           Picture yourself, for a moment, at the beach on a perfect day.  The sun is shining without a cloud in the sky, the water is a comfortable 80 degrees, and you've got the whole location to yourself as far as the eye can see.  Then not a moment too soon, you understand why.  Storm clouds roll in, the temperature drops, and the rain turns your elaborate sand castle into an unrecognizable muddy mess, ruining any Internet posting opportunities of your architectural creation, since your phone is still comfortably at rest in your glove box.  Even a little planning ahead would have avoided this unfortunate mishap, as weather forecasts have come a long way since their introduction.

              Now that winter is in full swing, it's doubtful that most of us are even thinking about venturing to the beach anywhere when the weather is sometimes a coin flip between a leisurely afternoon stroll and salting your driveway in preparation for the latest incoming ice storm.  While we can't always predict the weather 100 percent of the time, we can at the very least keep our wardrobe ready for those wild temperature swings.  Even with colder mercury readings outside, there are things you can do to ensure that you never have to compromise on style to stay warm.

              While not all suits by themselves are designed with cold weather in mind, in this article we'll show you how to maximize your comfort level with some common (and not so common) tips and tricks when the weather tries to rain (or snow) all over your parade.

              Before you start digging around in your closet for those heavy liners and frumpy parkas, bear in mind that you may not need them, barring the most extreme conditions.  Even when you don't take layering into consideration, the material of your professional attire can make quite a difference in your comfort level when you have to venture outside.  When it comes to suits, wool is always going to be one of your best options.  The material's unique properties allow you to stay warm when it's cold outside and also cool and comfortable when the temperature starts to climb, hence its near-universal application in formal wear.  Most custom suits on the market today are made from wool, so no matter what you decide to wear with yours, having a suit made from wool strands is always a good starting point.  But sometimes a thicker wool might be necessary for those really cold days, and this is where flannel comes into play.

              In contrast to regular wool, flannel uses thicker strands with slightly more space in between each strand, making this material ideal for winter weather.  Keep in mind, however, that the term flannel is no longer exclusively used to refer to wool as it once was.  Articles of clothing marketed as flannel may in fact be cotton or some other type of blend that uses synthetic fibers, so whenever you're shopping for a winter suit, always double check the labels and when in doubt, it can never hurt to give the manufacturer a call.

              While wool and wool flannel are your best options for winter professional attire, you can still get away with wearing a suit made with wool/cotton blends, especially if your main concerns are budgetary.  While a blend might provide less insulation than 100 percent wool, there are certain things you can do to stay a bit warmer if you choose to go this route that we'll cover shortly.  Beside the price point, the other positive attribute of wool/cotton blends is a slight boost in durability, and this is particularly beneficial if your job may require extensive travel in the future.

              For winter weather, it's advisable to be cautious with anything made from linen.  While it's a great lightweight material for professional dress during the warmer months, its applications are limited on those cold winter days.  But if for some reason all of your other suits are at the dry cleaners and you only have one made from linen for the morning, consider wearing a scarf or overcoat.  The only material you should really avoid completely is anything made from synthetic fibers or composite synthetic blends.  Even though these materials are highly durable, they do not breathe very well, and this can cause problems with your personal comfort level once you are no longer outside.  In any event, it's best to stick to natural materials, with a greater emphasis on wool and flannel over others.

              Even if your wardrobe is well prepared for the winter season and wool abounds in your closet, a suit by itself may not be quite enough to keep you toasty on those frigid mornings.  By adding a few accessories to your ensemble, you'll be able to keep yourself one step ahead of those dreary weather forecasts.

              If you're not too big on layering or sporting overcoats, wearing a scarf is a very effective and efficient way to stay a little warmer on your way to work.  Other than preventing heat escaping from the upper parts of your body, a subtle color contrast between the scarf and your suit can complement your overall personal style with very little effort.  In contrast to vests or sweaters, scarves are more like neckties when it comes to color schemes and patterns; you'll have more leeway in terms of what you can get away with, so feel free to go as loud or as restrained as your personal style dictates.

              While vests aren't always associated directly with winter weather, they do offer a convenient way to add another layer to your professional attire without being overly conspicuous in the same way overcoats and sweaters can be.  With vests, you might have to be a little more conscious about what patterns and colors you choose so as not to detract away from the rest of your outfit, but if you prefer layering over staying bundled up all day, the vest is a versatile way to do this.  If you're worried about any mismatches or fashion faux pas, consider going with a matching three-piece suit to keep your style consistent.

              When it comes to sweaters, there are mixed opinions on wearing one in a strictly professional setting, as they are more commonly associated with casual attire.  However, if you spent the better part of your morning scraping ice off of your windshield, it's unlikely that most workplaces will judge you for wearing one underneath your suit jacket.  We would recommend sticking to solid colors that match well with whatever suit you decide to wear on a given day, and while wearing a sweater is acceptable for most practical purposes, use caution for very important engagements where even slight deviations from formal attire are frowned upon; think board meetings, court appearances, speeches, etc.

              If you're fortunate enough to live in a climate where those winter mornings aren't quite as bone-chilling as they are in some of the upper latitudes, staying warm may be much simpler than having to accessorize your entire formal ensemble.  Choosing a thicker fabric for your dress shirts or adding an extra layer with an undershirt may be all it takes.  While the main purposes of an undershirt are to keep you comfortable from potentially itchy materials and reduce the amount of sweat transferred to your dress shirts, it also has the added benefit of giving you extra warmth without altering the appearance of your formal attire.  Wearing an undershirt is especially practical when you pair white dress shirts with your suits, as it will reduce any inherent transparency in the fabric.  If an undershirt by itself isn't quite enough to keep you warm and comfortable, consider choosing dress shirts that are made from slightly thicker fabrics, as this will also prevent heat from escaping your body too quickly.

              Before we move on, one last thing to consider when dressing for winter weather is choosing your socks.  It's one of those items that many people overlook when considering warmer formal attire, but wearing thicker socks can be quite effective.  As much of the heat from the human body can escape through the feet, choosing socks that have a greater thickness than your typical dress socks can do wonders for your comfort level during colder weather.  In formal settings, do your best to stick to solid dark colors so as not to detract from the rest of your outfit.

              Last but certainly not least, overcoats are perhaps one of the easiest ways to stay warm, and the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks.  With various styles and fabrics to choose from, overcoats have the ability to keep you stylish and warm simultaneously without the need for excessive layering.  They're great when you're in a bit of a hurry, and you'll likely appreciate the extra pocket space if you're not keen on lugging a briefcase around everywhere you go.  The only potential downside to wearing an overcoat is that some of them tend to feel heavy and might be a bit too much if the temperature outside isn't quite down to freezing just yet.  When shopping for overcoats, pay close attention to the material and when possible, try them on when you're wearing a full suit to see if it gels with your comfort level.

              From all of us here at Enzo Custom, we wish you a happy and healthy 2021 going forward.  While we've got you covered for the winter months, stay tuned for our next installment of this article, where we'll give you tips and tricks on staying cool during the summer season.  For more information on creative ways to stay warm and stylish this winter, stop into one of our showrooms or schedule an appointment with one of our expert clothiers via videoconference.

Now that winter is in full swing, it's doubtful that most of us are even thinking about venturing to the beach anywhere when the weather is sometimes a coin flip between a leisurely afternoon stroll and salting your driveway in preparation for the latest incoming ice storm.  While we can't always predict the weather 100 percent of the time, we can at the very least keep our wardrobe ready for those wild temperature swings.  Even with colder mercury readings outside, there are things you can do to ensure that you never have to compromise on style to stay warm.

Optimizing Your Professional Attire For Colder Weather

As far as anyone can tell, the New Normal is here to stay, at least for a while. With more people working from home than ever before, dress codes in many business circles across the globe have tended to skew toward the casual side, even in cases where people are still expected to show up to a physical office. In spite of this, standards of professionalism haven't fallen by the wayside, and dressing the part for whatever industry you're working in is as important as it ever was.

For the better part of the 20th century, the full suit and tie was ubiquitous, and it was rare to find an office that didn't adhere to strict dress code standards. This started to change more noticeably beginning in the early 2000s, when casual office dress became more of the norm rather than the exception. Today, it's not uncommon for even large companies to forego dress codes altogether (save normal expectations of decency), and this trend is even more prevalent in relation to the recent surge of remote positions. But the full suit and tie is far away from being anachronistic, and it is likely to remain a staple of office attire for the foreseeable future and beyond.

Fashion trends can be quite fickle, and just like weather vanes, they can change directions in less time than it takes someone to change lanes on the freeway. What is old can become new again, and what is trendy one year can be tossed aside into the bargain bin to make room for something else that might last a few years or a few decades. Out of all the fashion trends we've seen over the years—from the dignified to the outrageous—the full suit and tie has, more or less, remained a constant beneath the ever-changing standards of what is considered formal and

what is not. In essence, it's always a good idea to be one step ahead of the game when something goes in and out of style.

In this article, we'll discuss the ways in which you can prepare your wardrobe for the future of both casual and formal office dress as trends tend to ebb and flow. No matter what your line of work may be, it's always good to have a broad sampling of items in your wardrobe for those unexpected twists and turns as you navigate the ups and downs of the professional landscape.

Nothing exudes professionalism quite like the full suit, and this is true even with standards of office dress becoming more casual with time. Having a decent amount of suits on rotation is especially vital if you happen to work in finance, law, sales, or public service, as these fields have lower rates of remote work than some other industries and often require in-person meetings. One of the greatest positives about suits these days is that even in formal settings, you won't be as limited in style options as you may have been 25 or 30 years ago, where anything outside of classic black or navy blue was sometimes seen as pushing the envelope as far as dress code formalities go. Other than a handful of workplaces that enforce a strict dress code almost to the point of requiring a uniform, your formal attire can include suits with pinstripes or crosshatch patterns, colors such as grey, tan, or light blue, and variations in their structure as it relates to your individual comfort level (think British, American, Italian-style suits, etc.). If your workplace requires a more formal level of dress than others, it's always a good idea to have classic black and navy blue

in your wardrobe, but consider other colors and patterns as well, so you don't wear yourself out on the same outfit over and over again.

As far as formal attire goes with dress shirts, you'll likely have some leeway, as well. Just keep in mind that your dress shirt should pair well with the jacket and trousers you're wearing on any given day. It's best to save the loud colors and crazy patterns for days where you might forego your jacket, as you want to complement the colors in your suit, not detract from them.

In addition to the finer points of style, if your place of work mandates a more formal standard of dress, this might cause a few minor headaches if you frequently find yourself working longer hours or your boss is a little tight with the thermostat. When picking out your dress shirts, comfort should always be a priority, and this is where the material of the shirt can be just as important—if not more so—than the styles and colors you ultimately settle on. No matter how hot or cold the inside of your building is, wool and wool/cotton blends are always going to be your best bet when it comes to everyday comfort. Linen can also do wonders for your comfort level in the summer months. Just be wary of any shirts made from synthetics like polyester; while the material itself is highly durable, it doesn't breathe very well. Whatever you choose, make sure that you yourself will be comfortable in it for an entire day's work. Boosting your personal comfort level has the potential to boost your overall mood and productivity, as well.

Vests tend to be less common at the office these days, but they've seen a slight surge in popularity in the context of formal events outside of the workplace. If you like how a vest looks on you, don't feel shy about wearing it to work. But just as

you would with dress shirts, make sure it's something comfortable that won't impede your movement or ability to breathe.

In formal settings, ties will always give you the most leeway in terms of style. Even something that's loud or intricate can provide a nice accent to your overall outfit rather than taking away from it, since it's only a small part of your entire ensemble. They also hardly take up any room at all as far as closet space goes, so even if you're stretched on storage, a hundred ties can take up less room than two overcoats. The more ties you have in your rotation, the better off you'll be. At the very least you can give the appearance that you're wearing a different outfit, even if you have to don the same suit more than once in a given week.

As winter is fast approaching and cold weather is already in full swing across much of the country, scarves are yet another great way to accessorize your formal along with your casual office attire. Just as it is with ties, the style possibilities are nearly endless. Since facemasks are now commonplace, scarves also give you the added benefit of covering them up with something a little more stylish. As opposed to an overcoat, sweater, or vest, scarves allow you to regulate your body temperature with more control and versatility. For those particularly frigid days, you can wrap it around your entire neck and the lower part of your face. If it's not too blustery outside, simply keep it loose around the back of your neck and over your jacket lapels.

Dressing down is definitely in, and has been for quite some time now. However, just because your workplace might not require formal dress doesn't mean

you have to forego the finer points of style altogether. For most people, business casual simply means wearing a dress shirt and a pair of slacks without the jacket and tie, but this varies by region as well as profession. In spite of the rise in more lenient dress codes, especially with the increase in remote work these days, the standards for business casual appear that they will likely remain the same as they've always been. For some, business casual might even encompass wearing a polo shirt and jeans, but if you're unsure of your office's unspoken dress code, it's wise not to push the limits, at least not at first. As with most things fashion-related, it's often a judgment call.

If you decide to go the business casual route, one key thing to keep in mind above all else is that your belt should at the very least match your shoes, i.e. brown with brown, black with black, grey with grey, etc. While the rule isn't ironclad and the fashion police won't take you downtown for violating it, your overall style will be better served with this subtle matching symmetry. By following this one simple guideline, you'll be able to elevate your casual look to a level of sophistication on par with a more formal ensemble with hardly any effort at all.

While the necktie is normally associated with formal wear, it can also be a way to jazz up your business casual attire. The benefit of wearing one without a full suit is that you'll have a bit more wiggle room as far as style, color, and patterns go. At the end of the day, donning a tie or foregoing it altogether is up to your own individual discretion.

One last thing to be mindful of in the business casual realm is your socks. If they're appropriate for formal attire, they'll work just as well with more casual dress codes. Just avoid wearing socks, especially white ones, that you would normally wear to the gym or with a pair of jeans on a leisurely night out. Another downside is that your feet might even get a little uncomfortable, given the thicker material used for everyday pairs.

Here at Enzo Custom, we understand the importance of keeping a versatile wardrobe to maximize your style options in both professional and personal worlds, so going from formal to casual—and everything in between—is quick and painless. Whether your personal style leans toward the formal or casual side of things, Enzo Custom has got you covered going forward. Stop into one of our showrooms today to get fitted during your private appointment, or if you don't feel like venturing out, consider scheduling a meeting with one of our expert clothiers via videoconference.

The Future of Formal and Casual Office Dress

Zoom meetings, Skype chats, and videoconferences are all the rage these days, especially as many of us are stuck—or gifted with, rather—working from home.  While many in the professional world are already familiar with these services, some still struggle with these emerging technologies, especially since there isn't a universally accepted code of etiquette as there is with phones, emails, and texts, other than being generally polite as you would otherwise.  In this article, we'll discuss the ways in which you can keep your virtual business meetings running smoothly, taking into account both style and practical considerations.

            Before we get into style tips and aesthetics, it's important to cover the basics first.  Zoom meetings can't happen without reliable Internet connections and electricity, so it's imperative that you make sure all of your devices are in working order.  The last thing anyone wants during videoconferences is dropped connections or intermittent signals.  If you anticipate greater reliance on videoconferences in the near future, make sure to reset your router and modem if you haven't already done so, and it's good to do this every few weeks.  With most models, all it takes is unplugging them and then plugging them back in.  This mundane but vital step will decrease the likelihood of bad connections.

            When you're on video calls with prospective clients or colleagues, a little professionalism always goes a long way.  This can be challenging at times, especially if you find yourself working from a smaller space than you're used to in an office setting.  Even if your new commute is only a few feet away from your bedroom door, do your best to set up a space that you keep separate from the rest of your living areas.  As tempting as it may be to open up your laptop while you're still under the covers, no one wants to talk business when it looks like you just literally rolled out of bed.  Keep your workspace—even if it's just your dining room table—neat, clean, and tidy while you're conducting meetings.  Better yet, keeping your television, bed, sofa, or messy kitchen out of view is just another subtle way to show a little bit of professionalism without putting in too much effort.  If you do have a spare office in your living space, treat it as you would an office away from home.  Keeping your office organized, especially when it's potentially going to be on camera, can do wonders on first impressions during Skype or Zoom interviews.

--This Goes For Your Virtual Desktop, Too--

            Yes, it's tempting to save all of your Word documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to your desktop on your computer, until it becomes so cluttered that it looks like you're playing a game of Solitaire with random folder icons.  This not only makes your work disorganized, but also can slow down the performance of your machine.  By sorting everything into proper folders and keeping your virtual desktop free of clutter, you'll optimize its output and ease unnecessary strain on your computer's internal components, thereby leading to better, cleaner connections for videoconferences.  Also, be sure to close out any unnecessary tabs you may have open in a Web browser, as this will also make your computer run more smoothly on video calls that can eat up a lot of data.

            Now that we've got all the housecleaning stuff out of the way, it's time to figure out your wardrobe.  It's true that not all companies and industries are the same, so expected standards of dress for business meetings—whether virtual or in person—are going to be different depending on what you do.  So it's important to gauge this aspect carefully.  A good rule of thumb to follow for video calls is that you should apply the same standards of dress you would normally adhere to for professional staff meetings in person.  Unfortunately, that means you shouldn't wear pajamas or sweat pants, even if your camera is only capturing everything above your desk; you'll never know when you might need to get up for that extra cup of coffee.  Above all else, be presentable and clean, no matter what dress code implications your company or clients may follow.  Even if you're not required to don the full suit and tie, being casual does not equate to being sloppy.  Save the hoodies, ripped jeans, and T-shirts for after your workday is over, or at the very least, once all of your videoconferences are through.

            Cameras unfortunately have limitations in the true colors they can reproduce, and while these considerations are of much less importance than looking clean and professional, loud colors and intricate patterns can cause visual anomalies that otherwise wouldn't be present if you were to meet someone in person.  You want your colleagues to remember what you're saying during a meeting, not to be distracted by a striped bright red tie that looks like it's moving across the screen even when you're sitting still.  Thankfully, most applications used for video chats allow you to see yourself as others see you, so you'll be able to test out your outfit before you conduct that important meeting.  But the best thing to do here is to keep your patterns and colors to a minimum, especially if you're in a hurry.

            Just like the colors and patterns on your clothes, it's best to achieve a semblance of balance with the lighting in your workspace.  You want it to be ample, but not too overpowering.  Cameras on phones, computers, and tablets tend to be hypersensitive in terms of how they pick up ambient lighting, so if your angle is off by even just a little bit, you might appear only as a silhouette on the other end of the line.  Conversely, you yourself might appear too bright against a background that is hardly visible at all.  Aside from a little trial and error, make sure any light sources aren't too close to your camera's lens or shining directly into it; just by following those simple guidelines, you're likely to come out ahead.  One more thing to keep in mind is distance between yourself and the camera.  Sitting at a normal desk in a typical office chair about 2 to 2.5 feet away from the camera lens should allow the upper part of your body—shoulders, head, etc.—to fit comfortably in the camera's frame without appearing too close or too far away.

            Certain professions, in particular the legal and financial ones, normally require a full suit and tie for the typical workday.  If you work in either of these fields, you may want to consider donning a full suit and tie even for your virtual meetings.  Your clients, especially in the legal field, will appreciate that extra touch of professionalism, even when it's not expected or required.

            But as more people are working from home right now, you can get away with dressing down a notch or two most of the time.  If business casual dress is more your style, at the very least keep your dress shirts in the same condition as you would if you were still heading to the office every day.  Common sense is always going to prevail here, so even if you have a little more leeway in what you can get away with, use that extra wiggle room wisely.  When it comes to bold colors and eye-dazzling patterns, it's best to err on the side of caution.

            If you're one of the lucky few who never had to encounter any dress codes while you were still heading into the office, there may not be any expectation to dress up at all for meetings, virtual or otherwise.  In this case, collared shirts are still preferable, but if you really want to push the limits of dressing down, just make sure your clothes are neat, clean, and fitting for the occasion.

            Aside from dress code tips and basic functionality of your Internet connections, when you're hosting meetings online, the placement of your home workspace is also vital.  We understand that not everyone can set aside an entire room in their home exclusively for work, but when it is possible to do so, it's best to keep your work area—whatever that may be—out of the way of any ambient household noise and heavy foot traffic that might disrupt your virtual meetings.  Even if you must work from your living or dining room, consider using a spare bedroom for video calls so long as the space is clean and suitable.  Being able to shut a door when you might have others working from your household will drastically reduce ambient noise that might get picked up from sensitive microphones built into modern computers.  Also consider keeping your videoconferences on the shorter side and sticking to what's important during the meeting, as others you're conversing with for work might have other calls to take and may be limited on time.

            Remote work can be quite an adjustment for some people, so if you can keep your cool by appearing professional and empathetic to your colleagues on the other end of the line, you'll find that everyone will be better off in both productivity and peace of mind.  In the spirit of virtual meetings, consider scheduling a videoconference with one of our expert clothiers here at Enzo Custom to get you fitted into something that will suit you well for your other videoconferences.  And don't worry, we won't judge you if you're wearing slippers on your feet when you order.

Zoom meetings, Skype chats, and videoconferences are all the rage these days, especially as many of us are stuck—or gifted with, rather—working from home.  While many in the professional world are already familiar with these services, some still struggle with these emerging technologies, especially since there isn't a universally accepted code of etiquette as there is with phones, emails, and texts, other than being generally polite as you would otherwise.

Keeping Your Professionalism Up For Zoom Meetings and Videoconferences

Thanksgiving is here, and Christmas is just around the corner. While in years past this was a time for large holiday gatherings across the country, this year is bound to be a little different with the ongoing pandemic still in full swing. However, this does not mean that all gatherings need to be foregone. There are still ways to get together with friends and family safely, and even if your holiday gatherings plan on being on the smaller side, there will likely be tons of opportunities to capture those precious moments on camera. In this article, we'll touch on the several ways you can dress your best for holiday photo opportunities, no matter what dress codes your family or friends decide to run with.

One thing we can't stress enough is that you should be prepared to plan your holiday itinerary in advance. With the new normal dictating appropriate health and safety measures, it's much less likely that you'll be invited to spur-of-the-moment last-minute holiday parties. While all of us might lament over the endless free food and open bars that we were once accustomed to, this is actually a good thing, as smaller planned gatherings will reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19, influenza, and other common ailments associated with the winter months.

Common traditions tell us that it's also appropriate to dress up, rather than dress down, for the holidays, but this notion isn't universal. This year, smaller family gatherings might opt for something a bit less formal in terms of implied or expected dress code, but that doesn't mean you have to show up with your standard remote-work just-rolled-out-of-bed look, either. Even if your plans don't require a full suit and tie, a nice dress shirt and a pair of slacks can go a long way.

In any event, larger gatherings may still take place even though they're likely to be way less common than last year. Given the current circumstances, you shouldn't feel afraid to decline an invitation if you don't feel comfortable around large groups of people; in all likelihood, your potential party hosts will understand if you decide to sit their gathering out. But if you choose to venture out, there are certain steps you can take to ensure a safer holiday experience, and these tips apply to both the party guests as well as the hosts.

If you plan on hosting a holiday event this year, consider keeping your guests outdoors whenever possible. They'll feel more comfortable if they're not confined to an indoor space, and proper social distancing protocols can be more easily followed. While we understand this isn't always possible depending on the weather in your particular area, if it's not too cold consider renting heaters to scatter throughout your yard or patio to keep your guests comfortable.

It's not quite a holiday party without a vast assortment of hors d'oeuvres and beverages, but this year, you may want to rethink how you serve them, especially if your guest list goes beyond your immediate family or extended households. For starters, it's best to keep all beverages including wine, beer, soda, and spirits in sealed containers meant for individual servings rather than keeping a bar open for the taking; think small bottles and cans rather than bottle spouts and ice buckets. This reduces the risk of any potential cross-contamination and as a result will ease any apprehension your guests might have. If you do plan on serving ice with your

beverages, consider using an ice machine or at the very least tongs or an ice scoop to prevent your guests from touching the ice directly.

As a courtesy, offer your guests extra masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitation wipes. Many masks are sold in sealed individual containers rather than boxes in bulk, so for holiday gatherings the former is the preferred option. Also, if you're a guest rather than a host, bring an extra mask or two just in case. Hosts' rules about keeping them on or requiring them for entry may vary.

Now that all of the social etiquette is out of the way, it's time to get into the fun part, which is figuring out your style and what to wear when you decide to venture out for the holidays.

For large corporations and their holiday events, it's certainly customary to dress up rather than dress down, and depending on the particular corporate culture, a full suit might be expected if not required. Considering that many large companies have foregone their holiday events or at the very least scaled them down quite a bit, there might be less of an overall formal expectation. But if you're set on going to any traditional or corporate holiday events, especially one where there are plenty of photo opportunities, don't feel bashful about donning a full suit. A little style can go a long way.

If you go the suit route, subtlety will always be on your side. Consider opting for more traditional colors like black, navy blue, or tightly woven grey crosshatch patterns paired with a white or blue shirt. But in order to bring out that extra

holiday spirit, you might want to get a little more creative with your ties and accessories than you normally would for standard office attire. A rule of thumb is that you can never really have too many ties in your wardrobe, so if you can fish one out that's been buried in your closet for several years, whether it's solid red or intertwined with small Christmas tree patterns, now would be the time to lay it out and see how it pairs with your overall outfit. Ties, no matter how crazy or ostentatious, tend to be a better option than the dreaded ugly Christmas sweater, as it allows you to be fun and creative without drawing too much unwanted attention to yourself. Unless of course, that's the goal of the party to begin with. Then by all means, go with the sweater you would never wear in public otherwise.

Whether you decide to pair them with a full suit or feel like your dress shirt and slacks are missing something, a vest is yet another way to spruce up your attire. In comparison to your tie, your best option is to keep your vests on the subtler side; you want your vest to provide an accent to your overall outfit, not detract from it by drawing too much attention to loud colors or crazy patterns. But because it's the holidays, you can get away with a little more than you otherwise would be able to.

These days, you have to worry less about what colors or patterns you decide to wear whether you're in front of a still or moving camera, thanks to technological advancements. But it wasn't that long ago when certain colors and patterns were best avoided. In spite of advancing technology, there's still a chance that pinstripes that contrast too sharply or colors that don't pair well could throw off the camera's ability to capture a moment's realism. A dark violet tie, for example, might appear

much lighter in a photo than its true hue, and this is a result of the limitations of a camera lens to reproduce certain color wavelengths. In another instance, sharply contrasting pinstripe suits on a moving camera lens might actually make the suit appear that it is moving around, even if the person wearing it is standing still. To avoid these aforementioned problems, make sure you have plenty of light (but not too much) and try not to wear anything that might be too loud for a camera lens, even if it passes the test of the human eye with flying colors. When it comes to taking holiday photos, there's always going to be a little bit of trial and error involved, so you have to weigh in what works and what doesn't from time to time. If your suit jacket is a little too loud for the camera being used to take the photo, consider removing it. If there isn't enough light in your living room, try the kitchen or move everyone outside before you snap the photo first.

While there aren't too many rules set in stone as absolutes for holiday photos, one that we would say is important above all else is to do your best to take them in the afternoon rather than at night. Nighttime photos can be a great opportunity to capture the ambience of any event, but you might occasionally run into problems with color contrast and overuse of flash settings, leading to things like red eyes or navy blue suits that look much lighter on camera than they would in person. If you opt for nighttime photos of your holiday events, be sure to take plenty of pictures during the day as well to offset any errors you might encounter later with limited lighting.

From all of us at Enzo Custom, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season, no matter how you decide to celebrate. Remember that even if you plan on staying home for the holidays, be sure to check out our custom suit offerings so you can start off the new year with a wardrobe update, especially if your company plans on reopening their offices at some point in the future. Stop into one of our showrooms where we can offer you a private appointment to get you measured, or feel free to schedule an appointment with one of our clothiers via videoconference.

Holiday Parties and Holiday Photos in the New Normal

Over the years, we've seen quite a few fashion trends come and go. Some have stood the test of time, others faded away almost as soon as they were introduced, and a few have gone through periodic ebbs and flows. Wearing a sport coat with jeans, for example, is now rather commonplace even though at first the trend was bound to turn heads. Parachute pants, on the other hand, have reserved their place as a mere footnote in the fashion world. We're just glad that tuxedos haven't changed too much since their introduction, and that no one up to this point has been crazy enough to attempt pairing a belt with one, because let's be honest. There is absolutely no way anyone could make that look cool, or even simply not ridiculous and out of place. While there is definitely a hard-line rule keeping belts off the table for tuxedos, the same can't be said for suspenders when it comes to suits, even though they are more associated with the tux these days. But depending on the type of suit (and especially the pants that come with it), suspenders—or braces—can make an excellent addition to your ensemble if you're looking for a subtle change to your wardrobe without going overboard.

For decades now, belts have been the far more common accessory to suits, but this wasn't always so. Prior to the 1940s, suspenders enjoyed more popularity as the dominant accessory meant to give extra support to trousers. However, because they were seen in many circles as a form of undergarment, they remained covered by waistcoats and suit jackets most of the time; wearing them on full display was still deemed to be a little too racy for the time. This is one of the reasons why belts, especially in America, remain the more popular item. But over

time, even though suspenders became the less common of the two accessories, they developed into yet another way to convey style with functionality. In the realm of tuxedos, they have seen an increase in popularity due to their sleeker look in contrast to the occasionally frumpy cummerbunds that are more common. As such, many professionals are rediscovering suspenders as a way to boost their style when it comes to custom suits as well.

In this article we'll discuss style tips, as well as the dos and don'ts, of both belts and suspenders, along with the pros and cons of each to keep your wardrobe stylish and versatile without too much extra effort.

Every gentleman should always keep at least one pair of suspenders in his wardrobe. They are particularly useful in pairings with tuxedos, as doing so will allow you to forego cummerbunds or even vests if you want to convey a more modern look to your ensemble. But before we get into why they're beneficial for suits as well, it's important to briefly cover the types of suspenders generally available.

Two basic types of suspenders dominate the fashion market. One type is fastened to the trousers with buttons, while the other is hooked on with clips. The former type is almost always the most favorable, especially when it comes to suits and tuxedos. Most trousers are equipped with buttons on the inside specifically designed to fasten suspenders to the garments, thus keeping the connection points out of view. Clip types, on the other hand, simply clip on to the pants, and as far as

looking rather wonky as style is concerned, there's also a greater chance that they could come loose, so it's best to avoid this type. In the realms of both style and functionality, button suspenders will always win out.

One of the greatest aspects of suspenders is that it is superior to belts in their functional purpose. Suspenders tend to win over belts in this category because of the strong support they provide to your suit or tuxedo trousers. Since suspenders are designed to be worn over the shoulder and fastened securely to the inside of your pants, there is virtually no risk that your pants will end up falling off in a hilarious display of embarrassment, even when you're rocking it out on the dance floor of your best friend's wedding. From a style standpoint, they are also more versatile than belts, as they can be worn with both suits and tuxedos. In formal settings, subtlety tends to go a long way, so finding a pair of black suspenders should be easy, as they match with pretty much anything. But if you're willing to push the boundaries of your personal style, other patterns and colors are available as well. While the unspoken rule regarding belts is to make sure they always match your shoes, with suspenders you can get away with being a little more creative in your style selections, so long as you don't go too overboard with them.

Just like belts, suspenders can be worn with or without a jacket or vest, as the days when they were considered more or less of an undergarment are long gone. In spite of the tuxedo's rigid style codes, it is increasingly common these days to get away with wearing suspenders without the waistcoat, and it will also allow you to forego the cummerbund. There are varying opinions on whether or not to wear

suspenders and a cummerbund simultaneously, and we would argue that sometimes less is more. However, if you decide to wear a cummerbund with suspenders, just make sure that the suspenders go underneath it.

Perhaps the biggest drawback to wearing suspenders is the extra time it might take to fasten them properly, at least as opposed to a belt, which can be fastened within seconds. If you're in a hurry, you're more likely to put on suspenders the wrong way, adjust them improperly, or wear them too low or too high. The other major concern with suspenders is that some people find them uncomfortable to wear, especially since they are designed to be worn over the shoulders. If they're not adjusted properly, they do have a tendency to rumple your shirts and even feel like they're weighing your shoulders down. This drawback, however, can usually be avoided by taking the time to adjust the suspenders accordingly.

As far as style is concerned, suspenders are also limited in their scope of use, usually restricted to mostly formal attire in this day and age. While acceptable to wear with suits and tuxedos, they're not too popular for casual outings or pairings with jeans or khakis. For the latter types of trousers, the belt is definitely the preferred accessory.

On a final note, we want to reiterate that suspenders should never be worn with a belt simultaneously. While it is acceptable to wear suspenders with a pair of trousers that have belt loops, it is best to limit this practice to pants that go with a full suit, and even then, you do have the ability to get trousers made without loops if

you intend to wear your suit exclusively with suspenders. Doing so will give your custom suit a sleeker, more modern and uniform appearance.

Since the 1940s, the belt has been the preferred accessory for menswear, barring the tuxedo of course. And since belts were not considered to be lumped in at all with undergarments as suspenders were for a time, there was nothing wrong with wearing them on full display. Both stylish and functional, belts fulfill the same role that suspenders had up to that point and still do to this day. Due to their ease of putting them on, endless variations in style, and versatility between casual and formal wear, belts to this day remain more popular than suspenders.

Unlike suspenders, belts are much easier to fasten properly. If you're late and rushing out the door, you can be wearing a belt fastened at the correct notch before you even step foot into your car. If you value brevity and punctuality above all else, belts are certainly the way to go.

Versatility is another selling point. Belts can be worn with practically anything, from formal suits and khakis to more casual wear such as shorts and jeans. Wearing a formal belt with a pair of jeans won't necessarily look out of place, and certainly not to any untrained eyes. Adjusting them to the proper size is also an easier task than it is with suspenders; simply move the notch to the left or right and fasten through the loops on your trousers. Just make sure that in formal settings, the belt matches the color of your shoes to the best of your abilities.

Since belts don't require any buttons for fastening, there is no chance that a belt will come loose spontaneously. When suspenders are repeatedly fastened to the buttons on the inside of a pair of trousers, the thread holding the buttons in place can weaken over time, thereby increasing the chance that one of the pieces might fail. When you wear a belt, you're not wearing down the inside buttons at all.

But belts do have some drawbacks in comparison to their suspender counterparts. On occasion, especially if your pants are not fitted properly, belts can cause your shirt to bunch up over time, especially when you're moving around a lot. An easy way to avoid this, of course, is to make sure that your pants are tailored to your body as best as they can be. Since belts have fixed notches as opposed to adjustable straps, it may be hard to find a happy medium or that sweet spot in terms of how tight or loose you want it to be. If the belt is too tight, you might be uncomfortable all night, while if it's too loose, you risk having your pants sag down too much. When shopping for belts, it helps to be a little more precise as opposed to suspenders that usually have a little more wiggle room.

As far as style goes, it's important to note that belts should only be worn with pants equipped with belt loops, hence why they are never worn with tuxedos. If you have a custom suit with pants that don't have loops, you'll be limited to suspenders or foregoing any support whatsoever. In this case, it's imperative that your pants are fitted properly to avoid any dance floor mishaps.

No matter your style preferences and support needs, Enzo Custom has got you covered. In addition to custom tailored suits, we offer belts, suspenders, and a handful of other accessories to completely round out your formal attire. Step into one of our showrooms today for a private appointment, or speak with one of our expert clothiers through our offered virtual consultations.

Over the years, we've seen quite a few fashion trends come and go. Some have stood the test of time, others faded away almost as soon as they were introduced, and a few have gone through periodic ebbs and flows. We're just glad that tuxedos haven't changed too much since their introduction, and that no one up to this point has been crazy enough to attempt pairing a belt with one, because let's be honest. There is absolutely no way anyone could make that look cool, or even simply not ridiculous and out of place. While there is definitely a hard-line rule keeping belts off the table for tuxedos, the same can't be said for suspenders when it comes to suits, even though they are more associated with the tux these days.

Benefits Of Suspenders: Not Just For The Tuxedo

<title>College Admissions and Job Interviews: Is A Suit Too Much?</title>

<p>It's a question that's been hotly debated in not only the fashion world but also the professional one. And depending on who you're talking to and what field they work in, you'll probably get a different answer.</p>

<p>When it comes to job interviews and college admissions meetings, these are probably going to be the most important events to dress up for in one's professional and academic careers. And while getting that job or spot at your number-one college probably doesn't solely hinge on your attire, first impressions can go a long way. In spite of varying opinions on the subject, the general consensus is that while job interviews tend to be skewed toward the more formal side of things, college admissions interviews normally fall short of the full suit and tie. In any event, the person conducting the interview or meeting will appreciate clean, professional attire, as they will likely be wearing their best when they start hurling questions at you. Wearing clothes that are at the very least crisp and wrinkle-free will show them that you actually care about your upcoming professional or academic prospects. But what about those instances where you end up out-dressing the person conducting the interview? Or when no one bothered to tell you that the prestigious company you want to work for doesn't have a dress code at all?</p>

<p>In this article, we'll do our best to clear up any confusion or discrepancies in terms of what is acceptable attire for interviews and what is not, as common sense can sometimes be hard to follow when it is so nuanced in so many different industries and situations.</p>

<h2>The Job Interview</h2>

<p>Thanks to a rapid rise in remote positions as well as more relaxed dress codes at even the most prestigious of employers, a common misconception has circulated that the suit is all but dead. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth, and this is especially vital to understand in the context of the job interview. While it might be nice to fantasize about strolling in late to your job interview wearing nothing but a bathrobe and being as blunt about your potential boss's choice of tie as you were about his management style and still landing that six-figure position, this scenario is at best a very rare exception and at worst something you would only see on late-night TV. In practice, this just doesn't happen, and you might as well aspire to win the lottery with this attitude. Professionalism in terms of how you dress and present yourself will put you miles ahead of everyone else competing for your position, so if you're at all unsure about what your potential employer expects in terms of <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blog/business-casual-for-men-the-guide-to-modern-office-dress" target="_blank">office attire</a>, it's always best to err on the side of formality during the interview process. Being overdressed in this scenario is almost always better than being underdressed, and if it's between you and someone else with the exact same credentials, they might be more inclined to pick the candidate who is wearing the better suit, as fickle as that may seem. A <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/customize" target="_blank">custom suit</a> that is tailored to your individual body type is always considered a nice touch by your potential employers. After all, what is a job interview but a sales pitch of yourself? You want it to be your time to shine, not for the company to second-guess themselves in hiring you.</p>

<p>That being said, not all employers are the same, and there may be situations where it would be advantageous to either dress up more than normal or even tone it down a bit, depending on the industry and the company you're looking to work for. It's always best to do a little research beforehand so you're not walking into an interview blindly.</p>

<p>The legal profession, for example, is one where pushing up the boundaries of formal attire is acceptable, if not expected. It's one of the few industries that hasn't deviated much from formal <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blog/business-casual-for-men-the-guide-to-modern-office-dress" target="_blank">office dress</a> as it was commonplace 30 years ago, and doesn't see too many signs of straying away from this. Classic black or subtle and tasteful pinstripes tend to be the winners here, and while you might be able to get away with some tightly woven <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blog/a-quick-guide-to-different-suit-patterns-and-styles" target="_blank">crosshatch patterns</a> in shades of grey or blue, it's best not to be too permissive with some of the louder colors available. Just like anything involving fashion sense, it's ultimately a judgment call. But chances are, if you're questioning whether or not your ensemble is too loud for an interview, you likely already know the answer.</p>

<p>Other professions aren't so cut-and-dry. Information technology, for example, was one of the first industries to abandon <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blog/dressing-for-a-formal-event-how-to-know-what-to-wear" target="_blank">dress codes</a> altogether. This isn't always true across the board, but it's a safe assumption that you won't find too many suits

and ties wandering the office buildings of Silicon Valley. However, this only seems to apply to those who are already working in that field and not prospective employees. Even in fields that embrace a laissez-faire attitude toward office dress, professionalism is still much appreciated. From a comfort standpoint, you might be able to forego the <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/shop/00/ties" target="_blank">tie</a>, but a suit paired with a crisp clean <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/shop/06" target="_blank">dress shirt</a> will give you a leg up on others who might be under the assumption that dressing down to a casual level is acceptable, even though it may not be. Consistency and effort are key here, even if the latter isn't executed at 100 percent. So long as everything matches (think belts, shoes, etc.), your prospective employers will be more likely to remember you.</p>

<p>As far as job interviews are concerned, our verdict is that the classic custom suit will win out over all else, and if you want to test the waters when it comes to feeling more comfortable and casual, the most you should forego, if anything at all, is the tie.</p>

<h2>College Admissions</h2>

<p>For those of you who might be just starting your academic endeavors and using those to further your career paths in the future, navigating the college admissions process can be a daunting task. On top of narrowing down the right choice for your needs and abilities, studying for college entrance exams like the SATs and ACTs, preparing college admissions essays, and ironing out all of the financing options, you may also be presented with the opportunity to have a one-on-one interview

with one of the college's admissions representatives coming through your city. While many of these meetings are optional depending on the university's admissions requirements, it can give you an opportunity to present your case as to why they should consider selecting you for their school. It also gives the admissions representatives a chance to get to know you on a more personal level, and just as it is true for job interviews, first impressions can really set the tone for the rest of your meeting. But you might be asking yourself, 'How much formality is too much?'</p>

<p>When it comes to college admission interviews, the unspoken rules on dress code are a little more malleable than they are with employment opportunities. While a full suit and tie might be more than what is necessary, we can't really think of any situation or scenario where this would hinder your chances or your performance during the interview, even if you end up out-dressing the admissions representative. Just as it's true with job interviews, that extra professionalism in dress is only going to make a good impression, not a bad one.</p>

<p>If you don't feel comfortable just yet in a full suit, at the very least you should wear a dress shirt and a decent pair of slacks and <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blog/pairing-shoes-with-suits-a-proper-style-guide" target="_blank">shoes</a>. Admissions representatives may not even expect this level of dress, but it will show them that you are taking them seriously.</p>

<p>As far as ties go, they are definitely more optional for this type of interview as opposed to being more of a requirement for professional employment settings. Whether to put one on or not is more of a style preference, but no matter what you

decide to do, you should feel confident and comfortable in what you wear. Confidence, just like dressing professionally, can do wonders for first impressions.</p>

<p>Overall, our consensus for college admissions interviews is that you should dress at the very least more than casually. While a full suit and tie may not be absolutely necessary, they certainly won't hurt at all.</p>

<h2>Takeaways</h2>

<p>Whether you're just starting out with your academic and professional career or you've been putting your nose to the grindstone for over a decade, all of us here at Enzo Custom will help you obtain the professional wardrobe you need, from suits and ties to dress shirts and accessories. Our experienced clothiers will work with you closely to get you fitted into the right custom suit that matches your own precise measurements, so give us a call today to book your <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/schedule" target="_blank">private appointment</a> at one of our locations or via videoconference.</p>

It's a question that's been hotly debated in not only the fashion world but also the professional one. And depending on who you're talking to and what field they work in, you'll probably get a different answer.

College Admissions and Job Interviews: Is A Suit Too Much?

<title>Etiquette In The New Normal</title>

<p>It's an unfortunate reality we all have to face. COVID-19 is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future, and as a result many common etiquette practices have been drastically altered and in some cases, all but abandoned. Handshakes have been replaced by elbow taps, standards of dress have been relaxed, and reliance on digital means of communication has skyrocketed. Even so, this does not mean that all standards of professionalism have to be thrown out the window. While many of us have had the fortunate ability to work remotely since March, several industries still require in-person meetings, appointments, and hands-on interactions. Aside from the obvious sectors like healthcare and customer service, this is also true for many legal and financial institutions.</p>

<p>Although practices and regulations among states and locales vary, it is imperative to follow recommended guidelines in order to reduce the risk of spreading illness in the community. While some things are very clear (wearing a mask, washing hands, maintaining adequate distance, etc.), others are not so cut-and-dry (maintaining your wardrobe more frequently, keeping living areas and workspaces clean, wiping down door handles, leaving shoes at the door). The former are obvious, while the latter may vary considerably between each person's comfort level. But the important thing to remember is that no matter where you work or where you live, communication is key to providing the safest and most comfortable environment possible.</p>

<p>In this article, we'll discuss the ways in which you can still adhere to <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/business-casual-for-men"

target="_blank">professionalism standards</a> while maintaining health and safety protocols in an ever-changing social landscape. It is sometimes very hard to break old social habits (humans are a very social species after all), and adjusting can be more difficult at first than you might think.</p>

<h2>Wardrobe Maintenance</h2>

<p>For the purposes of this article, we'll start with one of the less obvious changes to everyday routines. Everyone who's ever owned a modest selection of <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/collections/suits" target="_blank">suits</a> for work understands the pain of forking over those excessive dry cleaning bills, and those with five or more suits in their closet tend to cut a few corners on trips to the cleaners when they can get away with it. Unfortunately, the pandemic has drastically reduced this ability. If your place of work requires you to be physically present in an office, it is wise to only wear your suit once before you clean it. That being said, there is more than one way to keep your suits clean, and if your <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/proper-care-for-dress-shirts-methods-for-keeping-your-wardrobe-crisp-and-clean" target="_blank">dry cleaning</a> bill is getting in the way of better things you could spend your money on, consider spot-cleaning, UV-C lights, or washing certain elements of your wardrobe in the washing machine or by hand.</p>

<p>UV-C light technology has been in use for almost 100 years, and it's a great way to disinfect and clean clothing and equipment without damaging its structural components. It works best as an adjunct rather than by itself, but it does offer a cost-effective alternative to hand washing or dry cleaning when those more

traditional methods may not be convenient to do with such increased frequency. Several UV-C devices are available online and don't break the bank too much; just be sure to keep these devices away and out of reach from houseplants and household pets, as it is still a source of radiation and can potentially cause harm.</p>

<p>If UV-C lights aren't the right fit for you, consider purchasing a <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-your-wardrobe-ready-for-the-new-normal" target="_blank">steam iron</a> to keep your suits clean and wrinkle-free throughout the week. While it requires more work than UV-C lights, it's less of a potential hazard and it's still cheaper than running to the dry cleaners every other day.</p>

<h2>Greetings</h2>

<p>The handshake is ubiquitous. It's the universal sign of trust and competence in the business world, and also the proper way to introduce oneself in all settings in cultures across the globe. However, the handshake has all but disappeared almost overnight, being replaced with several other, more contact-minimizing greetings.</p>

<p>The safest replacement to the handshake by far is a simple wave. While it might seem like an awkward thing to do at first, almost everyone understands why a wave is more polite than extending one's hand during these trying times. It shows that you are acknowledging the other person while maintaining proper social distancing protocols.</p>

<p>In some social circles, tapping elbows or bumping fists might also be appropriate. While these greetings are riskier than a simple wave, they still

minimize contact in comparison to a handshake. In all likelihood, it won't be considered rude if you decline someone's fist bump. At the end of the day, it really comes down to your own and the other person's comfort level.</p>

<p>Hugs are also worth mentioning, and should be avoided except in the context of close family members or other people you live with. While hugs are less common in the business world, they are not completely unheard of. As it is physically impossible to adhere to social distancing standards with this greeting, people shouldn't be offended if you decide to stand in place or back away. As we said before, a wave is usually sufficient.</p>

<p>While a lot of this might sound like common sense, it's important to emphasize these situations, as the ways of doing business have changed so suddenly over the last six months. Which brings us to our next point.</p>

<h2>Digital Correspondence</h2>

<p>The company you work for has decided to shut all of its offices down temporarily, forcing all of its employees to work remotely. If this pandemic happened 30 years ago, this major switch would have likely been a logistical and technological nightmare. Fortunately for everyone living in today's world, Internet connections are commonplace, connectivity speeds are higher than they've ever been, and the infrastructure to handle so many more remote workers is already in place. Transitioning from an office to a work-from-home environment should be easy, right?</p>

<p>Well, yes and no. While working remotely takes away the burden of long commutes and excessive water cooler chatter, there are potentially more

distractions, as you may not be confined to a single desk and you may have others in your household also working from home. At a bare minimum, you should always treat your new home office space the same way you would treat your office away from home. Getting ready for the day as you normally would otherwise and sticking to standard working hours will allow you to establish a routine so you can stay focused, as some people find these new adjustments more difficult than others. Sticking to a routine will put you miles ahead of everyone else, and you may even find that your workday becomes shorter as your productivity increases the longer you've been working remotely. The other big component of working outside the office is communication.</p>

<p>It might be tempting to show up to your Zoom or Skype meeting wearing nothing but a bathrobe or an old T-shirt, but it's important to keep in mind that a little professionalism goes a long way. While you might not be required to wear a suit for your temporary remote positions, you should at least shoot for <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/business-casual-for-men" target="_blank">business casual</a>, especially when you have to conduct video calls or any other face-to-face digital correspondence. Another thing to consider is that while dressing up may not be mandatory, for some people it helps them establish a more rigid, structured routine. The same goes for the space in your home that you use for work. While nothing beats spreading out on the couch with a laptop by your side, designating a spare room for an exclusive workspace can help minimize those inevitable distractions, and you might even be able to save money on your taxes, too, by taking advantage of the home office deduction.</p>

<h2>Office Etiquette</h2>

<p>Not all of us during these times have the luxury of working from home. Some offices never closed, and when the severity of the pandemic begins to fade, more will reopen for business. Keeping office spaces clean, especially shared or common areas, is a large component of reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Always keep plenty of spare masks handy at your desk, don't be shy with hand sanitizer, and make sure to wipe down your phones and keyboards. The latter is important in offices where you might even share a desk with somebody else when shifts change. One other thing that often gets overlooked is disinfecting your shoes. Whenever you come home, you might want to take them off first-thing, leave them by the door, and clean the bottoms of them after each use. This will reduce the chances of bringing in unwanted germs into your home from the outside.</p>

<h2>Takeaways</h2>

<p>While social norms and business etiquette have drastically changed, sticking to social distancing standards doesn't mean you have to throw common practices completely to the wind. If you are required to go into an office every day, make sure to take extra care in <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/how-to-get-your-wardrobe-ready-for-the-new-normal" target="_blank">maintaining your wardrobe</a>. Steam irons and UV-C lights can save time and money on those otherwise extra trips to the cleaners. It's also essential that you keep your workspace as clean as possible, especially in shared-desk arrangements. Keep as much distance as possible when meeting and greeting new people. If you work remotely, keeping a routine is one of the best ways to stay on top of things, even if it

means <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/blogs/news/dressing-for-a-formal-event-how-to-know-what-to-wear" target="_blank">dressing up</a> a little bit when you don't have to.</p>

<p>From all of us at <a href="https://www.enzocustom.com/" target="_blank">Enzo Custom</a>, we wish you a safe and healthy rest of the year, and together by following safety and cleanliness measures, we can get through this as quickly and carefully as possible.</p>

>It's an unfortunate reality we all have to face. COVID-19 is here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future, and as a result many common etiquette practices have been drastically altered and in some cases, all but abandoned. Handshakes have been replaced by elbow taps, standards of dress have been relaxed, and reliance on digital means of communication has skyrocketed.

Etiquette in the New Normal

The suit as we know it today has a long and sometimes complicated history. In the 18th Century, the modest yet elegant aesthetic of the typical suit was a long-overdue answer to overly ostentatious and sometimes outrageous dress of the upper classes; think powdered wigs, heavy makeup, and elaborate outfits made from multiple pieces of clothing accessorized to the max, many of which were extraordinarily uncomfortable to wear. After the French Revolution, when the aristocracy was viewed with more disdain than ever before, there evolved a need to tone down the gaudiness of typical fashion sense of the time, especially in public spheres. Out of this increasing demand for more modest dress and later Beau Brummell's influence over fashion in high society, the modern suit was born.

Since then, the manufacture of high-end custom bespoke suits hasn't changed much at all. Tailors take a person's measurements, make the necessary cuts to the fabric, stitch everything together by hand, and make slight alterations to the finished product when the customer comes in for the final fitting. The only thing that really has changed is the relative simplicity of the suit's component parts compared to how they appeared 200 or even 100 years ago. As time progressed, suits tended to become more minimalist, and as a result, sleeker and more stylish in appearance.

When we move away from the realm of custom bespoke tailoring, much has in fact changed in the way in which suits are made. Starting with the Industrial Revolution, many garments could be mass-produced, saving time, energy, and ultimately cost to the customer making a purchase. But even way back then, suits remained a luxury item, largely tailored to individual specifications and measurements. This started to change in the 1960s, when clothing companies opted to produce more of their suits as made-to-fit off-the-rack items, reducing cost and making the process of buying a suit less time-consuming.

In any case, while there are several different routes a suit might take from the raw materials to the customer's person, it all starts with the fabric. 

Throughout the suit's history, wool has remained and still is the gold standard when it comes to fabric. Versatile, durable, and possessing an unmatched ability to breathe, wool is preferred by gentlemen looking for high-end custom tailored suits, as the fabric is also one that is comfortable to wear in all types of weather. Once the wool is sheared, scoured, and dyed, it makes its way through the weaving process and yields fabric soft to the touch and ready to be crafted into the suit of your liking.

Blends that utilize wool and cotton are also popular. They hybrid fabric strands retain a higher degree of durability than either fabric alone, and blending wool with cotton also helps to reduce manufacturing costs. Much like wool, cotton also has similar properties of breathability, ensuring that your suit will keep you comfortable even in hot weather. Wool/cotton blends are common with both off-the-rack and made-to-measure suit sellers.

Linen, while less common than wool, is still a premier choice in suit fabrics, especially in hot climates, due to its lighter weight. Made from strands of the flax plant, linen is also a highly durable material, even more so than wool. Because of this property, thread counts on linen suits can be considerably lower than those of 100 percent wool suits, allowing a suit to feel light, breathable, and comfortable. Linen suits are generally associated with lighter colors, given their popularity during the summer months, but also come in plenty of more standard colors like black, navy blue, or tan.

Polyester, synthetics, and other synthetic blends are worth mentioning, but only because these materials should be avoided. While polyester is extremely durable, especially against excessive heat, the material doesn't breathe at all and can be very uncomfortable to wear. The material can also degrade over time, so you're always better off spending the extra money up front on a suit made from a natural material. Polyester and synthetics are almost exclusively used by suit manufacturers that produce made-to-fit and off-the-rack options, and as a result are likely to be of a substantially lower quality. These materials might be a viable option as a last resort when you are in a hurry, but not for something you plan on wearing often or keeping in your professional wardrobe for any considerable length of time.

Now that we have the materials covered, the way in which a suit is actually put together can greatly influence the final product's quality.

Stitching, as in compiling all the component parts of a suit by hand or via sewing machine, is the preferred method in the realm of custom and bespoke tailoring. A handcrafted suit tends to have a better fit than one coming straight off an assembly line, as more attention to detail—down to every last seam and stitch—is given.

In the scope of ready-to-wear and off-the-rack suits, the component suit parts are fused together on an assembly line. The fusing process uses high temperatures and glue to essentially weld the parts of trousers, jackets, vests, etc. together, drastically reducing the amount of time it takes to deliver each finished product off the line. While these suits are substantially cheaper than custom and bespoke options, they tend not to fit as well, and the source materials also are usually of a lower grade, often using synthetic blends or lower thread counts. Fusing can provide additional structural rigidity to a suit, but only at the expense of a more natural fit. Depending on the suit type, these attributes can either be good or bad for the manufacturer as well as the customer and the seller.

In a previous article, we learned about the three main types of suit styles, and those are by and large British, American, and Italian. When we're discussing suits in relation to how they are manufactured, we're talking about four distinct types that have little to do with their overall outward appearance.

Ready-to-wear suits—oftentimes referred to as off-the-rack, made-to-fit, and one-size-fits-all options—are favored by large department stores and large-scale manufacturers. As ready-to-wear suits are considerably less time-consuming and cheaper to buy, they have remained a staple of shopping malls and big-box stores everywhere. Suits of this type are often fused together rather than stitched due to their mass production, and as a result are designed to fit a large sampling of individuals rather than a specific person. These attributes make them less appropriate for certain body types and also less naturally fitting than custom and bespoke ensembles.

Suit separates, just like ready-to-wear suits, are usually manufactured on a massive scale, component parts being fused together on an assembly line. In most respects, they are quite similar. The key difference, however, is that the suit jackets and suit trousers are sold separately, giving the consumer a little more flexibility in their options. Sometimes this arrangement is ideal for people looking for a suit jacket to use as a sport coat at the last minute, since they are not forced to buy both jacket and trousers together. But suit separates tend to experience the same fitting issues as ready-to-wear options.

Made-to-measure suits, unlike the aforementioned types, are designed to a unique individual's specifications. While they are more expensive than suit separates or off-the-rack options, they tend to give the consumer a better, more comfortable fit. Suits of this variety may or may not be mass-produced initially. Regardless, they are altered and tailored to match specific measurements of a specific person, usually during in-store appointments or specs given online or over the phone. Made-to-measure suits give the customer a more personalized experience than off-the-rack department store options.

Bespoke suits, those that are custom-tailored and handcrafted, offer the greatest breadth of customization and are generally the most expensive out of all suit types. Bespoke suits provide an excellent personally tailored fit and also use some of the finest materials available in their construction. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that the term bespoke is often misused or misunderstood. Bespoke suits, for example, can refer to a subset of custom made-to-measure suits, but not all made-to-measure suits can be considered bespoke. Think of the terminology in the context of a simple Venn diagram. All bespoke suits are made-to-measure, but not all made-to-measure suits are bespoke.

As suits have recently experienced a slight decline, especially as everyone adjusts to a new normal, it is more important than ever to take style and fit into consideration if you are looking to purchase a new addition to your wardrobe. Here at Enzo Custom, all of our suits use only the finest materials and are tailored to your specific measurements, never with prefabricated component parts. Off-the-rack options from other retailers, while the initial price point may be less expensive, tend to look sloppy and hastily put together. It is always wise to consider how the suit is made, not just who made it. And most importantly, a suit should say something unique about your personality, not just something about where you bought it or how much you paid for it. Enzo Custom will deliver that demand. Our expert clothiers on staff will guide you through the tailoring process and answer any questions you may have. During these unprecedented times, we have taken extra care to ensure that your private appointment with us in our showrooms is safe, clean, and compliant with health, safety, and social distancing standards. You can also conduct your private appointment online if you feel more comfortable in a virtual environment.

As suit manufacturing has evolved, our dedication to superior tailoring and customer satisfaction has remained constant. Book your private appointment today, or stop into one of our showrooms to get fitted into your next custom suit.

The Enzo Custom Experience

When we move away from the realm of custom bespoke tailoring, much has in fact changed in the way in which suits are made. Starting with the Industrial Revolution, many garments could be mass-produced, saving time, energy, and ultimately cost to the customer making a purchase. In any case, while there are several different routes a suit might take from the raw materials to the customer's person, it all starts with the fabric.

A Brief Rundown Of The Manufacturing And Tailoring Process

In the wake of recent developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic (shorthand for coronavirus disease 2019 caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2), several businesses, government agencies, and health organizations across the globe have had to make several adjustments to their daily routines and protocols. As our appointments here at Enzo Custom have always been conducted privately and in a clean, professional space, we closed our showrooms nationwide in order to do our part to mitigate the virus's ability to spread.

With taking precaution and following strict guidelines from the World Health Organization and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, Enzo Custom is happy to announce we are slowly, and carefully, reopening our showroom doors!

We take our customers' concerns and general welfare seriously, and we have been extra cautious in adhering to our already high standards of cleanliness and professionalism. For the most accurate information and updates on COVID-19, please refer to the WHO and CDC websites, as they neither sensationalize nor play down new developments related to this novel illness.

While commerce across the board has adjusted to present conditions, it has not come to a standstill. People still need things, whether it's car washes, gasoline, toilet paper, or even suits. As the locations of our showrooms do not require our customers to show up in crowded shopping malls or other large gathering spaces, taking extra precautions to ensure your safety and well-being is far from being a logistical nightmare. Keeping a safe distance from others, as well as not shaking hands and reducing other forms of contact from both people and surfaces can reduce the risk of illness spreading. Our facilities are well kept and clean, and any meetings you schedule to get fitted with our clothiers are always private. It is imperative that we do the best we can to keep our locations as sanitary, safe, and clean as possible, and we have always adhered to the highest standards in this regard.

So if you need a high-quality custom suit or tuxedo and don't want to deal with crowded spaces or big-box off-the-rack shops (we wouldn't recommend buying from the latter anyway) feel free to stop by into one of our showrooms to get fitted. Just please wash your hands first, and we will do the same.

We're Safe. We're Clean. We're Cautious. And Yes, We're Open!

As all of us around the globe have done our part to navigate the far-reaching effects and challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all learned a great deal in the importance of maintaining and promoting clean living and working spaces. People seem to be more cautious and mindful when they do have to venture outside, and we all understand how quickly illnesses can spread, as we have unfortunately seen it in action firsthand. While many aspects of this novel pandemic are anything but certain, several healthcare professionals predict that while things will start to normalize sometime toward the tail end of summer, this crisis could become a seasonal one hereafter, albeit with less severity as new treatments develop, herd immunity spreads, and society better understands ways of flattening the curve. In spite of all this, even the most knowledgeable healthcare professionals can't precisely predict the future with 100 percent accuracy. But what we all can do is be more prepared going forward. 

In the interest of public health and safety, Enzo Custom has also had to grapple with some adjustments, including the ability to take appointments via video conference as the openings of our physical showrooms are contingent on various public health and safety guidelines across the United States. In addition to donating a percentage of all of our sales to Direct Relief, we have also utilized the infrastructure of our manufacturing plants to produce personal protective masks to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

As all of these new measures can be confusing at times as everyone begins to adjust to the new normal, this article will delve into the ways in which we can all make the adjustment process go more smoothly, especially when it comes to wardrobe management. With an emphasis on cleanliness, we'll do our best to prepare you for this new normal, what else to keep handy in your wardrobe, and how to keep your suits as clean as possible when you return home from a day's work out in the world.

Before we get into the finer points of keeping your wardrobe clean, neat, and tidy, it's never a bad idea to refresh your memory on some of the basics. Dry cleaning, for example, is one of the most convenient ways to keep your suits, tuxedos, and dress shirts in pristine condition without having to put too much effort into it. In many cases, dry cleaning is also the only acceptable way to treat certain articles of clothing, as some fabrics can become damaged from standard methods of laundering. So long as you patron a reputable dry cleaner and preferably one that treats clothing on-site, this method continues to be the gold standard.

As for formal wear and casual attire that can be washed in a machine, it's important, especially now, to maintain standards of cleanliness for your laundry room. While most of these tips are standard common-sense practices, in the past we've often neglected to perform these simple tasks. For one, it is imperative that you disinfect the surfaces of your washing machine and dryer between loads; this includes any door handles, buttons, or surfaces that you frequently come into contact with. Disinfecting your laundry basket is also helpful, as this will prevent any cross-contamination from occurring once each load is transferred into the washing machine. Another important thing to consider is making sure that you don't shake your clothes out indoors, especially not in the areas in which you do your laundry. Viruses can live on your clothes for some time, and shaking them around allows these germs to disperse even farther throughout your home.

When you do wash your clothes, make sure that you use the hottest water temperature possible for those particular garments. While sheets, towels, and undergarments are easily laundered with hot water, this is not always practical or convenient with other clothes, especially when we're discussing anything made from wool or other sensitive materials. Using warm water is in many cases better than using the cold setting; just make sure to avoid mixing colors so you minimize the risk that they will run or bleed together.

As for smaller items, such as watches, phones, cufflinks, studs, and other jewelry, keeping them clean can occasionally get a little trickier. Rather than worrying about spraying down your watches and phones with disinfectant every time you return home—which can cause damage to the internal parts of your watches and electronics due to excess moisture—consider the benefits of devices that use UV-C light. While it is a technology that hospitals and military branches have been using for nearly a century, UV-C light has found a new niche in the consumer market. Devices abound from several manufacturers that use the same UV-C technology to sterilize equipment efficiently and without using any liquids. These devices can be best described as tanning beds for your phones, watches, and jewelry. The UV-C light kills germs without damaging any of the internal working parts, thereby eliminating the need for purchasing any additional cleaners.

What Else To Keep In Your Wardrobe (Besides Clothes)

After multiple trips to the dry cleaners over the years, you've likely noticed the accumulation of plastic garment coverings on your closet floor. Your first instinct was to probably toss all of them into the garbage once you noticed them, but they can actually come in handy. By saving these seemingly annoying plastic bags, you can use them to protect your garments from elements such as dust, debris, and animal dander. Putting these plastic bags over your clothes while they're hanging up in the closet will keep them cleaner for longer and will reduce any cross-contamination between your clean clothes and jackets that may not be washed after every single use.

Rules are constantly changing with current stay-at-home orders around the world; some areas are relaxing these restrictions while others are making them more comprehensive. In any event, scarves are very useful tools for adjusting to the new normal. While generally viewed as strictly winter attire, scarves can dually function as masks on the go where one is required, as simply lifting it up to cover your face is satisfactory in many jurisdictions that have new rules about face protection when one has to venture out for groceries or supplies. Even where no government orders such as this one exist, many retail chains that have been allowed to remain open are requiring their patrons to don protective gear. Keeping scarves in your wardrobe will ensure that you're in compliance with these new rules, even if you haven't been able to purchase face masks or can't find any, as they are still in short supply everywhere.

If you are able to find standard surgical masks sold in stores, it may be a good idea to keep a box or two in your closet as well. The same goes for gloves, too, whether they are stylish and designed for winter outings or latex and come in a box of 40. Wearing either can reduce the risk of coronavirus transmission after coming into contact with surfaces that may have been exposed. Just make sure that you clean them after each use, or dispose of them properly if they are the kind you can throw away.

While we may be tempted to get rid of old clothes, it might be a good idea to hang onto some of them; as the supply of surgical masks in stores is uncertain, old T-shirts can be utilized to fabricate masks that offer at least some level of protection. As stores and even airlines seem to be adding facemasks as mandatory wear just like shirts and shoes, it wouldn't hurt to keep a few old clothes handy.

Which brings us to our next point. As many businesses are altering their standard modes of operation and permitting their employees to work remotely, all this extra time at home is a perfect opportunity to do some spring cleaning. In order to maintain a wardrobe that is not only functional but also clean, the first step is to keep everything organized and tidy.

Even in as little as a few years, it seems very possible to accumulate a lifetime's worth of stuff, especially when it comes to clothes. Some of the things in your closet may have gone way out of style long ago, or perhaps they don't fit anymore. Items worn repeatedly, particularly socks and T-shirts purchased in bulk, might even be coming apart at the seams. So what in the world are you supposed to do with all this stuff to make room for a wardrobe upgrade?

Consider donating or giving away your clothes rather than simply throwing them away. Plenty of thrift shops and charities will gladly take your clothes that rarely see the light of day off your hands, and some of them will even come to your house to pick them up.

After doing the grunt work of cleaning out your closet, you'll probably be left with quite a few hangers, and it would be wise to hang onto those, especially thicker ones made from wood and plastic designed for suits, trousers, vests, and jackets. As you embrace being out with the old and in with the new, you'll need plenty of ways to store the garments in your new wardrobe, and hanging up not only your suits but also your casual wear will help extend the life of your garments, not to mention keeping them wrinkle-free for longer. Whatever you decide to do, just keep in mind to avoid wire hangers on your more expensive clothes, as they are more likely to damage them.

Most importantly, once your wardrobe is void of your old clothes, it's time to get organized. Do your best to keep your suits, shirts, and casual wear separate, as it will not only save you time in the morning but also give you peace of mind, knowing that you won't have to come home to excess clutter or a disorganized mess. It's also a good idea to keep your shoes separate, especially as everyone adjusts to the new normal. Paying closer attention to the cleanliness of your shoes will reduce the chances of tracking germs into your home, and as a side effect, your carpet will thank you for it.

With all of these new hurdles that we all must navigate together, things are bound to return to relative normalcy at some point in the near future. And when they do, we want you to be prepared to the best of your abilities, and what better way to show that preparedness off to the world than through your own wardrobe? Here at Enzo Custom, we are eager to reopen our physical locations but understand that for now, in the interest of public health and safety, that we adapt to the needs of the overall public good. Feel free to schedule a private appointment with us via video conference to get fitted, or use our online customizer to pick out the perfect suit for the new normal.

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