Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #67

Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #67 (Video here:https://bit.ly/4aZa0kE)

I run my own soft skills training franchise business in Tokyo and many years ago, I decided to dress for success. Each day I consult my schedule and that day's work content drives my sartorial choices. Before I head out the door every day, I check myself in the mirror and ask, "Do I look like one of the most professional people in my industry".

This day I had our monthly All Hands Meeting with my team in the morning, where we go through all of the latest results, an Executive Coaching session in the afternoon, a workout at the Tokyo American Club gym, dinner at the Club's New York Bar and Grill restaurant and then visiting my wife in hospital.

I wanted to look sharp for my team and the Executive Coaching session (and for my wife!).

I chose my custom birds eye pattern light grey single breasted suit with double pleats, double cuffs, notch lapels, flap pockets and over the calf grey socks.

No tie today, because I was trying something new for me.

In summer, the ties disappear because it so hot and humid in Tokyo. Normally I wear white dress shirts in summer, because coloured shirts show the perspiration and you look terrible with wet patches all over the place. The white shirts I normally use are just my business shirts, but I have always felt unhappy with how they interact with the collar of my suit jackets. In my mind, that more casual look was never sharp and something was wrong with it.

Watching a video by Kirby Allison on his eponymous YouTube Channel, he featured something I had never heard of before, called a Cooper collar. It was popularised by the filmstar Gary Cooper in the 1940s and 1950s, and is also called the Lido collar or the California collar.

Unlike traditional dress shirts, it is specifically designed to be worn without a tie. It is cut from a single continuous piece of cloth and defined by its ability to have the collar pop up and ride high at the neck, when worn with a jacket. It is a subtle but important difference.

I had my tailor make some shirts with Cooper collars to try them out and I am very happy with the look when not wearing a tie. You don't notice the difference immediately, because it just looks like a shirt with no tie, but there is that little extra lift which makes the collar interact with the jacket in a way which other dress shirts cannot. The collars on the dress shirts look dragged down by the jacket and a bit sad. I believe the Cooper collar helps me to look more professional in summer when tieless and wearing a suit jacket. What do you think?

The pocketsquare from David Jones department store in Australia is in a reverse puff showing a deep pink with white touches and matching my cufflinks. The watch was my 30mm Longines C30 EFCO black dial rectangular stainless steel case and bracelet, the business card holder from Lanvin. The silver corporate badge by Dale Carnegie. The high shine shoes were tied with a Parisian knot and are TLB Mallorca burgandy Artista Piccaso last Oxfords with Adelaide stitching, punched toe caps, French calf leather from the D'Annonay tannery.

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

Contact me at [email protected]

Bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery".? He has also written "How To Stop Wasting Money On Training" and the translation "Toreningu De Okane Wo Muda Ni Suru No Wa Yamemashoo" (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのは止めましょう) and his brand new book is “Japan Leadership Mastery”.

Dr. Greg Story is an international keynote speaker, an executive coach, and a thought leader in the four critical areas for business people: leadership, communication, sales and presentations.?He leads the Dale Carnegie Franchise in Tokyo which traces its roots straight back to the very establishment of Dale Carnegie in Japan in 1963 by Mr. Frank Mochizuki.

He publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter

Has 6 weekly podcasts:

1.?????Mondays -??The Leadership Japan Series,

2.????Tuesdays – The Presentations Japan Series

Every second Tuesday - ビジネス達人の教え

3.????Wednesdays - The Sales Japan Series

4.????Thursdays – The Leadership Japan Series

Also every second Thursday - ビジネスプロポッドキャスト

5.????Fridays - The Japan Business Mastery Show

6.????Saturdays – Japan’s Top Business Interviews

Has 3 weekly TV shows on YouTube:

1.?????Mondays - The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show

Also every Second Thursday - ビジネスプロTV

2.????Fridays – Japan Business Mastery

3.????Saturdays – Japan Top Business Interviews

In the course of his career Dr. Greg Story has moved from the academic world, to consulting, investments, trade representation, international diplomacy, retail banking and people development.

Growing up in Brisbane, Australia he never imagined he would have a Ph.D. in Japanese decision-making, become a 39 year veteran of Japan and run his own company in Tokyo.

Since 1971, he has been a disciple of traditional Shitoryu Karate (糸東流) and is currently a 6th Dan.

Bunbu Ryodo (文武両道-both pen & sword) is his mantra and he applies martial art philosophies and strategies to business.