If
USA’s hit TV show, “Suits,” doesn’t make you want to pick
up an LSAT study guide and take a shot at law school, it sure as hell
makes you want to suit up.
Suiting Up for Success
“People respond to how we’re dressed, so like it or not this is what you have to do.” - Harvey Specter
The show preaches and epitomizes the idea of “dressing for success”
as all the male characters are never without an impeccably tailored suit
on. Harvey Specter and Mike Ross shine the brightest – one a superstar
partner and the other his freshly minted associate at fictitious law
firm
Pearson and Hardman. The idea of dressing for success is
not a new one. It is built on the premise that what you wear contributes
largely to your success in the professional world. As you probably
guessed, we are huge advocates of this idea, as expressed in our “What to Wear to an Interview” post. Here we’ll revisit it anew in the context of the TV series, “Suits.”
When Mike Ross frustratingly asks “Why does it matter how much I spend on a suit,” Harvey quickly retorts with
“People respond to how we’re dressed, so like it or not this is what you have to do.” His
point being that people are making prejudiced assessments based on how
we’re dressed, whether we’re cognizant or not, or whether we give a damn
or not. Every moment a judgment is being made, sometimes even
subconscious to the one making the judgment—
is he sloppy like his suit? Why is he wearing that hideous tie? Looks like this is the first time he’s ever put on a suit…
A Sensitivity for the Details of Your Look
Many men know that thick pinstripe suits often communicate that
“boss” or “boardroom” look, but what about other aspects of the suits,
such as peak lapels? What are you communicating when you opt for a peak
lapel verses a slim notch? What do the differences mean to you, if
anything?
To many, it may not mean a thing. But to those who are discerning of
the details – an interviewer, a potential business partner or even that
attractive blonde across the room – it may mean a lot. Just like how
you wouldn’t wear a floral print shirt to a funeral, you wouldn’t want
to head into a boardroom looking like this.
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. – Will Rogers
Your Suit as the Language of Success
Dressing for success is a bit like writing, if you’re writing to
communicate a message to your readers, you have to be mindful of the
language, syntax, grammar and the choice of your words. Think of every
element of your outfit as a word in a sentence—from the fabric of your
suit to the style of your pockets. Make sure you know the meaning of
each word, and choose your words carefully.
Ask yourself this: What does your suit say about you? What do the details say?
The wardrobe stylists behind the characters Harvey Specter and Mike
Ross in the show “Suits” obviously understand this “language.” While
both characters look incredible in their well-fitting suits, the details
of their looks conveys two very different messages.
In the show, Mike Ross frequently wears a slimmer, more understated
and conservatively (but still smartly) tailored suit (slim notch lapel,
no vest, slim tie with a small four-in-hand knot), representing the
young associate, a bit wet behind the ears, but quickly rising under the
promising tutelage of the firm’s top star, Harvey Specter. Harvey, on
the other hand, truly dresses like a boss. He’s the top closer of his
firm, and his power suits convey his status at his firm perfectly.
Everything in Harvey’s look evokes strength from the 3-piece suit to the
spread collar and windsor knot. This stark contrast shows how
effectively an outfit can communicate a message of power.
Now we don’t blame you if you want to look like Harvey Specter. Like
we said, the guy straight up looks boss. He’s there to make moves and
it’s evident by his clothes alone that things have been working out
rather nicely for him. Replicating a look like this requires a
sensitivity to your context and the message you’re trying to get across.
