A man's suit is an important purchase. A good quality suit will help you look smart and feel confident and last a good few years, if not a lifetime. Here are the essential questions you should consider if you're thinking about buying a man's suit.
What is your budget?
This is one of the first questions you should ask yourself if you need to invest in a new suit. It’s worth spending the maximum you can afford to ensure your new purchase will still look smart after years of wear and washes. The finest bespoke suit made on Saville Row should gradually mould itself to your body and improve with age, and you can expect to spend £1,500 or more on one.
Good quality mid-range suits can be found at Eddie and Chris Kerr in London or Edinburgh’s Stewart Christie and will cost between £1,000 and £1,500. If, however, your budget only stretches to betwen £500 and £1,000, head to at Jermyn Street's Charles Tyrwhitt, Gieves and Hawks or the bottom end of the designer market, such as Ralph Lauren or Prada.
Even if you have a small budget, you should not really pay less than £500, although high street shops like Topman and Marks and Spencer offer reasonable quality suits in a range of styles, fits and fabrics at that price range.
Are you looking for a classic suit or a fashionable suit?
A good quality classic suit will stand the test of time and should work well for all manner of occasions from the office to a wedding. A navy or charcoal suit is the best option for a classic suit because it will be light enough for a summer’s day and dark enough for an evening event. Look for classic suit features such as two-button jackets, pleated trousers, trousers with turn-ups and long jackets with double vents. These should still look good in a few years, even if you gain a few pounds.
The younger gent may favour fashion over longevity, particularly if he will be wearing his suit outside of the office. If you would like to invest in a fashionable suit, choose suits with features like sharp, tailored-fit jackets, peak lapels, short one-button jackets, flat front trousers, shinier fabrics and ticket pockets.
What time of year will you wear your suit?
If you’re looking for a suit to wear in the spring and summer months, choose suit fabrics in cotton, linen or a wool and cotton mix to help keep you cool. For occasions like a wedding, go against the grain in a tan suit, or opt for classic navy seersucker fabric, which is more likely to stand the test of time. Business suits in the summer should be navy or charcoal, but you could choose a fabric in a silk and wool mix to keep it light.
In the winter, your suit fabric should be 100% wool, which will help keep you warm. If you’d prefer something more quirky, opt for navy or gray corduroy or tweed suits. A business suit in winter should be navy, charcoal or black.
What is your body shape?
It’s essential to consider your shape and build in order to choose a suit that will look the best on you. Just because your colleague looks good in a tailored-fit one-button suit with peak lapels doesn’t mean you will.
If you’re of an average build, you can generally wear any suit style, although try to avoid small check patterns because they may look too busy. Tall men can get away with pleated trousers with turn-ups, double-breasted jackets and three-piece suits.
If you’re short, choose a single-breasted jacket as a double-breasted style will only add bulk and emphasise your height. Flat-front trousers, vertical stripes and one-button jackets will all help you look taller. Those gents carrying a little more weight should stick to single-breasted jackets with simple detailing and a relatively loose fit. Pin stripes will also help slim and lengthen the frame.
Louisa Dennis - I am a freelance copywriter and editor working in London, UK. I write content for brochures, magazines, magalogues, leaflets and letters ...
