Amazing how much there is to learn about dressing in mens clothing when it comes to professional attire, isn't it. It will get even more interesting as you get into it. Sounds like you went off the rack. Later, you may want to have suits fitted, rather then have them altered later somewhere else. Most mens stores provide tailoring.
You might get a little confused as to what to say when being measured for pants and asked if you dress to the right or left, ..... they are asking which leg your "little head" points to so they can make a little more room in that area so it doesn't show.
Until you have lower done, just look em straight in the eye and say "pay no attention to it". They will simply assume you are a little under endowed in that respect and figure the less said about it the better and ignore the area as directed.
A quick trick to ties. Each tie, depending on width and material, type of knot used etc, uses a different tail length to come out even when properly worn. You will have to practice with each different style tie to find the proper tail length for the type of knot you will be using.
just hang the tie around your neck with the ends down your chest and the inside tail approx middle between your neck and the bottom of the larger tail. From there, make a proper knot and tighten it up and check where the smalll tail in back ends up. It should be just a little short of the same length as the front. If not, try again with more or less inside tail until you get it right and remember that spot for that tie. You have to get used to this with each different size tie. Little things like that will enter into male power dynamics believe it or not, having it right.
Shirts, yes. You are probably used to wearing shirts a little loose to hide the boobs or lessen the obviousness of them, but for male attire, tailored shirts are big, especially if wearing a jacket, and the tie down the front does a lot to hide things like belly, making you look somewhat slimmer and fitter, as does the tailoring so that shirts fit neatly tucked into the pants without a lot of lose material bagging up, again helping to look slimmer and more fit. Another of the little power dynamics. Every thing properly fitted, never tight.
Jackets some in different lengths and you will have to find the right length to properly go with your size and frame. with your build, I would stay with a short, or at most a regular, never a long.
Right about tying ties. Have someone at a mens clothing store show you the different knots, there are several popular styles of tying knots and which one you use can enter into the power dynamic, but it must be properly done. How a man wears his tie can make a big impression on other men, Beleive it. For professionalism, always look precise and comfortable for a devistating impact, in many ways, it is even more critical then for women.
You will get used to ties easy enough though, it's just a little practice. I could still pick one up and have it in a perfect knot around my neck in about 30 seconds or so in a hurry with no mirror. I like the "Winsor" (sp?) knot myself as it is easy to wrap and is very semetrical when done right, very attractive and adds to the professional, competent and well oiled machine type look. Most men use a half Winsor, but I always thought most of those managed to look sloppy. Oh yes, pay attention to the tie length, they have various lengths, With front and back being clost to equal when properly knoted and tightened, the bottom of the tie should just touch the belt buckle,when standing straight and in good posture, not hang down over it or be short of it. That creates an impression of incompetence and besides, looks silly if showing shirt under it, or hanging down into your crotch.
Its amazing how much attention I paid to suits and such when in professional life as compaired to my almost non thought about it these days as a woman. All I pay attention to these days is color and fit, but not in the precise manner I did in years past. First impressions back then were ment to do just that, make an impression and covey that impression to the hilt. It was all about total confidence, ability, reliability, detail and precision. A person who paid precise attention to anything and everything in their sphere of influence and missed nothing. In a mans world, impressing other men with these qualities means influence and power, but you have to produce .....
Terri
