You’ve picked out the perfect men’s suit, and you can’t help but feel cool, confident, and stylish. Everywhere you go, heads turn, as women want you and men want to be you. Clients are lining up to work with you, and every one of your co-workers treats you with awe and respect.

Such is the power of the perfect suit, at least until you compromise its message with an unsavoury accessory. You may not realize it, but your accessories can affect the entire look of your suit, for the better or worse. So, you have to ask yourself: do your accessories agree with the message you want to send?

Whether You’re a Man or Woman: How Accessories Can Affect Suits, Dresses, and Other Clothing

While you may know the latest trends and styles for men’s clothes, you may not be as up-to-date with your accessories. Here are just a few accessories you may be carrying around and some information on what message you are sending with them.

• That Old Velcro Wallet- Arranging a nice business dinner, dressing well, and paying for the meal might impress your clients, but if you pull an old Velcro wallet, or any old tattered wallet, out of your luxurious suit jacket, your entire ensemble will change. Instead of sending the message that you are a professional, powerful man, you send the message that you don’t generally dress in business suits- you are just playing the part today. Spend a little extra on a sleek, fine quality, genuine leather wallet.

• Your Grandfather’s Briefcase- There are certain heirlooms that should stay in a box in your attic. Your grandfather’s briefcase should be one of them. While it may have been able to stand up to a lot of rough years, the gold clasps and green tinged leather don’t exactly scream success when you walk into the office. Retire the antique briefcase and purchase a new, more stylish workbag. You can choose from a variety of styles, including a solid briefcase, tote bag, portfolio bag, or messenger bag depending on the amount of papers and items you carry in it every day.

• The Watch- A trendy watch is great for weekends and backyard barbecues, but for the office, on dates, and for meetings, you want all of your accessories, including your watch, to exude success and style. For this reason, a more elegant and finely crafted watch is needed.  Choose a watch with a crisp, graceful design that is made from high quality materials.

• Pens- Novelty pens, logo pens, and ball point pens should never come within two feet of your suit. These not only seem cheap and un-business-like, but may stain your suit if they leak. When carrying a pen in your suit pocket, always place it on the inside pocket instead of the outside. Also, make sure the pen is elegant and classy; a pen your client will be impressed with you pull it out of your pocket and hand it to them to sign a contract.

Most men in suits think of themselves as classy, stylish, and authoritative figures. While the right suit can bring out these qualities, you need to be sure your accessories do as well so you always look your best.

About Susan Grant

Susan has more than 7 years of experience as a Fashion Advisor for several reputed fashion houses and manufacturers including Brook Taverner. Her ultimate dream is to design and sell her own clothing line worldwide!

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