Business wear this summer

The same procedure as every year: What can I wear in the summer on business? What can I do to make my style appear less stiff, but where’s the border of formality I am not allowed to cross?

In my opinion there are some simple rules I have to regard. If I am on the top of command structure, it often won’t be a way around a proper office style with an entire suite. Colors are forbidden if you are not the CEO of a designer company or if your meeting is not within Italy, white is too easygoing, black too usual. What’s left? 

Blue-grey, light grey, beige and anthracite are the colors you need. Prefer suites with a textile structure or a pattern. A two-button jacket is the maximum, a one-button model is better. In addition a white or light blue shirt (no short-sleeved exemplars please – you can roll up your sleeves when you take off your jacket), a vest and a thin tie to complete the look. Feel free to take a tie with stripes or checked pattern.

photos by yoox.com

If the occasion is not too momentous, combine trousers and a jacket in different colors. My favorite: A white chino and a black jacket (than the black jacket is OK). If you still would like to go one step further, replace the shirt by a T-shirt or a longsleeve top, maybe in the maritime stripe style. Trust in your own intuition to choose the right pieces. After some time you will be able to adapt your summer outfit exactly to the requested standards. 

photos by stylebop.com

Last but not least: A suite requires business shoes. Sneakers are only allowed in combination with an airy-casual style to go on party or if you a web 2.0 business man. Shorts can be also good-looking, but it’s nothing for business. Remember this when you see models with this combinations on the catwalk. That’s only show, not real RTW.