Suitsupply was founded in 1999 by Fokke de Jong, who started trading men's suits as a student. The company specialized in ties, suits and shirts, both tailor-made and off the rack. `Knowledge and skill are important for your career, but research shows that presentation and personality also play an important role in conveying your message,' said Smiths.
Gray en blue, those are the business colors of today. Black is allowed, but is often not accepted at law firms or banks. Brown is not businesslike enough and a striped suit should never be worn to an interview. `That's a bit too hip. Also, the rule is: the wider the stripe, the higher the rank. It would be a painful situation if you showed up with a wider stripe in your suit than the CEO,' quips Smiths.
According to Smiths, the climate in the Netherlands is still to `act normal, that's crazy enough.' Consequently, while the dress code is always conservative, job applicants often feel strange `getting all dressed up.' Smiths maintains, `Never be insecure about your clothing. Call the company to find out what the company culture is, so that you can decide what to wear. Also, if you are dressed formally and the selection committee is wearing casual clothing: remember that you can be never overdressed - it is a lot worse to be underdressed.'
Once hired, it is no problem to wear that striped suit every once in a while. `However, you should determine how you want to come across. What are your plans for the day? Are you going to close a major deal? That requires a different outfit than firing people.' In addition, `You can expect what you express. Dare to be yourself, within the limits of the company etiquette.' A final tip: `Always try to look ten percent better than the rest. When we go out, we also devote more attention to how we look, so why not do that for your work? The devil can be in the details: a nice watch, a nice belt, special cuff links or certain shoes.'
Trans. Jeroen Latour
