Business formal

Business formal is the strictest business dress code, built on the classic suit and impeccable neatness. For men it is a dark two- or three-piece suit, a light shirt, a tie, leather oxfords and restrained accessories; for women, a suit with a pencil skirt or trousers, a sheath dress, closed elegant footwear with a moderate heel. The palette is restrained — navy, grey, black — and the fabrics are of good quality that hold their shape. The style took form in the corporate world of the 20th century as a visual code of authority, reliability and respect for the occasion. Its guiding principles are impeccable fit, measured proportions and the absence of superfluous detail: everything works towards an image of professionalism and solidity. Business formal is chosen for important negotiations, official events and the banking and legal spheres — wherever appearance must speak of competence and seriousness.