What to wear for business headshots?
In this what-to-wear guide, I will talk about the different options for business and casual headshot attire and what the benefits are for each.What should a female wear for headshot photos?
It all depends on the type of job you are looking for. If you are looking for a higher-up CEO-type job, you will want to dress fairly formally. What does that mean? Well, most formal attire for the workforce means a business suit. A business suit for a female doesn’t always mean an actual suit, it can mean a dress with a jacket over it. The darker the suit, the more professional it looks. Low heels and closed-toe shoes are the most professional look.
Where does one buy a female business suit?
Some great stores sell business suits for women. One of the staples out there is Talbots. https://www.talbots.com/clothing/suiting
Macy’s https://www.macys.com/shop/womens-clothing/womens-business-attire/Department_type/Suits?id=39096
Another great place local to Boston is Frugal Fannies in Westwood.
Banana Republic is another great option to find a very well-made suit for a woman
What is the cost of a business suit for a woman?
The cost of a woman’s business suit can run anywhere from $50 to $300. One of the best places in Massachusetts to shop for a business suit is Frugal Fannies in Westwood, MA.
When did women begin wearing business suits?
Women began wearing business suits in the late 1800s when an actress by the name of Sarah Bernhardt started wearing what was considered at the time “boys'" clothing. Women had been tied to wearing what was referred to as the “hobble skirt” which was true to its name. It was so tight down to the ankles that women couldn’t take a full walking stride. They looked like they were hobbling because they had to take quick steps to move. The skirt was restrictive and the ability to move more freely was why boys' clothes and women's suits took off.
Eleanor Roosevelt helped push the change to wear more comfortable clothing when she arrived at a White House function wearing her Riding attire. While she wasn’t the first female to wear pants in public (that was Franny Wright), she was probably the most famous! I mean, a First Lady, wearing a riding suit to a White House function, who would have thought?
What should you spend on a men’s suit?
This comes down to a couple of things; First, when and how often are you planning on wearing it? Second, is this the only suit you will own? If you are buying ONE suit, to hang in your closet and wear every 4 to 6 months to a wedding or high-end affair, you could spend in the ballpark of $600 to $800. If you are a high-paying CEO who needs to look the part every day, you could spend easily over $1000. The more you spend, the nicer the suit and the better it looks and feels. Some people say to think of spending the money as a per-use amount. If you wear a thousand-dollar suit twice, you have effectively paid $500 per wear. If you wear it for $4 times, it is now a $250 suit. At that rate, you could wear it 100 times and it would cost you $10 a wear. In the end, a high-end suit will pay for itself if you wear it often. If you need to wear a suit often, it's best to have a couple of them so you can alternate what you wear.
Where can I find a men's suit locally?
In the Reading, Andover, Lynnfield Area, you can find a Men’s Warehouse location that will help you find the suit you need.
For an informal suit, you can always look at J. Crew. If you want something a little higher end, you can look at Jos A. Bank. They offer everything from suits to tuxes.
What are the different types of business suits?
Slim Fit Suit
A Slim Fit Suit is a suit that lacks a lot of extra fabric and has a much more narrow cut/fit. The suit tends to be a little tighter in the legs and isn’t as loose like a traditional suit. This suit is currently all the rage and pretty trendy right now in young men.
Classic Fit Suit
A Classic Fit is a suit that is wider and still holds its shape with a sharp look and tight corners. This is the suit of our parents' generation where the jacket had a looser fit and the pants were looser.
Modern Fit Suit
A Modern Fit Suit is tighter in the seat of the pants, has a lower waist fit, and the jacket is pulled in on the sides a bit more to give a tighter fit and shows off a bit more of the shape of your body. A classic fitted suit has a bit more room. If you are just sitting at your desk all day and can afford a modern suit, this will be the suit for you. If you are wearing a suit and need to move around or present a lot, the classic suit will have more give and allow you to move your arms a bit more while maintaining the overall look.
Types of Suit Jackets:
Notch Lapel
This is the lapel that people are most familiar with. It's a single lapel and you can tell a notch lapel as it has a NOTCH right where the collar of the shirt meets the lapel. This is a jacket that can be used anywhere from the CEO to a formal night out.
Shawl Lapel
This one is pretty easy to see out in public as it looks like there is a shawl over the person's shoulders. It's one piece of fabric that runs up both sides of the jacket and around the back of the neck. Sometimes you will see it as black on a gray suit, sometimes you will see it as black on a white suit. Sometimes it is the same color as the jacket. It's considered a pretty formal type of jacket!
Peak Lapel
If you ever watched the show “SUITS,” this is the Jacket that Harvey always wore. He was wearing a slim-fit, Peak Lapel Jacket. The Peak Lapel is normally seen as very formal and can be found on tuxedos and double-breasted suits. The fabric goes up the jacket and looks like a sideways mountain as it connects to the other part of the lapel that goes around the neck.
Single Breasted Suit
A single-breasted suit jacket that has only one set of buttons down the front of the jacket. How do you button a single-breasted jacket? You only button the top button and let the second button remain unbuttoned. This jacket can come with 1, 2, or 3 buttons but it is most common with 2.
Double Breasted Suit
A Double-breasted jacket has two sets of buttons side by side. This jacket typically has 6 buttons and when buttoning, you button the top two and leave the third unbuttoned. (Thanks King Arthur!)
Unstructured Blazer
An Unstructured Blazer has very little lining to it and is a thin fabric, especially in the shoulder area. This allows the jacket to be lightweight and is a good option for summer weddings. A lot of linen blazers are unstructured as they are breathable, lightweight and summer feeling. While they look nice, they are also cool and allow summer weddings to have a great option for formal wear that is not too hot.
Patch Pocket Blazer
A Patch Pocket is a casual blazer that has a pocket made of a separate piece of cloth. It tends to be a lower-cost fabric.
Single Vent Suit
If you are in a pinch and need a jacket to go out in, this is the one. It's often referred to as a sports coat, as it’s not formal and is low cost. It looks dressier but is not super fancy. There is a slit on the back of the jacket down as the vent. This is considered the "American Jacket" as it's seen more often in America. The vent gives the jacket a little bit of movement and flexibility.
Double Vent Suit
This type of suit has two cuts on the back of the jacket that allow for movement. This is the most expensive type of jacket. There is more to making this jacket, so it costs more. It looks great when you stick your hand in your pocket and it keeps your backside covered. This doesn’t happen with the single vent. If you put your hand in your pocket in a single vent, it opens up the back of your jacket and exposes your backside. This isn’t a bad thing, but it’s not something people should aim to do.
Ano vent Suit is a style of jacket that doesn’t have any cuts in the back, it looks better on people who are heavier set,
Different types of pants for suits
Flat Front Pants
These are exactly how they sound - Flat! There are no pleats in the legs of the pants. They are just pants! For people who have skinny legs, these are a great option.
Pleated Pants
These pants give more room in the legs, so someone more athletic should consider these. These have a crease down the middle of the pants that is sewn into the fabric and then attached to the top part of the waistband.
Cuffed Pants
These are considered higher-end pants, and if you are suit shopping, you should look into buying a pair of pants that have the cuff. The cuff is folded over on the pants and then a stitch is sewn on the side to hold the cuff in place.
There are so many different attires that people can wear for a headshot. You have Business Professional, Business Formal, Business Casual, and Casual. All of these are acceptable for corporate America. For business attire, you want to go with an option from above, from a suit jacket to a casual blazer, from fancy cuffed pants to flat pants. As long as you are ironed and neat, almost anything will work.
Casual Business Attire
Casual business attire is informal clothing worn not only in most business settings but also in many settings outside of work. You might wear casual clothing if you work in an informal office where others wear things like T-shirts, jeans, and open-toed shoes. You should avoid wearing casual dress with clients and in interviews, even if the office is casual overall. Always dress for the job above the one you want, not the job you want. So, if you are going to be the secretary to the manager, dress like you’re the manager.
If you are a male and are looking to find out what suit you should wear to a headshot session, I would suggest the double-vented suit jacket with an ironed shirt and a tie that offers an accent color, without drawing too much attention!
If you need help with picking out an outfit for your corporate headshot or dating profile photo, please let me know! I look forward to seeing you in the studio!
Reading, MA Photographer Headshots-Portraits-Kids-Families-Senior Portraits 45 High Street, Reading MA 01867 | 781-315-6030 - aw@cordelephotography.com