Home / Style Guides / How to Dress Like a CEO
To dress like a CEO, pick a simple uniform and repeat it: well-fitting basics in a tight palette of navy, gray, black and white, one signature piece, and clean leather shoes. Match the formality to your workplace, from a tailored suit for business formal to a knit, chinos and loafers for business casual.
The most recognizable business leaders don't own more clothes than everyone else. They wear the same few things on repeat. That consistency is what makes CEO style easy to copy: once you choose your uniform, you stop thinking about it.
| Dress code | What it means | Key pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Business formal | Suit and tie or equivalent | Dark suit, dress shirt, tie, oxfords |
| Business professional | Tailored, can skip the tie | Blazer, dress shirt or blouse, tailored trousers, leather shoes |
| Business casual | Polished but relaxed | Knit or oxford shirt, chinos, loafers |
| Smart casual / startup | Neat everyday clothes | Quality tee or knit, dark jeans, clean sneakers |
Inspiration: Harvey Specter (Suits), Miranda Priestly
Inspiration: Kendall Roy (Succession)
See every exec look: Business exec outfit guides
Screen references for the tailored version: Helen Webb (Black Doves) in black, and Shiv Roy. For a blazer with jeans, see Joanne (Nobody Wants This).
Type any CEO, founder or "business casual" into Clotheme.ai on Amazon and it builds a complete outfit from real Amazon products, with the price of every piece.
Choose a simple uniform of well-fitting basics in navy, gray, black and white, add one signature piece, wear clean leather shoes and match the formality of your workplace. Repeating the same few pieces is part of the look.
It depends on the company. Many wear suits or blazers with dress shirts in formal industries, while tech founders are often photographed in knits, tees, jeans and sneakers. Fit and consistency matter more than the specific items.
Business casual for men usually means an oxford shirt or knit, chinos or tailored trousers, and loafers or leather shoes, with an optional unstructured blazer. Ties are usually optional.
Yes. Amazon sells suits, blazers, dress shirts, chinos and leather shoes. Check size charts and fabric details on each listing. The free Clotheme.ai extension can build a full office outfit from real Amazon products when you type a style or a person's name.
Type any character, celebrity or style into Clotheme.ai while you're on Amazon and get a complete outfit of real Amazon products back, with the price of every piece. It's a free Chrome extension and you don't need an account.
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