Kenneth Cole Style Guide: The Business Lunch

Kenneth Cole Video Style Guide – What to Wear for an important Business Lunch

“Jeff is looking for a no nonsense look for a tough client lunch.” – From KennethCole.com

Kenneth Cole is a terrific brand.  They make some of the best well cut but not super skinny suits available.  Get lucky on Overstock.com and you could find yourself with a Wool one for around $150.  But with that said, their video style guides have been on a rough skid lately.  Take a look at the footwear kick they’ve been on as of late:

• What to Wear to Work – Sneakers
• What to Wear for a Night Out – Sneakers
• What to Wear to a Charity Function – Sneakers
• What to Wear on a First Date – Sneakers

This latest style guide is about what to wear to a business lunch meeting with a tough client.  You’ve got to look your best.  Most confident.  You need to project in a way that the client, any client won’t find anything about you that’s immature, untrustworthy, or sloppy.  You’ve got to be nails.  So anything, ANYTHING but sneakers will work.

What they got right, and what they got wrong, after the video.

You’ve got to be kidding me.

When the page first pulled up and I saw the sneakers, the next few sentences out of my mouth sounded more like something this man would say.  (*Sidenote:  Easily one of the best viral videos of all time.  So good that some talented filmmakers made a documentary about him.  Check out the press conference from SXSW with the actual Winnebago man… here.  God Bless America.)

They were so close.  2010 Boston Bruins close.  Jean Van de Velde close.  But the shoes.  Damn those shoes.  They just kill the entire look.  Here’s what they got right, and what they got wrong.

What they got RIGHT

The Suit – Kenneth Cole Linen Blazer $169.50 and Linen flat Front Pant $79.50

Terrific call on the suit.  Not just linen, but DARK linen.  It’s an important business lunch, not mimosas the morning after your pal got married.  Sizes are extremely limited, so if you’re looking for an alternative, the oft-mentioned INC cotton linen suit is also available in black, for $75.  (Just click over to Amazon or Macy’s and you can pick the color)

The Sweater – GOOD K.C. Linen V Neck $79.50 | BETTER w/ Perry Ellis Stripe Shirt $49.50

If you’ve got some chest hair, or, you’d just like to avoid the Miami Vice look, add a simple oxford.  And make it one with some color, maybe a tonal stripe or a white shirt with blue dobby stripe.

The Accessories – Kenneth Cole Web Belt $45.00 | Card Case $40.00

The web belt is a little casual, but, with the linen suit and the right shoes (more on that in a second) it can be the perfect dash of laid-back summer style.  The card case is a must, and that particular Kenneth Cole case is perfect.

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What they got WRONG

The Watch – NO: K.C. Rubber Strap Digital $150 | YES: K.C. Rubber Strap Chrono $150

Same designer, same price, hell same strap… but lose the trendy big digital numbers for the meeting.  You’re already wearing a linen suit, you don’t want to stray too far into the land of hip.

The Shoes – NO: Metro Racing Sneakers $128.00 | YES:  Florsheim Medici Loafer $116.02

I’m not even going to bother explaining why you shouldn’t wear sneakers to a business lunch.

Agreements?  Disagreements?  Ever land a HUGE account while wearing your old skateboarding shoes?  Leave all that feedback in the comment section below…