What to Wear When Doing Business in China

When it comes to dressing for a business function in China, there is good news and more good news: First, the pre-conceived notions many Westerners have about Chinese business attire are outdated and inaccurate. And the better news? Proper business attire in China is actually much closer to Western business dress than it is to antiquated Chinese tradition.

For example, the traditional "Mao" suit (think the tunic-style suit of Mao Zedong) is long gone from the business culture in China. Today, business attire is far more akin to Western professional clothing: unpretentious, classic but definitely conservative. For men, that means dark-colored business suits. For women, three-piece suits or stylish, but conservative, dresses with a high neckline would be appropriate. Other pointers include:

- Flat shoes or low heels for women (high heels are inappropriate)
- No bright colors (for men or women)
- Exercise great caution with jewelry (or avoid it altogether)

A final word on Chinese business attire for formal banquets: Similar dress is acceptable in these settings, but tuxedos are not part of the culture and should be avoided. A good idea is to switch ties from day to evening, or change from a charcoal suit in the daytime to a black suit for the evening affair.

Follow these guidelines for proper business attire in China to fit in the next time you do business with your Asian colleagues in their homeland.

Sources:

http://cero11.cise.ufl.edu/~webmaster/Learning_Modules/BUS_web/content/BUS_attire.html
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/china-country-profile.html