Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #189

Fare Bella Figura - Make A Good Impression, Be A Sharp Dressed Man, Episode #189 (Video here:https://bit.ly/3DpDKMN)

In business today, people judge us immediately based on how we are dressed, before we even get to say one word. Unfair? Totally! I run my own soft skills corporate training business here in Japan. Now if we can positively influence that initial judgement of us, shouldn't we make an effort to control it? Every day I carefully choose my clothes to determine that critical first impression people will have of me, based on who my schedule says I will encounter that day. What do you do?

Today's Scent

Terre D'Hermes 2006

Know The Rule To Break The Rule: Classic Men's Wear Conventions

63.??? In winter, wear kid leather gloves.

This day I was teaching High Impact Presentations to a multi-national major gaming company. There are some rules about what to wear when teaching, especially when teaching presentation skills. A white shirt is obligatory and the tie and pocket square have to be muted so that there is no competition with our face when teaching. This is also a solid rule for presenters - we need to eliminate any distractions from what we are saying.

I chose my custom navy pinstripe suit which has a strong light blue in the stripe, with notch lapels, side vents, flap pockets, double pleats, 35mm double cuffs, and I wore over the calf navy socks. The white shirt with French Cuffs was from Australian shirtmaker Ganton 1974, the red and blue pattern ancient Madder silk tie was from Kirby Allison 2007, tied in a double Windsor knot. The Madder silk has a chalky hand and uses an ancient dying method of soaking hand screen printed silk into vats of indigo dye. The horn collar stays also from Kirby Allison.

The red pocket square was from Isaia 1920 in a puff formation to pick up the subtle red in the tie

The red, gold and blue cufflinks were in glass and I like them because they are very dramatic and add a real accent to the outfit when wearing red. That flash of red when you show your sleeve gives everything a lift.

The silver corporate badge was from Dale Carnegie 1912 , the pen was my black and gold Mont Blanc 1906, the business card holder from Lanvin 1889, the watch my vintage gold 24m Cartier 1847 Tank Francaise with a black nubuck alligator strap.

The high shine shoes were black Fratelli Rossetti 1953 Derbys with a Ram's Head brogueing design on the medallion, which I remember buying in Firenze back in 1977. They were not cheap shoes when I bought them and they are still going strong. Quality in shoes is a must and when we amortise the cost of those "expensive" shoes across those many decades - we enjoy a very reasonable price and great value.

So Gentlemen, we don't need so many shoes, but we should buy the best we can afford, because we will take good care of them and they will last decades.

Be warned though, beautiful shoes are addictive, once you get into shoes and we can accumulate the male equivalent of the famous Imelda Marcos vast shoes collection.

Hugo Jacomet has produced the most amazing photo book on men's shoes which I have ever seen, "Shoes: The Art of Male Footwear" and trust me, these shoes are art.

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About The Author

Dr. Greg Story, President Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training

The bestselling author of “Japan Sales Mastery” (the Japanese translation is "The Eigyo" (The営業), “Japan Business Mastery” and "Japan Presentations Mastery" and his new books "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 and Japan Leadership Mastery (under translation).

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.

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