Regarding formality
What is "formal level"?
What is the "formality" of work clothes?
To put it more simply, it is the degree to which ceremonial and ritualistic elements are incorporated into clothing.
For example, "Wear a formal dress at a wedding" or "Wear a tie at an important meeting."
It's about whether your clothing incorporates the customary practices of Japanese society.
Just to avoid any misunderstanding, it is not the case that "a less formal approach" means that etiquette is not valued.
The "formality" here refers to the "hard" vs. "soft" scale in Japanese business wear customs.
In the Business Wear Guide Map, the level of formality is expressed with a number of stars to visualize it.
By choosing the right business attire for the business scene, you can make a good impression on those around you.
The most important thing is to get a good job.
We hope that this Business Wear Guide Map will be of use to you.
Regarding formality
The level of formality varies depending on various factors such as the item, color and pattern, design, material, and style.
Vary the level of formality
3 points
POINT 01Color
Black, gray, and navy, which are commonly used in suits, are colors with low brightness and saturation.
These colors give off a calm and solemn vibe, making them ideal for business and other formal occasions.
In contrast, colors with high saturation and brightness are vibrant and stand out more because their color characteristics are more pronounced, so they are often less suitable for business situations.
For these reasons, using colors like black, gray, and navy as the main colors in an outfit tends to make it more formal, while incorporating many colors with high brightness and saturation tends to make it less formal.
For example, if a woman wears a navy suit and adds a pale tone to her blouse, or if a man wears a vivid tie, it cannot be said that the outfit is necessarily less formal. Please consider the overall color balance when coordinating your outfit.
POINT 02material
Materials used in clothing can be broadly divided into natural materials and synthetic fibers. Among natural materials, clothes made from wool and silk tend to be more formal. Wool has a unique firmness and suppleness, while silk has an elegant luster, which enhances the formality of the garment. Synthetic fibers have made remarkable advances in recent years, and some are indistinguishable from natural materials.
Although synthetic fibers can also be considered to be materials that give a high level of formality, polyester materials that look like wool or silk often have a unique sheen and wrinkles that give a casual feel, such as nylon, which is also used in sportswear, and can potentially reduce the level of formality. Cotton and linen also wrinkle easily, and those that wrinkle more tend to be less formal. However, even 100% cotton shirts with wrinkle-resistant processing such as shape memory are standard in business situations, and their matte surface texture also makes them highly formal.
POINT 03Exposure level
If you expose a lot of skin, like with shorts, your outfit will tend to look less formal.
When it comes to tops, items with wide open collars, sleeveless tops, and tank tops are highly revealing and difficult to increase the formality of.
*When wearing pants, even if the outfit is highly formal, the length of the hem can make it look casual. The same goes for skirts.
We recommend adjusting the length to suit the occasion.
Depends on the item
Varying levels of formality
ITEM 01suit
First of all, the impression you get will change depending on whether you wear a tailored suit made of wool or a casual suit made of polyester or cotton. A tailored suit is a formal suit with shoulder pads and interlining, and is usually coordinated with a dress shirt and tie.
In terms of color, generally speaking, the more lighter the colors are, the more casual they become.
ITEM 02tops
Shirts with collars are the most formal, while knitwear and cut-and-sew tops give a casual impression.
There are various types of shirts, and dress shirts have a stiffener in the collar and are made of a lustrous fabric called broadcloth, which gives them the most formal impression.
Shirts made from fabrics such as denim and chambray have a wrinkled texture and are often worn as everyday wear.
The same shirt can look very different depending on the fabric.
A shirt with a collar is the most formal design in the business world.
Also, a chiffon blouse in a pale color with no collar can make you look more formal.
Knitwear and tops in vibrant colors tend to look casual.
ITEM 03shoes
Black leather lace-up shoes are the most formal shoes and are worn for weddings, funerals, and other special occasions.
Slip-ons, loafers, and brown colors will make your outfit more casual.
Recently, wearing sneakers for business purposes has also become a popular style, giving a sporty impression.
Basic color pumps are an easy way to add a formal touch to your outfit.
Shoes that are casual and easy to wear for everyday use, such as loafers and short boots with strong colors and patterns and high saturation, are items that are difficult to make more formal.
