5 style mistakes not to make upon returning to the office

The vacations are over; it is time to return to the normalcy of our lives. Of course, swapping sea views, the beach and parties for lunch breaks, wake-up calls in the morning and especially the dreaded home-to-work commute is by no means easy - but it is our duty to do so. Returning to the office also means going from vacation attire to the more formal attire of the city. Fortunately, many offices do not have strict dress etiquette and so the transition will not be shocking, but the vast majority of workplaces dictate, especially for men, a return to a formal, semi-formal or, in the most pessimistic cases, "business casual" wardrobe. It is precisely in this more codified sphere that numerous occasions for style faux pas lurk-which this brief guide will help you avoid.

Here, then, are the 5 style mistakes not to make upon returning to the office.

Various bracelets and necklaces

Caught up in the summer intoxication, wearing a Hawaiian shirt and perhaps after a lavish dinner overlooking the sea, you have well thought of buying summer "jewelry" such as anklets made of white pebbles or seashells, friendship bracelets, coral or coconut necklaces or any other surf-marine-inspired item. You still have them on because it makes you feel fresh but perhaps you don't consider that, paired with an office look, those accessories squeal like fingernails on a chalkboard. Did you have the time of your life in Formentera? Great, but where are my end-of-month reports?

The "summer suit"

One only has to open one of those men's formalwear sites that have a filter named "Summer" or similar to discover a vast amount of cotton suits in colors-not exactly bright, but vibrant-that testify to one thing that is not beloved in corporate culture: eccentricity. And let's not talk about the linen separates. Some disclaimers: a linen suit is perfect for being elegant in leisure time, with a certain amount of noble insouciance, and linen-blend suits from the most experienced tailors are pure works of art (especially if Neapolitan) while an alternative is suits in tropical wool. But pairing a single linen jacket with a cotton ensemble communicates a truly dramatic level of sloppiness, especially if the jacket is unlined.

Exposed ankles

You have your nice blue suit, your shirt, maybe even your tie, your loafers ... but no socks. A strangely bare ankle emerges from the hem of your suit, sinking into a leather shoe that, even if it is the correct size, will always seem disproportionate to those few inches of leg you have decided to leave uncovered. In the most tragic cases, you can sense one of those toe-saving socks when you stand at the correct angle; in the less tragic ones, you cannot take your eyes off the skin of your ankles contrasting with that of your shoes.

A polo shirt under your jacket

There are many different polo shirts that, based on construction and design, range from the unacceptable to the very cool. None of these polo shirts, however, have any place in an office, much less under a blazer. The impression they give is that you didn't want to be too serious or formal but don't have the nonchalance for a white T-shirt or a looser cut shirt.

Boat shoes with a suit

This is capital punishment. Pass for whatever moccasins you want to wear, pass for Oxfords and brogues, but boat shoes belong, well, on boats. They should be worn on dry land only if you are five hundred yards from the shoreline and wish to suggest to onlookers that you own a yacht or even just a sailboat over eight feet. In the office? Don't even think about it.