn’t thought about it, but I could see them ending up at formal events now and then.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
1 - I disagree that you can't wear a navy suit coat as a blazer. they are usually cut a bit different but since everything is trending to shorter, more tailored coats, it doesn't matter as much. Brooks Brothers sells them as separates for a reason.

Brooks Brothers does not sell suit jackets and suit pants separately because they want you to use suit jackets as sport coats.

Main reason: If you want a suit that actually fits well, whatever pants come with the right size suit jacket might not be the right size. They can be altered, but still probably won’t fit quite as well or hang quite as well as pants that were actually the right size to start with.

Secondary reason: If suits are your daily wear, you will almost certainly wear out your pants (to the point that they look worn or a bit different shade than your jacket) long before you wear out your jacket. A lot of guys that wear suits every day buy 2-3 pairs of pants for each jacket so they can wear the suit longer.

If you want to wear a suit jacket as a sport coat, go for it. A lot of people won’t notice, and a lot more won’t care. For that matter, why should anyone actually care to begin with?

But some people do care, especially in some professional circles, and will notice that you’re wearing your “uniform” wrong and not take you as seriously.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

1 - I disagree that you can't wear a navy suit coat as a blazer. they are usually cut a bit different but since everything is trending to shorter, more tailored coats, it doesn't matter as much. Brooks Brothers sells them as separates for a reason.

The reason is fit. It is so a guy with big shoulders or a big chest doesn't have to get his pants taken in 5 inches if he has a small waist.

Suit coats aren't cut like sport coats, no matter the style. You can tell, and they look funny if you wear a suit coat as a sport coat. You can see it a mile away.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:

1 - I disagree that you can't wear a navy suit coat as a blazer. they are usually cut a bit different but since everything is trending to shorter, more tailored coats, it doesn't matter as much. Brooks Brothers sells them as separates for a reason.

The reason is fit. It is so a guy with big shoulders or a big chest doesn't have to get his pants taken in 5 inches if he has a small waist.

Suit coats aren't cut like sport coats, no matter the style. You can tell, and they look funny if you wear a suit coat as a sport coat. You can see it a mile away.

There is nothing that screams "Rube" more than wearing a suit coats as a blazer. It is obvious at a glance to anyone who knows suits and will strike the less knowledgeable as "off."

Spending the money to have your clothing fitted is well worth the money. Not only will it feel more comfortable, but it makes an immediate impact on clients.

I would also recommend getting Allen Edmonds shoes...it makes all the difference