FROM NEUTRAL TONES TO TAILORED FITS

The dress code at work is probably more relaxed than ever before, and that’s no different with some of the world’s most influential businessmen. It’s less ‘business dress’, and more ‘anything goes’. Menswear experts Moss have looked at how some of the most powerful men in the world dress for work, and what it says about them. 

Based on the number of searches, popularity on social media, along with fashion and style searches, Moss has worked out what some of the best known businessmen are wearing across the globe.

David Beckham

Footballer David Beckham has skills in business and fashion as well as on the pitch. Beyond his iconic sports career, he’s carved out a path as a successful businessman, with his own fashion and lifestyle label, as well as sponsorship deals and ownership of Inter Miami CF.

When it comes to fashion moments, it’s no surprise that he’s at the top of the list when it comes to the best-dressed in business. Throughout his career, he’s not been afraid to experiment with his style. Whether it’s the famous sarong moment, matching leather outfits with Victoria Beckham or highlighted hair, his style’s evolved into understated, luxurious tailoring and perfectly matched casual wear.

Tom Ford

American fashion designer and filmmaker Tom Ford has been a creative director at a number of luxury fashion houses, as well as launching his own fashion, cosmetics and fragrance brand.

Tom Ford’s known for his monochromatic looks almost always wearing a black suit, white French-cuffed dress shirt and a black tie, or no tie with an open collar. He’ll also add some extra detail with a pocket square – still usually monochrome – and a boutonniere or sunglasses. Sometimes he’ll mix it up with a velvet dinner jacket, usually in brown, burgundy or navy blue.

Jay-Z

Rapper, entertainment company founder and entrepreneur Jay-Z has long been at the forefront of what’s hot, even founding his own clothing line in the ‘90s as well as partnering with countless fashion and lifestyle brands. He’s also the wealthiest musical artist in the world.

From his-and-hers suits with wife Beyonce at Paris Fashion Week to monogrammed leather jackets and oversized streetwear, he isn’t afraid to experiment with style. You’ll usually find him in tailored suits, luxury casual wear, an expensive watch and some seriously pricey jewellery.

Bill Gates

While Bill Gates is best known as the co-founder of tech giant Microsoft, he’s also an investor and philanthropist who’s been included in the Forbes list of the world’s wealthiest people every year since 1987.

When it comes to fashion, his style is pretty understated. He goes for simple, straightforward looks like shirts, jumpers and chinos paired with a Casio watch. What he wears hasn’t changed too much over the years, and he deliberately doesn’t spend money on expensive clothes and accessories. So you don’t have to be rich to dress like a billionaire entrepreneur! 

David Furnish

David Furnish is a Canadian filmmaker, producer and director as well as being a former ad exec and a philanthropist. It’s also worth mentioning that he’s CEO of Rocket Management, and is responsible for managing one of the biggest music artists in the world – his husband, Elton John.

David’s previously been a columnist for GQ and Interview, as well as contributing editor at Tatler. He’s also regularly included in best dressed lists, and has been a London Fashion Week ambassador as well as a member of the Style Council. Often found in a perfectly put-together suit, classic double breasted jacket or laid-back casualwear styles (designer, of course), David tends to go for polished, classic looks.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is a South African business magnate and investor who’s involved in SpaceX, Tesla Inc, Twitter, the Boring Company, Neuralink and OpenAI. As well as being the wealthiest person in the world, he’s also president of the philanthropic Musk Foundation.

He regularly attends fashion events like the Met Gala and has stated in the past how much he loves fashion. His outfits tend to be on the simpler side, and he’s a fan of casual jeans and a tee – which he’ll occasionally add a little extra to with a cowboy hat or buckle – but he can dress up in a tux or smart suit when the needs arise.

Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook also serves on the board of directors at Nike and the National Football Foundation, as well as being a trustee of Duke University and keen philanthropist. Like a lot of tech leads, his style is understated and subtle, focusing on classic and sustainable pieces.

For work, he’ll wear fairly casual jeans and a shirt with undone cuffs, usually in darker shades of blue, black and grey. For casual wear, it’s still jeans but he’ll pair it with a casual tee. His outfits tend to be on the plainer side, and can be classed as “norm-core” and he tends to accessorise in a pretty minimal way, with – of course – an Apple watch.

Jeff Bezos

American entrepreneur Jeff Bezos is best known as the founder, executive chairman and former president and CEO of Amazon, though he also founded spaceflight services company Blue Origin and Altos Labs, as well as investing in other businesses like The Washington Post. He’s the third-wealthiest person in the world.

Jeff has recently had something of a style revolution, moving towards more fitted styles, prints and blazer/jeans combos. For formal events, you’ll usually see him in a formal tuxedo with a bow tie, whereas when he dresses down, he really dresses down in shorts, sandals and short sleeved shirts.

Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder of Facebook and parent company Meta Platforms, as well as being a philanthropist, computer programmer and entrepreneur. At 23, he was the world’s youngest self-made billionaire, has been listed as one of the most influential people in the world four times and was named as Person of the Year by Time magazine.

When it comes to fashion, Zuckerberg tends to wear the same thing every day to “save his mental capacity for making more decisions at work”. He tends to wear a grey t-shirt and jeans for most events, throwing on a hoodie for work, and swapping between trainers or loafers. He’ll occasionally wear a suit or a tux for high profile events.

David Lauren

David Lauren is a Chief Innovation Officer, Strategic Advisor to the CEO, Head of the Ralph Lauren Foundation and Vice Chairman of the Board. He’s also a philanthropist, working with many different charitable organisations.

As part of the Lauren family and working for the iconic brand, he’s often seen in classic, tailored styles or more relaxed suits. You’ll also see him in jeans, shirts and blazers or leather jackets when he’s going for a more casual style.

How to dress like a business billionaire

When it comes to dressing like a business billionaire, whoever’s style you’re into, the experts at Moss have some tips on getting that business-ready style without breaking the bank:

• Quality over quantity – choose your fabrics wisely and look for tailored fits, quality cuts and classic styles. If you’re not sure on your favourite fits or you want to craft the billionaire look for a special event, you can always try hiring something different to your usual suit style or going for something Custom Made.
• Classic and timeless styles – some styles never go out of fashion. Again tailored suits, crisp shirts and well-fitting trousers always look good and can make the simplest outfit look premium and put together.
• Neutral colours – most of the stylish businessmen on the list dress pretty naturally in greys, whites, navy and beige, especially for day-to-day. But if you want to experiment with colours and styles, look to Beckham and Jay-Z for solid examples of embracing bolder looks..
• Quality accessories – subtle, classic accessories like Italian-made ties and pocket squares, orpremium leather belts and bags can seriously elevate your look. The same goes for great quality shoes too.

Feeling comfortable, confident and well-groomed all add an extra boost to your outfit. Business dress doesn’t need a billion-pound budget. Shop Moss for your choice of tailored suits, Custom Made and casual styling for the boardroom and beyond.