Working Style's Best Dressed Businessmen of the Year

Image credit: Norrie Montgomery

New Zealand’s Best Dressed Businessman for 2010: Ben Ford, analyst, corporate finance, PriceWaterHouseCoopers.
Ben Ford really does deserve the title Best Dressed Businessman. He's a guy who lives, breathes and dreams suits. He's been known to spend a fair few hours everyday trawling the internet to look at the latest sartorial creations, but he has a knack for wearing the most traditional suits and making them look young and contemporary. It doesn't hurt that he's only 26 years old. We're proud to say he's our youngest Best Dressed Businessman of the year recipient yet, but it was a unanimous decision among the judges.


Mr Wellington - Dr Allan Freeth, CEO, Telstra Clear.
We don't want to use the phrase 'sartorial tyrant', but... well, Dr Freeth has been known to send a youngster home to polish his shoes if they're dirty. We like his philosophy: "If you want to be successful in business, dress well for business. You can never go wrong with classic lines, and you'll never be taken seriously if you get it wrong."

Mr Christchurch: Ben Williams, senior solicitor, Chapman Tripp.
Coming from Christchurch, we applaud Ben Williams' efforts to step out of the typical swanndri and moleskins and into some well tailored suits (we kid). He also shares Dr Freeth's philosophy when it comes to dressing well for work: "You don't need to spend a fortune to look good, but the reality in business is that you have to look sharp."


Mr Auckland: Dr Parma Nand, cardiothoracic surgeon, MercyAscot, Auckland.
It wasn't just Parma's easy manner in a suit that appealed, his attitude to clothing is what really caught our attention. As a surgeon he reckons that appearances are very important - and he's right. Would you want to get open heart surgery performed on you by a guy in jeans?


The Contemporary Award: Brian Richards, director/strategist, Brian R Richards Brand Strategists.
Despite being one of the more - ahem - mature gentlemen nominated for the awards, we felt that he had one of the most contemporary takes on the business wardrobe. With a leaning towards Japanese designers like Comme des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto, his mantra is simple: comfort, elegance and longevity. He really showed us that a little of each can go a long way.


The Sartorial Award: Mitchell Kornman, senior tax consultant, Ernst & Young.
Mitchell Kornman is one of those young up and comers who really takes pride in his business wardrobe. He's not obliged to wear a suit everyday, but wear a suit everyday is exactly what he does. But it was the combover that swung us. Call it what you want - reinterpreted vintage, lamb dressed as mutton, it's a winner in our books.