Business Attire

As I had mentioned in my first post the first thing I am going to discuss is the business attire in Spain. When you are doing business in Spain it is much like doing business in the rest of Europe. People in Spain take their attire very seriously and are very dress-conscious. First impressions truly are everything to Spaniards and they will perceive your appearance as an indication of your professional achievement and your social standing. People in Spain always dress both elegant and conservatively at all times, even for casual occasions.

Here are some tips for how to be successful when figuring out how to dress to do business in Spain:

· High-quality and expensive brand names say successful- classic brands such as Loewe, Dior, Chanel, Louis Vitton, Hugo Boss, Armani or Ermenegildo Zengo are all noticed and highly approved.

· Good quality accessories- When pairing accessories along with the outfit it’s important that they make the outfit look good and don’t ruin the look and make you look cheap. Something like a good Hermes scarf or Dior bag would be good accessories.

· Clean-cut, Well Groomed Appearance- Just like in the U.S. it is important that when meeting someone in Spain that you are neat and tidy. Your hair should be combed and neat. You should be clean shaved and your shoes should be clean. If you wear scruffy or dirty shoes it can mess up the whole outfit and Spaniards will notice.

· Perfume is important- The type of perfume a woman wears says a lot about them. So it’s important you pick a nice elegant scent

·  Men are best off in dark subdued colors- Men should preferably wear tailor-made woolen or linen suits, and white cotton shirts with silk ties.

·  Avoid bright or flashy colors

·  Woman should wear well-cut suits of high quality fabric- Woman should dress with modesty, Spanish woman are expected to dress without drawing attention to their physical sexuality (can’t show bare skin). So woman tend to emphasize their femininity through their immaculate clothes and hair.

Business Casual means a clean and fashionable designer cotton shirt and good pants, and no tie. Casual does not mean un-ironed T-shirts, cheap jeans and trainers/sneakers.

·  Shorts are not acceptable in public- Shorts should not be worn around city. Shorts show too much bare skin which is unacceptable for Spanish woman and the only place it is ok to wear shorts is at the beach.

· Formal attire means REAL formal-a black tuxedo for men and a cocktail dress for women, always in conservative colors should be worn. For these events, women wear more make-up, and have their hair done professionally. For men remember there is a big difference between the Spanish cut of the suit and the American or British cut.

These are all the basics that you should know about attire to help you dress appropriately and be better prepared when doing business with people in Spain. For my next post I will talk about the non-verbal communication styles of the people in Spain.

Works Cited

"Doing Business in Spain." Business Culture in Spain, Business Etiquette in Spain. N.p., 2000. Web. 27 May 2013. http://www.strongabogados.com/business-culture.php.

Bosrock., Mary M. "Spain - Cultural Etiquette." Spain - Cultural Etiquette - E Diplomat. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2013.

<http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_es.htm>.

"Spain: Business Dress." - ExecutivePlanet.com. N.p., 5 Dec. 2006. Web. 27 May 2013. <http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=Spain:_Business_Dress>.

Pictures Cited

Louis Vuitton Robusto 1 compartment briefcase. N.d. Photograph. Louis Vuitton Briefcases and Work Bags in Monogram Canvas. 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 27 May 2013. <http://www.men-bags.com/mens-bags-20110823/louis-vuitton-briefcases-and-work-bags-in-monogram-canvas.html>.

She Set The Bar. N.d. Photograph. Icons of Beauty and Their Bags. 2 May 2013. Web. 27 May 2013. http://www.vanityfair.com/style/diehl-of-the-week/2013/05/icons-beauty-bags_slideshow_item0_1.