If You Meet With Clients In Person, Here Are 5 Ways You Should Dress to Impress

Meeting with a client, whether they're a potential new client or one you have established a years-long relationship with, can certainly be a daunting experience. Unquestionably, any consummate professional wants to leave the right impression, ensure the client is happy and comfortable and lay the groundwork for a meeting that both parties will walk away from with what they need or want.

Showing up to the meeting in the right outfit is an important factor that cannot be overlooked. If you are preparing for an upcoming client meeting and want to dress to impress, consider these custom business attire for women and custom business casual attire for men options.

1. The Top

The top you wear to the client meeting is arguably one of the most important pieces. You’ll want to decide if you will arrive in a single layer or a double layer. In the fall and winter months, layer with a flattering tailored blazer or a mid-length jacket or coat that complements the rest of your outfit. In the spring and summer months, a second layer will be optional or perhaps not needed at all. Your first layer should be simple and professional. Avoid overly colorful tops or shirts with busy print patterns. Stick to solid, neutral colors and styles like a white or light-colored custom uniform work blouse or branded company work shirts for men.

2. The Bottoms

The bottoms you choose should be as minimal as the top, but to create an elegant, polished look, choose bottoms in a color that contrasts the color of the top. For example, a white blouse with a black pencil skirt is a timeless look. If you prefer not to wear a skirt, try a white blouse with dress pants in black or gray. The style and fit of the bottoms should also be classic and traditional, such as simple slacks, a midi skirt, or a pencil skirt.

3. The Shoes

Even though you are likely to spend most of your client meeting sitting down, you should still choose shoes that will be comfortable and practical. Choose footwear that will flatter your choice of outfit. The obvious no-gos are shoes like sneakers or flip-flops, and the more classic yet simple the footwear, the better. If you'd like to wear heels, you can't go wrong with pumps in black or beige or something similar. If you prefer flats, opt for ballet flats or loafers. Avoid sandals or open-toed shoes unless they're tasteful and appropriate for the environment. Men should stick to a pair of classic men’s dress shoes, like Oxfords. The color of the shoe is just as important as the style of the shoe. Neutral colors are best, as they are more conventional and versatile. Colors like black, tan, and beige are always safe bets. Timeless, traditional colors such as these create a sophisticated, confident, and professional look.

4. The Accessories

Any accessories worn for a business meeting should be tasteful and minimal. You want to choose items that won't draw too much attention but rather accent the whole outfit. For women who want to accessorize with jewelry, stick to small, elegant pieces like diamond stud earrings, a delicate necklace, or dainty rings. You wouldn't want to show up in a giant, dangly orange earrings or a loud statement necklace. There are plenty of ways to show off your personal style without making your entire look too distracting. For men, accessorize with a pastel pocket square or a timeless watch. As with putting an outfit together for any occasion, the purpose of accessorizing is to complement the rest of the outfit, not to have it become the focal point.

5. The Bag

It’s unlikely that you will be able to show up to your client meeting without a bag of some sort unless the client meeting happens to be taking place in your place of work or on a Zoom call in your home. If you need to bring items with you, such as a laptop or presentation materials, consider carrying a sharp, high-quality laptop bag. If you don’t need much on you, an elegant clutch purse or a wallet may work beautifully. But for women who want to carry a few more items, stick to small totes rather than oversized handbags.

Regardless of the basic fashion guidelines for a business meeting, remember to wear an outfit that authentically represents who you are. It’s impossible to have a productive, successful meeting with the results you want if you wear apparel that is uncomfortable to wear or makes you feel uncomfortable or inauthentic in general. On the other hand, there are plenty of ways to tastefully and subtly yet powerfully infuse hints of your personal style into a conventional, professional outfit.