When we talk about men’s wardrobe staples, the suit always comes up. Aside from your basic shirts and pants, a suit is considered a must-have piece. But, do you know what comes with it?
When you buy a suit, it’s usually sold as a set of clothes comprising of a suit jacket or coat, and trousers or pants, made of the same material. It’s commonly worn with a collared dress shirt, necktie, and dress shoes. Men wear this outfit at formal events and settings. If you’re interested in knowing more about suits and how to find the right one for you, well, suit up, because we’re ready to walk you through it.
What Color Suit Suits You
The suit is composed of a suit jacket and pants of the same material and color, as we mentioned above. If you’re planning to buy a suit and do not know which one to buy, first consider what event you will use it for? This part is essential because it’ll help you decide which suit to buy.
Aside from knowing what event you’re going to wear it to, finding the right color is important. That is why we listed below the basic suit colors that you can actually wear at most, if not all, suit and tie events.
Navy Blue Suits
A navy blue suit is considered to be a men’s wear go-to neutral. It works with every shirt-and-tie combination and a whole lot more. It’s also a wearable color no matter what the event may be. Whether it’s a date, a wedding, or just a formal office event, a navy-blue suit will never disappoint you.
Gray Suits
For formal and casual looks, light grey suits are an outstanding choice. They are youthful, modern, and sharp. For the warmer months, opt for lighter shades as it offers a contrast to the black and navy monotony. On the other hand, because light gray stains easily, you may also want to make sure that you keep an eye out for possible dirt stains.
Black Suits
A black suit is said to be the go-to look for many men. But that doesn’t mean it should be for you, especially if you work in an office and would love to look stylish. Unlike the first two suit colors we listed, the black suit doesn’t match every event or party you’re going to attend. If anything, the only occasions to wear a black suit are weddings or formal events where it’s part of the dress code, or on a more depressing note, at funerals. It would be best if you also took note that black suits are not for daytime wear.
The Suit that Fits
When talking about suits, color isn’t the only thing you should take seriously. The fit of your suit is even more important. It’s crucial to find the suit that perfectly fits you. That’s why we’ve broken down the things you should take note of for your next suit.
Body
The jacket should lightly hug your midsection with the top button fastened. It should not feel tight or constricting. The jacket shouldn’t pull at the button, as it will tighten the jacket and look like you’re trying to Hulk out.
Now, you can always have a tailor take in the sides of the jacket if it’s a little bit lose around the stomach/waist region so that it fits properly. It’s easier to have a slightly too large jacket on the body than too small for tailoring purposes.
Length
The length of the suit jacket will determine if your upper body is reciprocal to your lower body. If your jacket length is messed up, then the whole suit is going to look wrong. If you’re under 5’9″ in height, the jacket should stop around mid-crotch. And if you’re taller than that, then it should stop at mid to lower crotch.
Sleeves
The jacket sleeves should be about ¼” above the top of your hand when you bend your wrist (make sure that your palms are facing the ground).
Just like with length, if your sleeves are longer, you can always go to your tailor for an easy fix.
Button
When it comes to the button, the jacket’s second button from the bottom of the top button should lie 1 inch above your belly-button, not below. Yes, always above, and never below for a perfect fit.
The Pants That Fit
Aside from the suit jacket, your suit pants should also fit you perfectly so you’ll look great in your suit. So how should pants fit? Below are the considerations to remember.
Waist
One of the most crucial parts of your suit’s pants is the waist. When looking for pants, remember that they should fit perfectly around your waist with no need for a belt to hold them up. They should also hit around the high hipbone area, or even slightly higher, unlike jeans.
Leg
To know if your pants fit you, there’s a trick for that. You should be able to pinch around 1 inch of fabric on either side of your thigh. Your pants’ legs should be slim with a slight taper that gets narrower towards the ankle.
Hem
If you want your suit pants to fit perfectly, then it is a default to have your suit pants hemmed so it could leave a slight break. This will look sharper than having a full hem.
The Do’s and Don’ts for Men’s Suits
There are some unspoken rules when it comes to suits that you might not know. And to help you wear your suit perfectly, we’ve narrow down some of the do’s and don’ts for your convenience.
Do’s
- The last button of your suit jacket should always be open.
- If you’re wearing a dark suit, a light pocket square is highly recommended.
- Your choice of shoes should always complement the color of your suit.
- The tip of your tie should be at or just before the buckle of the belt.
- The color of your tie has to be in contrast with your suit.
Don’ts
- Never pair a sport watch with your suit.
- Baggy trousers are always a no-go.
- Don’t go overboard with accessories. Less is more.
- If you wear suspenders, belts aren’t needed.
The Bottom Line
Suits always come with pants, but not shirts. You’ll need to match a dress shirt with your suit before you can wear it. And then the tie, the shoes, pocket square… you get the idea. Once you’ve got the look ready… it’s time to suit up. Drop us a line if you need help matching or styling your suit.
READ ALSO: What is the Difference Between a T-Shirt and a Shirt?
