Choosing the proper business attire for dinner meetings and gatherings is very important. Read this Workspirited article to find out what attire is right for the occasion.
Clothes and manners do not make the man; but, when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance.
— Henry Ward Beecher
While attending a business dinner, you should always dress the part. A good rule you can follow is to coordinate your attire with the venue (in this case, a restaurant). Know beforehand what the evening has in store for you, and chances are that you will worry less about the attire. And to be able to pay closer attention to the evening’s agenda, we have put together a few business dinner attire ideas for you to choose from.
Today’s Business Dinner Attire
Generally, there are three types of business attire that are essential and appropriate for any field; these are formal, semi-formal, and casual attire. Do you know which attire is appropriate for what dinner? Here’s some brief, yet crucial information you’ll need to understand.
Look Professional in Formal Attire
It goes without saying that in order to look presentable, you need to wear clean, properly ironed clothing that fits well. To master the formal attire, avoid the tuxedo and go straight for a two-piece, single-breasted suit. Choose from navy, black, dark gray, or dark brown colors, and complete the attire with a dress shirt, tie, and closed-toe leather shoes. Although a formal attire requires a white shirt to be worn underneath the suit, since you’ll be heading down for an after-office business dinner, you can choose to wear a colored shirt that complements the suit. Apart from the shoes and laptop bag accompanying you in the evening, don’t forget to wear cufflinks and pocket squares of silk or linen.
Look Polished in Semi-formal Attire
Turning it down a notch, a semi-formal attire is nothing but a slightly relaxed version of the formal attire. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. There are tons of different options to choose from. As you can see in the images above, you can either wear a dress shirt with tie and pants, a formal-looking jacket with pants and no tie for the shirt, or opt for a vest that goes well with the pants. You can even add pastel-colored ties that complement the overall outfit. Apart from this, you’ll be wearing closed-toe shoes and a leather belt. There’s no need to add cufflinks to a semi-formal attire.
Look Powerful in Casual Attire
Before you opt for a business casual attire for the evening, make sure that it’s what everyone invited to the dinner is also going to wear. A good indication is by checking what type of restaurant you’ll be eating in. With a casual attire, there’s a lot of room to experiment with. Add pastel colors to your outfit by wearing slightly unconventional pants, a shirt, or a jacket. And to play it safe, go slightly towards the high-end business casual attire. This way, you know you can’t go wrong with your smashingly good outfit.
Keep these suggestions and tips in mind when selecting the attire for upcoming business dinners. You want to leave a positive and lasting impression on those whom you meet. A powerful presence is what will keep you ahead in the game.