Battle for best dressed

If you're a snappily dressed Kiwi businessman, this could be your chance to cement your style in the award books.

Unlimited magazine and Working Style fashion label have teamed up for this year's Best Dressed Businessman awards.

This year, six awards are up for grabs, including the best dressed businessmen in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. There is also a sartorial award, a contemporary award and the Supreme Award - New Zealand's Best Dressed Businessman, 2010.

Early nominees include Telstra Clear CEO Allan Freeth, and Brian Richards, a company director at Brian R Richards Brand Strategists.

Mr Richards said Kiwi men needed to give more thought to their style.

"When men get out of a suit, they often don't know what to do and I think that's a shame," he said.

"You look at mufti days that they have in law firms in the city and you go in there all these terrible looking lawyers who have got out of their suits with no idea what to do."

Working Style director Chris Dobbs said there weren't many opportunities for blokes to show off their style.

"So it's actually quite nice to have an award to say that this guy's a styly dude."

New Zealanders were generally casual about their fashion, but fashionistas here were quick to get on top of global trends and those that got it right "would be getting it right in any big fashion city in the world."

It's not that hard to make yourself look good, Mr Dobbs said.

"Looking good doesn't require hours of time or exorbitant amounts of money. It's about building a wardrobe around a few key looks that work for the individual. It's not about what works for some other guy, but what works for this guy."

Tips included not wearing the same suit two days in a row, and owning at least three suits, worn in rotation.

The prize for the Supreme Award includes a Working Style made-to-measure suit, an Air New Zealand Koru Lounge membership, fine wine and a personalised set of stationary.

Previous winners:

1. 2003 - Alex Swney, CEO, Heart of the City

2. 2004 - Mark Sandelin, Partner, Minter Ellison Rudd Watts

3. 2005 - Ross Hutton, Sharebroker

4. 2006 - Philip O'Neill, Managing Director, Mitchell Media

5. 2007 - Don Braid, CEO, Mainfreight

6. 2008 - Dr Hylton Le Grice, Company Director

Men cannot enter themselves, but anyone wishing to nominate someone they believe looks good in a suit can do so here.

Entries close on April 2 with the winner announced at an awards night on April 22.

- © Fairfax NZ News