Steve Jobs and Barack Obama both have something in common and no, it's not their basketball skills. Actually, it's their ability to function at a high level because their signature style or "uniform", allows them to spend less time contemplating colors and more time breaking barriers. So what could this possibly mean for an SG (SUITABULL Gent) like you? It means if you’re in a high stress or time scarce part of your life and can use some standardization of your wardrobe, you could do one of 2 things, plan ahead, as mentioned in one of our latest posts “Head Start Hacks”, or develop your "go-to" combo, in which people will come to know and love.
Daily Standard
In most appearances that you've ever seen President Barack Obama, he wears a uniform: navy blue suit, white shirt, blue tie, no pocket square, American Flag Lapel pin (on his left lapel) and black shoes. Who has time for fumbling through the closet, when you’ve got the whole free world to lead?? Sure, he could consider a personal stylist, but a uniform creates stability, something easy to identify you by. You become more memorable. Not to mention, when you do switch it up, you become the talk of the town, good or bad. Remember the whole Obama Easter suit scandal🤭?
Don’t get it confused though, wearing the same uniform is no excuse to be disheveled. Like our former president tailoring and tidiness are paramount. Wearing the same thing becomes more pleasing to the eyes (yours and others) when it’s worn well. Would you trust a doctor in a wrinkled white jacket with a visual menu of stains of what he/she ate for lunch? Or one with a crisp white jacket? If you're still thinking about that, I've got some magic beans that I want to sell you when you're done.
Suit Up
About 10 years back before the business casual dress code took a foothold of the financial services industry, investment bankers at top tier firms like Goldman Sachs had a “look”, a navy blue suit, white shirt, burgundy tie and brown or black shoes. And of course the 4 figure timepiece. Until this day I still call it the Goldman (Sachs) Uniform. I wear it every time I have a job interview or important business event.
Quality—When it comes down to it, the same suit in the same color everyday can look a bit boring for some but springing for some higher quality suits will help. Wool or majority wool blend suits will offer that level of luxury.
Pattern—If you want uniformity but crave customization, switch up the pattern. There are plenty of monotone options including stripes, herringbone, glen plaid and pin dot to name a few.
Hue me?—Even hues can help create your uniform. Take blue for example; you have dark navy blue, Birdseye blue, French blue, electric blue, cerulean, cookie monster blue and more. express yourself within boundaries with this approach
Midtown Uniform
Ever come out of Grand Central Station or Times Square, where all of the major trading firms are headquartered? If you’re a tourist, I’ll give you a quick hint on how you would know... Look for a scene out of thriller except replace the crowd of rag cladded zombies with a crowd of 20 and 30 something year old males, wearing cotton slacks (khaki or blue) a button up shirt (no tie) with the sleeves rolled up, and a fleece vest (most likely Patagonia). This has become the norm across financial services. I’m not the biggest fan since this look reminds me of a school student athlete on his way to an “Away” game. If you want to reclaim your youth, then scholar/athlete chic is the look for you 😉.
Photo source: www.wsj.com
By the way... If you do decide to rock the Midtown Uniform, never ever, ever, ever do this...
Midtown Uniform Remix
For those that want to new spin on the Midtown Uniform, step it up a notch in the quality department, swap the cotton chinos, for wool slacks. Replace that pin dot textured shirt with a higher thread quality Egyptian cotton. Advanced level gents, add in a banker collar (how appropriate) and French cuff with cuff links. French cuffs add a nice touch over a standard barrel cuff. And leave the Patagonia vest for the weekend ski trip in Vermont and replace with a classy waistcoat vest instead. Create some further distinction between your slacks and your vest through patterns. Solid slack and a patterned vest or vice versa will do the trick.
My Uniform
If you’ve been following me for a while then you know my uniform down pact! Suit, button up shirt with no tie and the top button undone (2 if I’m feeling dangerous), most likely cognac shoes and OF COURSE a pocket square. I started doing this about 10 years back. Before then it was wool slacks, a button up shirt and a neck tie. I’m married to this style so much that if I forget my pocket square, I’m going to purchase one at lunch time from the nearest department store. It’s become a part of who I am, my signature, a conversation piece and a nod to my dad, the original “King of Pocket Squares.”
The bottom line is that your signature style, your look, your uniform or whatever you choose to call it, becomes a part of your personal brand. similar to how you associate the Jumpman logo with the Jordan brand. Whether you're goal is simplifying your sartorial selections or increasing your notoriety, creating your signature style will help you walk a little taller and feel a little prouder and stay in the minds of those that you encounter, long after you've left.
Stay SUITABULL guys.