Business Culture: Business Attire

Visitors should aim for a formal, conservative, yet stylish look.

Mexican women tend to wear brightly colored clothing in feminine cuts with high heels and heavy makeup.

Mexican men generally wear well-tailored, dark-colored suits with ties.

If meeting with a very high-level executive, men should wear white shirts, as this is a more formal look.

Social events in Mexico will require different types of clothing depending on the actual event.

Climate and Region

Situated between the United States, Belize, and Guatemala, Mexico's shorelines run along the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Caribbean Sea. This Latin American country features a diverse climate and topography that varies from region to region. However, as it is located on the equator, most regions have moderate temperatures year-round. Business travelers must consider their specific destination when packing. Some major locations for international business include Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Cancún.

Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, and Guadalajara are both located in the central, mountainous part of the country. Both cities feature subtropical highland climates that are characterized by pleasant summers and mild winters. In Mexico City, the average annual temperature is around 18°C (64°F), but temperatures may fall as low as -2°C (28°F) in the wintertime, while they may be as high as 32°C (90°F) in the hottest month, April. The rainy season there occurs during the summer months, with July being the wettest month. Guadalajara features one of the most pleasant climates in the world. Average summertime temperatures are usually around 28°C (82°F) during the daytime and 23°C (73°F) at night. During the winter months, daytime temperatures average around 23°C (73°F), while nighttime temperatures average around 14°C (57°F). The rainy season there occurs from June to August.

Monterrey, in the northern part of the country, lies in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range. It features a semi-arid climate that has temperate springs and autumns, hot summers, and mild winters. Summer daytime temperatures may reach as high as 40°C (104°F). The average winter temperature is around 20°C (68°F). The rainy season in Monterrey occurs during the summer months.

Cancún, part of the Yucatán Peninsula, features a semi-tropical climate. The rainy season there occurs between September and the end of November, but it can be quite humid there throughout the year. From mid-May until the end of August, temperatures may reach as high as 34°C (110°F), but from December until April, the average temperatures range from 22°C to 32°C (71°F to 81°F). Visitors planning to visit Mexico during any of the rainy seasons should bring umbrellas

Meetings and Presentations

In Mexico, business attire is similar to European styles. Visitors should aim for a formal, conservative, yet stylish look. For example, Mexican men generally wear well-tailored, dark-colored suits with ties. Foreign men should wear tailored suits that feature classic lines in gray or navy, along with white or light-blue shirts and ties. If meeting with a very high-level executive, men should wear white shirts, as this is a more formal look. Mexican women tend to wear brightly colored clothing in feminine cuts with high heels, heavy makeup, and elaborate hairdos. While foreign women should dress conservatively and modestly in order to gain respect from their Mexican counterparts, they should be well groomed and wear makeup. Some appropriate choices for foreign women include dark-colored, feminine-cut suits, dresses, and skirt-and-blouse combinations. Business-casual attire is slowly becoming popular in Mexico, but foreign visitors should dress formally. All visitors should wear high-quality yet modest accessories.

Social and Networking Events

Social events in Mexico will require different types of clothing depending on the actual event. For example, a business dinner at a host's home or at a restaurant might require a man to wear a fresh tie and jacket, or a woman to wear a smart blouse-and-skirt combination. However, some social occasions will be more informal. In these cases, foreign men may wear trousers and a short-sleeved button-down shirt, while foreign women may wear blouses with pants or skirts. If invited to a Sunday barbecue, visitors may dress in casual sportswear, such as golf shirts or light sweater sets. Jeans may even be appropriate in some instances, but check with your host beforehand. Even in the warmer areas, shorts and flip-flops are reserved for vacationing tourists only. Shorts are rarely seen in the major Mexican cities.