Business (suiting) With Pleasure

You see them in banks, hotel lobbies and fancy restos. They usually wear a dark suit with matching pants, a striped or printed tie, a white or blue shirt, and black classic leather shoes. We’re talking about businessmen who are so predictable in their manner of dressing, they look like ... clones!

Seldom do we see executives with a certain style and character – those fearless, fashionable men (yes, real men) who match their exciting intellect with exciting clothes. Once, I saw a fortysomething CEO in a London convention wearing Armani and yes – a Swatch watch! And who can forget this Robert Redford lookalike clad in a black Zegna suit and guess what ... Nike shoes!

In the Pinoy corporate scene, we do see a few businessmen who look good with their own stylish stamp. In the fashion world, there’s Mario Katigbak, shoe entrepreneur-turned-general manager of Bulgari in the Philippines. He proudly goes for both local and foreign brands, citing the world-class quality of many Filipino labels like Human, Bergamo and Compliments. His old-world manners blend well with his sartorial savvy:

Business Life: What is your concept of ideal office wear in Manila?

Mario Katigbak: Bulgari has standards for office wear, which is a suit. But Manila, being in the tropics, one has to be a little more creative. If you have to work daily, you have to keep re-inventing your daily wear. I usually stick to basic black trousers and invest in fashionable jackets. For shirts, you can be a little more daring, with same tone shirts and ties. Or fashionable colors like purple, gray or teal. Whatever is comfortable and fashionable while still maintaining the look of a serious executive.

What are your favorite brands?

I really do not have favorite brands. When I shop, I really look around and choose based on my current fashion direction. I am lucky at finding good clothes and not having to pay exorbitant prices for them. I really enjoy walking around malls and arcades just to find the right things. I am more particular about shoes, watches and ties. Somehow, for me, these are the items that I really have to invest in. Needless to say, my biggest investments are Bulgari watches. As for shoes, I really like Bally, especially now that they have updated their styles. It is no longer "your father’s shoes." They have trendy styles and for all occasions, classic and sporty. For ties, of course, I go for Bulgari. For me the "fall" of the tie is most important – it has to look solid. Colors and textures are important.

Who are your favorite designers?

I do not really have favorite designers. I usually buy ready-to-wear either here or abroad, when I go on business trips. Whenever I need anything, I just shop for the item, not concerned about the brand. Somehow I usually find what I look for or find things that I could mix and match with whatever I have. In short, I dress based on what I feel fits me, versus dressing based on a designer’s concept.

Are Filipino executives too conservative or afraid when it comes to fashion? What advice would you give to executives?

Definitely, Filipino executives are conservative! And sometimes too busy to even delve into fashion. My advice to anyone is to be comfortable and confident when dressing. One has to dress for himself and not for other people. We have to be also aware of the line of business we are in. Sometimes, we have to sacrifice our own fancy to comply with office protocol.

For example, if I were a bank executive I would have to wear white shirts to show seriousness in demeanor, but one could opt for a nice printed tie to show his individuality.

How about watches? Are there certain watches for certain occasions?

Watches are quite flexible. Bulgari has classic lines such as the Bulgari-Bulgari, Quadratto or Rettangolo. We also have the sporty watches such as the Linea Sport, Scuba or Aluminum. In choosing watches, you have to consider your lifestyle. For example, if you are an executive usually sporting suits or barongs, it would be more practical to choose from the classic lines. If you are the sporty individual in jeans and T-shirts, then the sporty collection would be best for you.

For special occasions calling for formal wear, we have the variety of yellow gold, white gold watches, with or without diamonds.