Male business dress code for USA

[KristinaM]

DH is travelling to NYC, Florida and Texas on a business trip in November. Apart from " a dark suit" I can't find much advice on the net about what he should wear. It's a pretty traditional sector ( think attorneys) and he will be at meetings and conferences in the day and dinners etc in the evenings. He needs to make a very good impression but he naturally tends towards a slightly scruffy /eccentric /academic look,which I'm not sure is quite right for the Us market IYSWIM

So it's the details I'm looking for please.Is the dress code similar to the Uk or different in subtle ways?

Does the shirt have to be white or light coloured? Do ties need to be very consevative? What does he wear in the evenings? How cold will it be in NYC and what does he wear over his suit? Casual jacket or a woollen coat? Will it snow and if so, what footwear is suitable?

He normally carries all his paperwork, laptop etc in a rucksack-is that ok or will it be seen as too casual /scruffy?

The look they are trying to convey is 'former water polo player/ don't mess with me'. So no subtlety really. Or taste either necessarily.

The men are sending the same message, only with football (American) as well as water polo in their schooldays and possibly college days too. Hence the expensive and well cut suits.

I wouldn't say it's sexist but in the US women are women (hence flowing locks etc and lack of manly suits) and men are men (no flowing locks like you might see in France or crumpled linen suits). In Texas you get lots of moustaches.

Maybe he could just borrow a good or antique watch. And a decent pen is a good idea. Maybe he would get more wear out of a good raincoat than wool coat.

Wow, I'm learning so much about how lawyers dress! I never knew!
And I am a lawyer!

I agree with the dress rules being very different in each state. What I would say is that New Yorkers tend to go for quite conservative shirts and ties, compared to Brits. As for the watch thing, in NY, yes they will notice your cheap watch and cheap shoes. We had only lived here for 3 days before someone commented on DH's watch!! He invested in a good one that day!!

And, having read back on the thread, tell him not to try and play the British Eccentric in NY. There are Brits coming out of their ears here, and the old "Brits sound more intelligent" doesn't hold water with successful New Yorkers.

Agree, dark suits, good shirts (not button down, dear lord) and silk ties. Try Hawes and Curtis for good quality shirts and ties.

Depending on the dinner location I would continue in a suit. A sweater would only be ok with slacks/ chinos. These should also be good quality.

Slip on shoes will be fine as American men tend to wear this style, but obviously in good condition and polished.

If it's appropriate to take token gifts, take Belgian chocolates - good quality choc is expensive and hard to get there.

...tell him not to try and play the British Eccentric in NY. There are Brits coming out of their ears here, and the old "Brits sound more intelligent" doesn't hold water with successful New Yorkers.

Lawyers tend to be very bright people.

You can get Belgian choc and other fine chocolate anywhere in the US. Good Scotch is the gift to bring (if gifts are appropriate, which they may not be)..

Your dh should dress in a conservative way. Dark suit, plain shirt, simple silk tie. Not slip on shoes! Doesnt matter whether shoes and watch are cheap or not as long as they dont look tatty/old/worn out/dirty or cheap. Wear the same thing to dinner. Worse case, dh can take jacket off at the table to appear more casual. Shoulder bag is the norm, esp ones which also have short handles so can be carried as a briefcase (I am not suggesting the following at all as they are expensive but as an example of what i mean look at Hidesign). Dont take gifts. If still in doubt and your dh has a PA, ask them to contact the EAs of the people he is meeting and confirm the dress code is business as opposed to business casual.

Just to update all your helpful people

Have been shopping with DH and purchased new charcoal suit, charcoal wool overcoat, black shoes, white shirts and pale lilac shirt ( blue didn't look good with grey suit) , black belt and selection of co ordinating ties. He is a vision of loveliness .

Have taken his vintage watch ( his grandfathers ) to be overhauled . To be worn insead of cheap modern one.

Have still to get a briefcase . No one in his office has anything suitable to borrow,so I will have to purchase.sigh. Any suggestions?

Hi Kristina, I wouldn't bother with the traditional briefcase, I would get a shoulder bag or man bag as that is much more common now. You can get these from Debenhams, John Lewis etc.

Thanks novice. Will that be formal enough for these US meetings?

If you're worried about making sure he looks formal then i would go for something like this zip folio or underarm zip folio