Your “interview” suit is not going to cut it for every business situation. A meeting with a potential client calls for one set of fashion protocol than a board meeting. Have I lost you yet? Don’t worry. Even guys with a limited wardrobe (or budget), can pull this off.

There are a few simple rules to follow when dressing for a meeting.

1.) The darker the color, the more weight it carries.
2.) Lighter colored suits make shorter men look shorter and heavier men look heavier.
3.) Don’t overdo it with patterns. If you wear a pinstriped shirt wear a tie with a subtle pattern or a solid tie. Sorry, but the tie with the cigar motif isn’t gonna fly.
4.) Go easy on the accessories and cologne. For men, stick to a wedding band if married and a watch. Don’t wear excessive rings, especially on the hand you use to shake other’s hands. Overpowering cologne is a big no-no for meetings. Not everyone (women included) will appreciate that musky chick-magnet scent you picked up on Canal Street.

Choose your color wisely

When choosing what to wear to a meeting,  think about the message you want to send. If you walk into a prospective client’s conference room wearing a black suit with a flashy red tie, you will make an impression but it may not be the one you intended.

If you're presenting for prospective clients, you want them to trust you and feel at ease. So the black suit and red tie could come off as intimidating. On the other hand, you want to appear competent. A dark blue and dark grey in solids or pinstripes create an air of
credibility without the severity. Other acceptable colors for suits are brown and beige.

The general rule of thumb is that the darker the color, the more weight it carries. So if you're the CEO and want to let everyone know it, by all means wear the black suit and bold tie.

As for the color of your shirt, white is the safest and most versatile since it will go with every color of suit and matches all of your ties. The next best choice is light or medium blue and then light pastels like yellow or even pink, if you are so bold. A man who wears pink actually creates an air of confidence.

While dark colors with bright accessories are the most powerful, the shades are dependent on the man's skin tone, hair and eye color. Matching your tie color to your eye color creates a striking balance
that gets noticed without being overdone.

If you work in TV or have an on-air interview, choose clean lines, dark suits (pinstripes work too) and a bright tie. On TV a large knot tie with a nice dimple is especially important. With the advent of HDTV, every detail is now visible.

Be weary of light colored suits

Stockier or shorter men should never wear a light colored suit, which can pronounce weight and height. Taller, thinner men can get away with it if the suit matches their skin tone.

“For an after-work cocktail hour, I like an open color, with sport coat and
pocket square,” says Peter Belisi, president and founder of Belisi Fashions.

Don’t go pattern happy

Never overdo the pattern. For example, if you wear a pinstripe suite, stick
to a solid shirt or thin pinstripe with a subtle pattern or solid tie. If you have a solid suit or sport coat, that's the time to get aggressive with your tie pattern.

Keep accessories to a minimum

Don't go overboard with accessories. Accessories are meant to complete a look,
not overwhelm it. So keep jewelry to a minimum.

To put it simply, stay classic. Know yourself and dress for your body type and for the desired outcome of the meeting.   

~A. Covington for Belisi Fashions