All About Office Attire (Where to buy, how to mix and match, etc.)

[Juntrix]

Hello guys! I will be working for a prestigious auditing firm in Makati this January. From what I've heard the company is really very strict with the dress code, primarily because most of the time there is interaction with external parties and clients.

Problem is that the company has no uniform and I don't have a single clue on where to buy affordable office clothes. Worst part is, I don't know how to mix and match these type of clothes because I've always been a maong/tshirt dresser.

The company dress code specifically mentions that we must always wear either long sleeves with tie or barong Tagalong, coupled with slacks. By barong Tagalong I don't know if it's the polo barong or if it's the silky barong you wear during weddings. :D

Ok here are my specific questions in bullets:
*Where can I buy affordable but quality long sleeves/ barong?

*What about neckties? Which ones/colors should I choose so that I can mix and match them with almost any long sleeve color?

*Is it advisable to just buy them in department stores? Which brand/s should I choose? Do they have office attire sale every 15th/30th of the month?

*how many should I buy for a 5-day workweek?

*any tips on how frequent you need to repeat what you wear so that you would not appear like a prince nor a pauper?

*What about the barong? I think it's overkill if you wear the silky barong tagalog in the office. Which types of polo barong/s should I get? What colors?

*Any tips on how to save effort on preparing/washing/pressing these types of clothes?

*I know that it's not fashion week in Makati but can you give advice on how to "wear" these clothes so that it looks professional and trendy at the same time?

I'm sorry if my questions seem a little too basic. If you combine cluelessness, panic and desperation, you'll understand. :D

Sorry too if my queries are only specific for men's attire. Girls can also post their questions here.

Any inputs will be appreciated. Thanks!

[DisconnectedMX]

^it's not little basic actually...

I confess we have the same problem. I am just lucky that i am self-employed and most of my clients are from abroad. most of the time, we are using video conferencing or using web camera. I confess na hindi rin ako marunong mag nick tie :lol:. Some times, when i am talking to my contact and using web camera i am wearing formal long sleeve pero naka short ako, fake!...

Nice thread anyway.

[superbad]

^it's not little basic actually...

I confess we have the same problem. I am just lucky that i am self-employed and most of my clients are from abroad. most of the time, we are using video conferencing or using web camera. I confess na hindi rin ako marunong mag nick tie :lol:. Some times, when i am talking to my contact and using web camera i am wearing formal long sleeve pero naka short ako, fake!...

Nice thread anyway.

ako working for a bank, managerial position at main office, i made my own uniform....hahaha!

[mb065]

Hello guys! I will be working for a prestigious auditing firm in Makati this January. From what I've heard the company is really very strict with the dress code, primarily because most of the time there is interaction with external parties and clients.

SGV ba to? :D

To answer your questions:

*Where can I buy affordable but quality long sleeves/ barong?

for barongs, you can buy tela from kamuning then have them made. for long sleeves, depends on your budget. marks & spencer shirts fit my husband very well and he likes the fabric also.

*What about neckties? Which ones/colors should I choose so that I can mix and match them with almost any long sleeve color?

go for plain shirts to go with your necktie para safe. you can never go wrong with white shirts because you can pair these with any necktie, but depends also on the color of your slacks. and you can never go wrong naman with black or brown slacks. so if you're not sanay yet, i think better to stick to the basics.

or just go for barongs, mas simpleng i-match kesa sa long sleeves and necktie.

*Is it advisable to just buy them in department stores? Which brand/s should I choose? Do they have office attire sale every 15th/30th of the month?

if you can find a brand that fits you well, by all means, yes.

for slacks pala, if you're not too tall, mas ok sana if walang cuffs. i think mas bagay yan for tall people.

*how many should I buy for a 5-day workweek?

*any tips on how frequent you need to repeat what you wear so that you would not appear like a prince nor a pauper?

since our laundry is done weekly, my husband has at least 5 sets. pwede mo naman gawing "uniform" mo ang white barong and black slacks. hindi halata na konti pa lang damit mo. then later on, pag natututo ka na mag mix and match, expand your wardrobe. :D

*What about the barong? I think it's overkill if you wear the silky barong tagalog in the office. Which types of polo barong/s should I get? What colors?

there's what's commonly known as gusot-mayaman or linen barongs. agree, do not use the pina or jusi type. the barong tela from kamuning, mga P600-P800 yata yung linen. or baka cheaper pa. like what i said above, pwede ngang puro white muna. long sleeves and/or short sleeves.

*Any tips on how to save effort on preparing/washing/pressing these types of clothes?

i think the linen barongs you have to watch the collar lang pag nilalabahan kasi ito usually yung madaling masira.

my husband likes his linen barongs sprayed with starch when ironed para may form and hindi naman bagsak.

hope these help. :)

[Juntrix]

By the way, ano-anong brands ba yun may no-iron na long sleeves? May nakita ata ako sa Marks and Spencer dati and it costs like Php1,500 ata.

What's the difference between cheap ang expensive ties ba? Is it just the brand or there's more to it?

[mb065]

not sure about no-iron shirts. though i know may no-iron slacks sa marks and spencer, pati dockers.

as for neckties, sometimes it's the material also kasi the more expensive ones are made of silk, sometimes pure silk depending on the brand. but the cheaper ones are not bad din naman.

for me lang personally, wag lang yung cartoony designs. but that's just me.

[wandererengr]

very helpful info mb065.
problem with me is i am not blessed with hieght.
i go for extra-small sizes which are hardly available in stores/outlets.
any info kung san pwede bumili yung katulad ko hehe?
the tela and tailor thing is ok, but san nagpapatahi yung husband mo. yung okay and ok din price hehe.
mark and spencer expensive also, meron pa ba iba? hehe
thanks thanks!

[wandererengr]

height was misspelled. sorry

[Juntrix]

I'm 5'10" so wala siguro gaano problema. I'm a little "healthy" nga lang hehehe.

A friend of mine suggested Sahara brands kasi daw medyo mura. I'll try to check it out.

I won't go for cartoon ties na siguro... I'm in my 20s na eh hehehe...

And yes, it's SGV. ;)

[mb065]

wandererengr, you can buy the tela sa kamuning market. cheaper than buying tela sa malls but a bit more expensive compared to divisoria prices. easier lang to go to kamuning than to divisoria so we prefer going there.

sa perimeter ng kamuning market madami ding tailors don but we go to mang felix, he's almost across the parking entrance driveway. patahi is mga 350-400. my dad has been going to him for a long time and my brother and husband now go to him na din.

as for ready to wear, normally naman you can have the length of the slacks altered. yung sa shirts lang mahirap siguro kasi you have to get pieces na tama lang ang size sa neck and length ng sleeves, unless you intend to fold them naman, in which case ok lang medyo mahaba.

if you're slim/lean, i like the look of slim pants and medyo fitting long-sleeved shirts folded up to the elbow with a necktie.

other brands you may want to try are arrow and van heusen. both available also at rustan's, not sure where else they're available though.

[mb065]

Juntrix, i know how strict SGV is in terms of attire. i've experienced that myself when i worked there years ago. :) problema ko din wardrobe ko when i started there. mas mahirap pa kasi girl ako. :D

if you're 5'10", ok lang may cuffs yung slacks mo. but since you said you're medyo "healthy," i think better ang slacks that are called flat-front, yung walang pleats. kasi the pleats will tend to make you look healthier. it's the same for my husband.

for me personally, mas gusto ko ang look ng barong on "healthy" people. :D but again, that's just me.

basta when you buy slacks, ask if the store (kahit sm or rustan's) has alteration services for free so you can save on length adjustments and have them to that for you na there.

and some brands kasi yung laylayan hindi pa nakatahi kasi nga the length varies from person to person. so kung ganyang brand yung mapili mo, talagang kailangan mo pa siya dalhin sa alteration shop or sa tailor.

and for barongs also, if you want to give it a little style, use "special" buttons. normally kasi, the barongs come with plastic buttons lang. you can change these to better-looking buttons. like for white barongs for example, you can have black buttons with a silver bezel but you'll have to pair it lang with black pants, off pag brown pants. if you buy tela, buy the buttons na din para when you go to the tailor, yon na lalagay niya.

may ready-made linen barongs din yata sa mall. you may also opt for those if they fit you well.

[Juntrix]

Wow SGV alumna ka pala... do they really send people home if they are not properly attired? Do they teach you how to dress up?

Ang akin lang naman... I just need clothes that would be good enough for the dress code requirement, or at least good enough for my position as an audit associate. Ayaw ko naman magpaka high profile... baka mamaya mas maganda pa suot ko sa boss ko! :D

If I am to purchase my inital wardrobe, how much do you think would I shell out? By initial wardrobe, that might be 4 long sleeves, 2 polo barongs, 2 pairs of slacks (I own two pairs of slacks already), a pair of shoes (my leather shoes are all worn out... college shoes), 6 neck ties, and a belt?

Grabe ang laki ng gastos ko sa damit, eh hindi naman kataas-taasan ang position ko sa SGV! :D

[Marius]

may ok bang backpack that can go with business casual attires?

[business_guy]

may ok bang backpack that can go with business casual attires?

Usually, messenger bags will do, para di prone sa gusot yung mga papeles mo sa bag. Backpack - I'll go for Samsonite. Versatile yung style and very sturdy. Worth money to invest which will stay for a very long time....

[business_guy]

Hello guys! I will be working for a prestigious auditing firm in Makati this January. From what I've heard the company is really very strict with the dress code, primarily because most of the time there is interaction with external parties and clients.

Problem is that the company has no uniform and I don't have a single clue on where to buy affordable office clothes. Worst part is, I don't know how to mix and match these type of clothes because I've always been a maong/tshirt dresser.

The company dress code specifically mentions that we must always wear either long sleeves with tie or barong Tagalong, coupled with slacks. By barong Tagalong I don't know if it's the polo barong or if it's the silky barong you wear during weddings. :D

Ok here are my specific questions in bullets:
*Where can I buy affordable but quality long sleeves/ barong?
**** As for me, buy ready to wear, kasi it is cheaper. I admit, I buy polo barong at SM Department Store, because it is cheap. I buy 5 sets every year. You can dispose your barong after a year.

*What about neckties? Which ones/colors should I choose so that I can mix and match them with almost any long sleeve color?

****If your office requires longsleeves with ties, dark blue is the safest color. For neck tie and longsleeves, I advice you to buy a better quality. Marks and Spencer have set. If you sum it up, mura pa rin.

*Is it advisable to just buy them in department stores? Which brand/s should I choose? Do they have office attire sale every 15th/30th of the month?

****Of course, it is advisable, especially you're just starting. Pag may sale, grab the opportunity. Depends pa rin sa mall kung when mag sale....

*how many should I buy for a 5-day workweek?

****I advice you to buy 5, pero if you got a tight budget and longsleeves is required in your office, don't buy longsleeves that has designs or loud colors para di halata you have worn your clothes two days ago. Of course, wash it para di mangamoy (lol)....

*any tips on how frequent you need to repeat what you wear so that you would not appear like a prince nor a pauper?

****Same as my answer above. Light colors and with designs is not advisable....

*What about the barong? I think it's overkill if you wear the silky barong tagalog in the office. Which types of polo barong/s should I get? What colors?

****Depends pa rin. You may ask your hr what is the ideal attire in the office, but as of me, I wear polo barong, not the barong for wedding (lol)....

*Any tips on how to save effort on preparing/washing/pressing these types of clothes?

****Never wash your white clothes with colored clothes. Remember that you're going to use it for a long time. Wash your clothes and slacks inside-out....

*I know that it's not fashion week in Makati but can you give advice on how to "wear" these clothes so that it looks professional and trendy at the same time?

****Maganda damit mo, pero di ka comfortable, pangit din. So be comfortable what you wear and be yourself....

I'm sorry if my questions seem a little too basic. If you combine cluelessness, panic and desperation, you'll understand. :D

Sorry too if my queries are only specific for men's attire. Girls can also post their questions here.

Any inputs will be appreciated. Thanks!

****God Bless to your job. Make it good ;) ....

[mb065]

Juntrix, nung time ko yes. but i think it depends on your partner-in-charge yata. i was with consulting, not audit and the head of consulting during my time was very strict.

may isang supervisor (senior associate na yata tawag ngayon) na pniauwi kasi naka twills/chinos pero naka long sleeves and tie naman.

and my attention was once called for walking around the office without my blazer on, iniwan ko kasi nakasabit sa chair ko.

as regards how much you need to shell out, that depends on how much you are willing to spend kasi depende din sa brand. pero like what business_guy said, pwede ka naman bumili pag sale, or mga set na sa marks and spencer.

for shoes - usually men's shoes are on the pricey side. florsheim, bass, rockport and some good choices.

stick to the basics muna - black or brown pants and white shirt/barong. imo talaga, mas hindi halata na na paulit-ulit ang suot mo pag barong kesa pag long sleeves/necktie.

slightly OT, a lot of the malls are on sale now. if you have funds, you may want to buy na, lalo na after christmas day.

[Juntrix]

Wow I thought my friends were exaggerating... ganun pala talaga. :D

The only thing that holds me back with regards to the buying part is that:

1. I am almost clueless as to where/which/how many to buy, hence, this thread; and

2. I'm still hoping that the Titos and Titas would give me office clothes as presents hehehe! It's family tradition that we exchange presents on New year's eve, though...

I might need to do some window shopping na...
How much nga pala yung mga sets sa Marks and Spencer?

I really appreciate the replies... thanks! ;)