Brown business suits can be a an alternative neutral to black. A brown suits gives a more approachable impression, if it is a lighter shade of brown. Black suits are usually perceived as giving a very strong and powerful presence. But brown suits can be just as strong, if dark brown. You should have at least a cuple of black business suits in your wardrobe, however, there are occasions when a slightly less dominating look is warranted. Buy a cuple of brown suits, in two different shades of brown, if you have too much black in your closet. There are some shades of brown that match with black, and some that don’t – when you try the brown suits on, also try the jacket on with a pair of black pants so that you can mix and match at least one of the brown suits. (These suits from Banana Republic and Hugo Boss.)

Wearing a basic white blouse under a sweater with a pearl necklace is a classic look that never seems to go out of style. A sweater that would otherwise look a bit casual, gets a whole new professional image when you put a white business blouse under it. Some blouse collars lay flat and some stick up. In this case the stick up collar adds a more confident feel to the ensemble. Pull the blouse collar up and over the sweater, and shape it so that it sticks up slightly. Adding a white suit blouse to a sweater gives it a slightly more business-like flair. (This ensemble from Talbots.)