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How to dress is not something they teach you in the CFP curriculum, but maybe they should.
Summer is not a great time for prospecting. Use this downtime to reassess your business suits and it will improve your ability to present yourself to affluent prospects in a fun and stylish way that will set you apart and make you feel more confident. Here are my recommendations for a variety of price points and styles.
Accessories are underutilized
Advisor suit selections should be conservative, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. Too few advisors take the opportunity to make a statement about their brand using their fashion.
You can set yourself apart using appropriate accessories such as hats, pocket squares, belts and socks. Or, you can mix and match with sportswear. If you wear a pocket square, make sure you match fabrics. Cotton pocket square with a cotton suit, silk pocket square with a wool suit. Your belt should match the color of the shoes.
Fit over brand
When my first baby was born, there were some complications and it delayed my ability to lose the weight in the aftermath. But being a businesswoman I had to go to meetings.
I remember telling my partner Antonio, “I feel like a stuffed sausage.”
It’s challenging to feel confident wearing clothes that don’t fit right. Regardless of your weight, you can look and feel great in a suit.
If necessary, look for a suit that is a fuller cut. Most designers don’t gear their suites towards this body type. A classic fit suit will give you a wider armhole, a more ample leg and thigh, and a fuller rise.
Made-to-measure suits are more expensive but tend to work out better than buying one off the rack for fuller-bodied people. Before you spend a fortune on the most expensive brand, understand that fit matters more than brand. Enlist the services of a tailor. High-end stores tend to have a tailor onsite as most of the time there is some alteration that needs to be done.
Fashion tips for summer
Even as many offices are business-casual in the summer, you should have at least one summer suit. You’ll never be considered unprofessional showing up to a meeting wearing a suit.
Some styling guidelines apply when dressing for the hotter weather:
- Summer fabrics are cotton, poplin (a blend usually made of cotton and some other fabric; typically has a ribbed texture) or linen. Seersucker is a bit casual and should be reserved for less formal events.
- You may be tempted to go sock-less in the summer heat. Don’t do this as it may offend some people. If the heat is bothersome then consider woven shoes as they tend to breathe a little better. Florsheim sells them.
- Be careful with the sunglasses. Wear them when you need to, but not when speaking directly to someone, as eye contact is where trust is built.
- Cuffs are the first place a suit shows wear. Send tattered cuffs to the rag pile.
Suit brands for male advisors
Here are the brands that are suitable for advisors, in order from most to least expensive.
Brioni
Brioni suits are hand made from breathable fabrics. They are highly tailored and offer slim fit styles. James Bond wore Brioni. These suits are resilient and hold up well. Typically a Brioni will run you around $6,000.
Zegna
Alec Baldwin wears Zegna. They aren’t completely handmade but do typically include some features that are crafted by hand. Expect to shell out around $3,000 per suit.
Ralph Lauren
Ralph suits are not conservative; for example, the lapel tends to be wider. This is a fresher look for someone who wants to be stylish yet professional at the same time. Ralph suits typically run from $2,000 to $5,000.
Canali
Canali is an Italian designer and the suits are made of Italian fabric. Canali suits have sharper lines and a highly pronounced “V cut.” Be prepared to spend $2,000 to $3,000.
Hickey Freeman
Hickey is an American designer who works in Italian fabrics. These are not handmade but still well constructed. Hickey was historically a more conservative brand but has recently introduced a few more modern lines. Price point is $1,800 to $3,000.
Department stores, such as Nordstrom’s, offer suits for less than $1,000, and are a good choice for price-conscious shoppers.
Sara’s Upshot
I plan to discuss women’s fashion later this year; after the last my pregnancy weight is gone, I’m going shopping. This depends upon whether or not I can stop myself from going to the ice cream truck at the playground. It’s hard to resist…. In the meantime, if any advisor male or female is curious to know my opinion on how to choose a suit that complements your brand please message me on APViewpoint.
Sara Grillo, CFA, is a top financial writer with a focus on marketing and branding for investment management, financial planning, and RIA firms. Prior to launching her own firm, she was a financial advisor and worked at Lehman Brothers. Sara graduated from Harvard with a degree in English literature and has an MBA from NYU Stern in Quantitative Finance.
Read more articles by Sara Grillo
Advisor Perspectives welcomes guest contributions. The views presented here do not necessarily represent those of Advisor Perspectives.
