Business Trip to Europe

[Cuttingboard]

I will be visiting Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Dublin and London (2 week trip) for business in June and since this will be my first business trip to Europe, I'm curious whether its more appropriate in their business setting to wear a suit or if a sport coat/navy blazer is appropriate? Also, what colors are more appropriate? For summer, I have a light brown suit, navy suit, seersucker, khaki cotton suit and several sport coats in light tan, blue and navy and I'm thinking about buying a light grey suit during the upcoming brooks brothers corporate discount day.

 

[M McB]

Depending on your industry, a suit is probably the best choice for business in Europe, you certainly won't be out of place wearing one.

You're visiting northern European cities and although June is "summer" it will not necessarily be particularly warm (could be anything from 15-25 degrees centigrade), we don't tend to wear light coloured suits in a business setting (or we don't in my neck of the woods). If it does get warmer we leave the jacket off and just wear shirt and tie.

 

[mfridman]

I wold also advise on the "suit" option. As per colour/fabrics - I would recommend going with the traditional navy/dark grey palette, and wool by the most part. Also worthy to remember that the whole "button down with a necktie" look does not fly well in Europe.

Hope that helps!

Have a good trip.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Thanks...great info! Thinking of taking a medium grey and navy suit and a navy blazer for semi casual days when I have free time. I hate a button down collar with a suit, looks very unprofessional.

 

[JayJay]

I travel there multiple times annually and also recommend a suit. You see dark suits mostly for all business meetings. On one of my first trips to Europe I wore odd pants and jacket... felt out of place.

 

[Veremund]

Definitely your navy suit for business. No brown, no cotton, no seersucker. For casual wear, combine your lightest tan sportcoat with dark denim jeans. The grey would be a good second suit.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Yes, I'm thinking of alternating navy and grey suits and carry a blue/navy windowpane sport coat for casual evenings.

 

[Veremund]

Sounds pretty ideal. Need any bar suggestions for Frankfurt?

 

[Cuttingboard]



Sounds pretty ideal. Need any bar suggestions for Frankfurt?

Yes, please!! I love Ayinger Brau-Weisse in the summer. Not sure where the hotel will be but our meetings will be in Langen.

 

[Cuttingboard]

Any suit packing tips or tricks?

 

[GBR]

You should wear a suit, a blazer of any description will devalue you before you even utter a word.

 

[Cuttingboard]



You should wear a suit, a blazer of any description will devalue you before you even utter a word.

Interesting...do you think this is the case in most business settings? Just curious because it tend to wear more sport coats.

 

[mfridman]

Any suit packing tips or tricks?

check out the "the way I pack" videos by Mr Porter on YouTube. some useful tips there.

here's one of them -

 

[JayJay]



Interesting...do you think this is the case in most business settings? Just curious because it tend to wear more sport coats.

for the meetings I attend, yes. As I posted earlier, the one time I wore an odd jacket, I was the only one doing so. Others may not have thought less of me, but I felt like, and was, the odd man in the room. That was years ago and I've not done it since then. I also can't recall a meeting since then where I've noticed someone not wearing a dark suit. YMMV.

 

[Cuttingboard]



for the meetings I attend, yes. As I posted earlier, the one time I wore an odd jacket, I was the only one doing so. Others may not have thought less of me, but I felt like, and was, the odd man in the room. That was years ago and I've not done it since then. I also can't recall a meeting since then where I've noticed someone not wearing a dark suit. YMMV.

The meetings I have are normally in-house so they're a little more casual with 10-15 people, some people don't wear jackets. I treat meetings outside the office more formal and wear a suit.