By Andrew Regan
Suits are ideal office wear for men – and many women – because they are smart, stylish and not overly individual. This last statement may prove contentious, but it is rare to go into an office and see a suit that is not a dark shade, with a discreet pattern. This is perfectly understandable: offices are about teamwork, rather than sartorial one-upmanship. Of course, you can always discreetly compete, with the cut of your suit and the quality of the fabric, but it is usually expected that your energy and concentration will be channelled into business.
Suits are also ideal for the business world because they look good on everyone. While it can be a little worrying to see your parents or elders sporting the casual fashions of twenty-somethings, if they wear a suit then it is likely to be completely unremarkable. Equally, even a very young man applying for his first job looks reasonably presentable in a suit. If a potential boss saw him in low cut jeans and a label t-shirt then the story might be rather different.
However, do not assume that your suit’s usefulness expires away from the workplace. Men’s suits come in a marvellous array of shapes, sizes and fabrics and are perfect for playing with people’s expectations, so you can be as sensible, stylish or flamboyant as you wish. Perhaps go for the flounced dress shirt and cummerbund combination, or keep the look pared down, letting people simply admire the way your suit flatters your figure. Or pick an unusually textured fabric, perhaps velvet or tweed, unless you are going to be dancing, in which case a light-weight fabric is by far the best choice.
If you typically sport the cool and casual look at parties just think how much attention you will get by wearing a suit to the next Christmas celebration. They are the epitome of stylish dressing and you can really enjoy accessorising with silk handkerchiefs, slim ties or an old-fashioned pocket watch. Even if you only invest in one ‘party’ suit, you can make it look fresh by changing your accessories. If the office expects sensible shoes, then you can match casual sneakers with a suit just to emphasise how far from the work ethos your evening is going to be.
Suits are also great at making the most of any figure. The only item of men’s clothing that is better is a kilt, but unless you’re Scottish you’ll likely not be trying this on for size. It is always a fallacy that a round stomach is best hidden under something baggy – a well tailored suit jacket and shirt will do a much more effective job of hiding extra weight. Although of course, clothes can only achieve so much.
So, when the Christmas invitations start coming in and you’re wondering what to wear, don’t forget the stylish charms of mens suits. Leave the standard black officewear in your wardrobe and choose one that will make you stand out from the crowd.
Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.