First impressions are tough. You only get one and the stakes are high, especially if it involves a potential or new employer or client. While no one other than you can guarantee that gobbledygook won’t come out of your mouth after your new boss says, “Good morning,” there are other, easier ways to control what people think of you.

When someone doesn’t know you, they use visual clues like clothing and facial expressions to determine if you are the best or worst decision HR ever made. So, make sure you are sending the right signals with the way you dress.

1. Classic is best
In a business setting, it is usually best to keep things classic. Neutral colors like black, gray, brown, or blue, are your best options. While we do love us some print-savvy Robert Graham, it is probably best to save that for when folks know you a little better.

2. Details, details, details!
If you are wearing a suit, make sure it fits, and that your shoes match. Keep everything neat. No sloppiness allowed. You don’t want people to think your work is sloppy too. Here are CJM tips on detail, in more detail (pun intended):

• For advice on how a suit should fit, check out this post.
• For advice on how your pants should look, check out this post.
• To keep your collar crisp, try collar stays (and check out this post).

3. Don’t forget the shoes
Eye contact is important to a good first impression, but that doesn’t mean eyes don’t wander elsewhere, like, to your shoes. Make sure you’re sporting nice kicks—like some from Allen Edmonds, for example (everyone loves Allen Edmonds)—and that they are shining just as much as your winning personality.

For more tips on how to make a 10-out-of-10 first impression, come visit the staff at Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne, Ind.

In hopes that it will speed up the arrival of spring, Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne, Ind. is hosting a spring trunk show March 14-15, 2014, and one of the featured collections is a fan favorite: Allen Edmonds.

Allen Edmonds makes the best men’s dress shoes and accessories in the biz. Presidents, popes, and celebrities all wear A.E. In fact, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush all share something in common: On Inauguration Day, each wore a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes.

It is obvious why Allen Edmonds is the best of the best. Their shoes last for years, and owners typically repair rather than replace. President George H.W. Bush wrote a letter to the company thanking them for a pair of shoes they gave him, but signed it saying, “The problem is all my other pairs of A.E.’s still are in great shape; but these will be a great addition.”

(That’s quite the endorsement).

Each Allen Edmonds shoe is crafted via a 212-step process (and to think merely tying your laces some mornings pre-coffee is hard) that is a mix of machine and hand, and done right here in the United States, in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

So, come check out CJM’s trunk show on Friday, March 14, and Saturday, March 15, and see the latest Allen Edmonds shoes and belts. (Also featured will be Coppley, Scabel, and Robert Talbott). Tasty Italian delicacies will be provided from friends at Casa. Things kick of Friday at 3:00 p.m.

The AMC hit show “Mad Men” might be over, but the mysterious Don Draper and his team of politically incorrect but captivating ad execs left an indelible mark on men’s fashion. “Mad Men” did for men what “Sex and the City” did for women: it made just about everyone, from Fort Wayne, to New York, to Los Angeles, want to be a style icon in their own right.

(The show also made people want to drink bourbon in the office at 10a.m.).

“Mad Men” resurrected the restrained, clean-cut 1960’s business style, which featured suits that were slim in cut with skinny lapels, which in turn were paired with skinny ties. Less was more when it came to colors and patterns, and accessories, like cufflinks and pocket squares, were popular ways to signify power and prestige.

Today, the Mad Men-influence is seen on every red carpet, in every fashion magazine, and in boardrooms across the country. “The slimmer fitting suit is a popular option now. Every suit company is trimming their fit somewhat, both in the shoulders and across the middle,” says Chris Lambert, owner of Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Lambert says men shouldn’t be afraid to embrace a closer fit. “If you find the right brand, or go to a good tailor, a slim suit can make you look sharp, clean, and sophisticated.”

One such line that Lambert carries at Christopher James Menswear is Paul Betenly, which features slimmer fitting suits in classic colors.

Of course, if you really want to make sure you are rocking the slim look in a way that best suits your body (no pun intended), you should consider custom made clothing, Lambert says. “Another option is having a slim suit custom made. Then you know it fits.”

Christopher James Menswear in Fort Wayne, Ind. offers custom and made-to-measure suits, and despite common misperceptions, the made-to-measure process is simple. CJM’s expert tailors take all your measurements, and CJM staff help you choose from thousands of fabrics and swatches, Lambert explains. “It is easy and we have numerous pricing options, so we can definitely make a suit and a price tag that fits.”

So, while the staff at CJM–unfortunately–can’t guarantee you Don Draper’s lady magnetism, they can make you look the part with a great fitting, Mad-Men inspired slim suit.

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