Looking the part for work events can be difficult at the best of times. Throw different countries, cultures and trends into the mix and it gets even knottier. But if anyone knows how to hit the right sartorial note for networking drinks near the Gare du Nord or a sales conference in the Bay Area, it's Julia Fowler, co-founder of London-based fashion analytics company EDITED. Here's her guide to business apparel in the biggest tech hubs.
"There's definitely a 'uniform' for men in San Francisco: collared shirt and relaxed-fit jeans, often with a gilet, which might be quilted or fleece (think Jared from HBO's Silicon Valley). For both sexes, wearing activewear and technical fabrics with work clothes is a big trend, driven by brands such as ADAY. It's not unusual for women to wear the same pair of leggings for work and the gym, but they'd change into something a little dressier for a client dinner or evening drinks."
Brands: Everlane, Betabrand, Brooks Brothers, Elie Tahari
"London has interesting and unique high street shops. You can go into Topshop or Topman and know that you'll come out looking OK. At work, men often opt for a plain white, blue or pink shirt with a sports jacket - wool or linen depending on the season - but probably no tie. Jeans tend to be slimmer fitting than they would be in San Francisco. Commuting requires comfortable shoes: brown leather or sneakers for men and ballet flats for women, with a blouse and jeans or skirt. Or a dress - something trend-led but not over the top."
Brands: Kurt Geiger, Boden, Toast, All Saints, Massimo Dutti, Whistles
"Berlin has thriving fashion and design scenes to go with its startup culture, so there's a relaxed, hipster kind of vibe. A monochrome palette of black, grey and white holds sway, which means jeans are often black, distressed and teamed with sneakers or even Birkenstock sandals. It gets cold in the winter, though, so pack a good button-up woollen overcoat."
**Brands:**COS, Breuninger, Acne Studios, DSTM, Hien Le, Jil Sander
"It's a cliché, but Paris really is all about effortless chic and low-key luxury. For women that means white cotton shirts, skinny jeans and maybe a leather biker jacket. Compared to London, guys' jeans tend to be smarter, jackets are sharper and shoes are dressier. For evening events, expect Parisians to dial it up a notch or two."
Brands: APC, Comme des Garçons, Common Projects, The Kooples, Maje, IRO
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
