Preferred Dress Codes
Dress Code for Men:
Executive Impact Scale:
Men, as well as women, can be overdressed as well as underdressed. It is well known that the "penalties' are greater for being underdressed than overdressed. The man can 'dress-down' if he finds that he is overdressed (i.e., take off jacket, loosen or remove tie, roll up sleeves), but he cannot go in the opposite direction if he finds himself to be underdressed. In selecting particular ensemble for the day, the man should assess the degree of executive impact that he wishes to have. Not only must he know the hierarchical scale, but he must be aware of the relative degree of professionalism of clothes within an ensemble (Le, range from most to least assertive suits, sports jackets, slacks, shoes).
Knowing that there is a range of executive impact within each ensemble, the following ranking should be considered:
Business Attire:
1. Dark double-breasted suit, French cuffs, lace-up shoes and pin collar 2. Dark single-breasted pinstriped two-piece suit with lace-up shoes
3. Dark solid single-breasted two-piece suit with lace-up shoes
4. Lighter two-piece suit with button-down collar
5. Sport jacket with contrasting slacks and slip-on shoes
6. Long-sleeve shirt with tie and dress slacks and penny loafers
Elegant Casual:
7. Sports jacket without a tie and contrasting slacks (slip-on/
hard-toed loafers or penny loafers); khaki pants and jacket
Business Casual:
8. Shirt (not dress shirt) without tie, dress slacks and loafers
9. Shirt (not dress shirt) without tie and with casual pants/loafers
10. Casual top with khaki pants and casual shoes (e.g., dockers)
Casual:
11. Knit top with casual pants (jeans of any color) and sneakers
Or sandals
12. Knit top, or collar-less shirt, with jeans or shorts and
Sandals or thongs
Dress Code for Women:
Executive Impact Scale:
Women, as well as men, can be overdressed as well as underdressed. It is well known that the 'penalties' are greater for being underdressed than overdressed. In selecting a particular ensemble for the day, the woman should assess the degree of executive impact that she wishes to have. (One little rule that some executives employ is, "Dress to the level of the highest person that I am going to meet with on this day.") Not only must she know the hierarchical scale, but she must be aware of the relative degree of professionalism of clothes within an ensemble (i.e., range from most to least assertive suits, dresses).
Knowing that there is a range of executive impact within each ensemble, the following ranking should be considered:
Business Attire:
1. Double-breasted skirted suit with blouse or tank top and pump shoes 2. Single-breasted skirted suit
3. Skirt, blouse (or sweater), with a blazer
4. Dress with a coordinating jacket
5. Dress
6. Skirt with long-sleeve blouse
7. Skirt with short-sleeve blouse
8. Skirt with a sweater
Elegant Casual:*
9. Tailored pants-suit (or slacks with a coordinated or contrasting jacket); khaki pants and jacket; slacks and vest Business Casual:
10. Slacks with a blouse
11. Slacks with a sweater
Casual:
12. Jeans (any color) with knit or tank top and sneakers
* Note: A tailored pants-suit is very professional; many women feel that the pants-suit should be ranked at #6, or even #5, in the above listing. Some organizations have women making professional presentations,
even in the "Executive Board Room," in elegant pants-suits.