As the New Normal has altered many aspects relating to the way in which we go about different things on a day-to-day basis, one of the most striking changes in the fashion realm has been how we dress for a typical workday.  The explosion of remote work has thrown rigid office dress codes by the wayside, and workplaces that have stayed open tend to be a little more flexible in terms of what clothing is appropriate and what is not.  While many welcome this change, it is likely a temporary one, largely dependent upon the field in which a person makes a living.  As the worst aspects of the pandemic fade, more offices are opening their doors, and certain professional sectors are reverting back to their old dress codes.  For lawyers, CPAs, management positions in commerce and industry, and other professional services, suits still remain in high demand. 

With the prolonged absence from rigid workplace dress codes, some of us might be a little out of practice in terms of the finer points of style when it comes to formal wear, and many of us might need to spruce up our wardrobe if it's been too long since we've been properly fitted.  As work-from-home opportunities expanded and allowed for more time for outdoor activities along with more downtime at home, some of us may have either gotten ourselves into shape or maybe even packed on a few extra pounds.  In any event, now is the opportune time to start thinking about giving your wardrobe a bit of a boost for the New Year as many of us head back into the office after the holidays, possibly facing dress codes more in line with what was customary only a few years ago. 

In this piece, we'll go over the best custom suits for everyday office wear and other things you'll need to consider when you're ready to get back into a more fashion-conscious state of mind. 

--Accessories-- 

Before we dive right into the best suits for a typical workday, there are some other elements of formal wear that deserve brief mentions.  As some workplaces may gradually transition to formal attire rather than all at once, ties are a great way to ease yourself into a more proper dress code.  Since ties don't require a whole lot of maintenance, keeping a plentiful rotation of them in your wardrobe will ensure that you never run out of different ways to stylize your formal outfits, even if the colors of your dress shirts and pants might be limited.  So long as you properly care for them, ties have the ability to last a lifetime, even surpassing the longevity of properly maintained trousers and jackets. 

As many of us transition back into formal attire, be mindful not to neglect your undershirts, or the occasional need to replace them.  Counterintuitively, undershirts can keep you more comfortable in spite of the added layer, and they'll also retain moisture and keep it away from the rest of your more sensitive formal wear. 

A suit, at least in an office setting, doesn't look quite right without a dress shirt, so it's important to have several on hand in your wardrobe in order to keep your formal attire varied, even if you have to recycle a suit in the same week every once in a while.  For workplaces with very stringent dress codes, you can never really go wrong with blue or classic white.  If your office dress code is a little more flexible, feel free to experiment with other colors and patterns so long as they aren't too loud or outrageous.  Burgundy, maroon, shirts with narrow stripes, shades of grey, olive greens, and even brighter reds should be acceptable so long as they pair well with the suit you happen to be wearing at the time. 

Another way to keep your formal attire looking fresh and stylish is through the use of pocket squares, more commonly associated with black-tie dinners and formal evening events.  Although pocket squares aren't so commonplace in the workplace, they're still solid accessories to use if you want to spruce up your personal style, especially if you decide to forego the tie. 

--Suits-- 

Even though many offices across the country have relaxed their dress codes from what they were decades ago, you'll likely need to wear a suit at least occasionally.  Board meetings, formal presentations, and evening workplace events as a general rule still require a wardrobe that exceeds the expectations of normal business hours.  So how many suits should a gentleman have on hand at any given time? 

As a rule of thumb, it's recommended to have at least three or four.  Along with a decent selection of dress shirts on hand as well, this allows you to wear a suit more than once in a given week without showing up to the office looking like you're sporting the same outfit from the day before.  Just be sure that you have at least one dress shirt for every day of the working week, but you might want to opt for more so you're not constantly going to the dry cleaners or doing laundry on your days off. 

Some fields of expertise, in particular legal and professional services, may require you to have more suits than the bare recommended minimum.  Some gentlemen prefer to have at least six or seven on hand, and while this isn't necessary for most people, the benefit of having so many suits on rotation is that it will drastically increase your outfit permutations for any given week and boost your ability to vary your style.  Keep in mind that suit jackets can also function as sport coats for less formal occasions under the right circumstances. 

--Two-Piece Suits-- 

By far the most common—and usually the most appropriate—type of suit for everyday office attire is the standard two-piece suit, consisting of only a jacket and trousers.  It tends to be the first thing that comes to mind when anyone is discussing suits in a general way without getting into specifics, as a two-piece suit's aesthetic qualities lie within its simplicity. 

Most gentlemen prefer to wear a belt with a two-piece suit not only from a style standpoint but also from a functional one.  Belts tend to be easier to fasten than suspenders, and they're one of the best ways to complement your shoes by using the same color.  If you choose to wear suspenders with a two-piece suit instead of a belt, you should be mindful of a few style points.  Suspenders tend to look best on suit trousers without belt loops, since wearing suspenders with loops could make your suit appear as if it's missing something.  You should also be mindful of the finer points relating to your office dress code, as suspenders can sometimes appear too dressy even for workplaces that require some semblance of formality.  Some gentlemen even prefer to wear suits without belts or suspenders at all, although we would only recommend this if you're absolutely sure that your suit's measurements are precise, otherwise you could be setting yourself up for some potentially embarrassing mishaps when you get up to grab that extra cup of coffee. 

--Colors-- 

For general office attire, it's best to stick to colors on the subtler end of the spectrum, as they also tend to be the most versatile for a variety of different events and outings.  In an office setting, you can never go wrong with classic black, navy blue, grey, and shades of tan or beige.  While there's nothing inherently wrong with deviating from these colors, you're better off staying away from anything that's too ostentatious until you know what works for your personal style and what doesn't.  Stick to what you know at first, and then slowly expand your wardrobe repertoire over time until you're personally satisfied with the potential number of outfits at your disposal. 

--Patterns-- 

When it comes to patterns, the similar rules that you would follow for colors also apply.  If you're thinking about adding more suits to your wardrobe rotation, it's best to have a plurality of solid colors while adding a few wildcards in there to balance out any potential monotony.  Suits with subtle pinstripes and crosshatch visuals are great additions to standard office attire so long as the color contrasts between the patterns aren't too bold or wild.  Herringbone patterns can work to your advantage, too, but you need to be a little more cautious with suits sporting this style.  Herringbone can sometimes appear too busy, but this can be minimized with narrower and tighter patterns combined with alternating shades within the same color umbrella, as opposed to alternating bright reds and neutral greys in the threads, for example. 

--Three-Piece and Double-Breasted Suits-- 

Although less common than standard two-piece suits in the workplace, three-piece and double-breasted suits can have a profound positive effect on one's personal style, especially if your goal is to stand out from the crowd during board meetings or presentations.  We would emphasize a little extra caution and restraint when it comes to patterns, however, since the added vest on a three-piece suit could throw off any intended amplifying effect by drawing too much attention to the pattern itself rather than the suit taken as a whole.  A three-piece herringbone suit, for example, has more surface area by virtue of the added vest and is therefore going to be louder than a two-piece suit with the same pattern.  The same general rule applies to double-breasted suits as well, simply because of the larger suit closure. 

With the New Year fast approaching, now is a great opportunity to stay ahead of the trending return to more formal office dress codes.  Whether you're looking to elevate your workplace wardrobe with some extra custom suits or need to start from scratch, Enzo Custom has you covered.  Stop into one of our showrooms, or make an appointment with one of our expert clothiers via videoconference.