"Suit Up!" - Barney Stinson
“Suits are full of joy. They're the sartorial equivalent of a baby's smile.”
"A well-tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men."
Both of the above statements were also made by Neil Patrick Harris who plays the role of Barney Stinson on the show "How I Met Your Mother." One day I sat down and watched a few episodes and the more I watched, the more my attention shifted from the storyline to the tailoring style and presentation of Barney's character.
Now of course we can't forget context i.e it's a T.V show, there probably is a stylist blah, blah, blah, but what it came down to for me was more so what Barney Stinson's style and presentation represented as a man who made a point of dressing well. I caught the tail end of an episode where Barney for some random reason is roaming around Manhattan naked and eventually comes across a rack of clearance suits. When he realizes how poorly made the suits are, he elects to remain naked rather than put on sub-par quality. Now while I may not co-sign that specific decision, I get it.
As a teenager, I struggled with self-esteem issues and ultimately dressing well became my way of dealing with it. At least what I thought was dressing well. In retrospect, I had no idea what I was doing. I bought cheap and fast. I dealt with the self-esteem issues and started educating myself about what dressing well really entails. It isn't enough for me to just buy something, I need to know the what's, how's and why's of it. The following 4 steps are the ones I share with my friends when I get the question about what they should be looking for.
If you've never bought a suit, or own the one suit you had to buy at the last minute for graduation, be it high school or college, keep reading.
"A well-tailored suit is to women what lingerie is to men."
Both of the above statements were also made by Neil Patrick Harris who plays the role of Barney Stinson on the show "How I Met Your Mother." One day I sat down and watched a few episodes and the more I watched, the more my attention shifted from the storyline to the tailoring style and presentation of Barney's character.
Now of course we can't forget context i.e it's a T.V show, there probably is a stylist blah, blah, blah, but what it came down to for me was more so what Barney Stinson's style and presentation represented as a man who made a point of dressing well. I caught the tail end of an episode where Barney for some random reason is roaming around Manhattan naked and eventually comes across a rack of clearance suits. When he realizes how poorly made the suits are, he elects to remain naked rather than put on sub-par quality. Now while I may not co-sign that specific decision, I get it.
As a teenager, I struggled with self-esteem issues and ultimately dressing well became my way of dealing with it. At least what I thought was dressing well. In retrospect, I had no idea what I was doing. I bought cheap and fast. I dealt with the self-esteem issues and started educating myself about what dressing well really entails. It isn't enough for me to just buy something, I need to know the what's, how's and why's of it. The following 4 steps are the ones I share with my friends when I get the question about what they should be looking for.
If you've never bought a suit, or own the one suit you had to buy at the last minute for graduation, be it high school or college, keep reading.
Navy or Grey...
When you need to have a suit, and you don't have a lot of money to mess around with, keep it simple with a navy or grey two button suit. I always recommend either of these two colors for the first time suit buyer because they are the most versatile to work with when it comes to building out a wardrobe. For example with either suit, you can wear black or brown shoes. It is also easier to break up the components of these suits for more casual wear such as the jacket of your navy suit with some denim on Friday. I've been asked "why not black?" and my response normally is that besides looking like you may be heading to a funeral, black actually limits what you can do with it. Also, unless your suit is double breasted, it shouldn't have more than two buttons. But its your first suit, so you wouldn't be buying a double breasted suit, right? Unless...
Put It On...
Simple enough right? One of the best ways to see how a suit will work for you is to put the thing on. There are so many different details that you can look at when you're purchasing a suit even off the rack such as fabric, stitching, lining, button-holes etc and don't get me started on what you can do if you're going bespoke. Putting the suit on allows you to have an idea of how it will fit and what alterations may be necessary. Even though suit sizes are standardized when it comes to purchasing off the rack, no two people have the exact same body metrics, so definitely plan on spending a couple of extra dollars at the tailor.
Silhouette Anyone?...
Suits are available in various lengths; short, regular, long and extra long as well as a variety of silhouettes; trim, athletic, tailored, whatever the maker decides to call it that week. Understanding three basic principles will help you towards getting the right silhouette for your body. Size, which is the semi-circumference of the chest; the Drop, or the difference between the semi-circumference of the chest and the semi-circumference of the waist; and the stature which is essentially your height.
If you are thinner gentleman, I recommend a suit with a bit more structure to the chest piece and shoulders. Read on how its made here.
For the heavier gentleman, less structure or something deconstructed.
If you are thinner gentleman, I recommend a suit with a bit more structure to the chest piece and shoulders. Read on how its made here.
For the heavier gentleman, less structure or something deconstructed.
Three Piece and a Biscuit...
For the longest time, the three piece suit was the pinnacle of men's suiting. Any man that was able to pull one off was bound to get some double takes from female passers-by and single head nods from other men. The double-breasted suit with its recent comeback is now edging its way into that space, but there is still very much something about a three-piece suit. So should you go out and buy one?
Slow your roll playa. There's a time and place for the three-piece. Where and when? That's up to you as you evolve your personal style. You may be able to pull one well off but every day bro? Its pretty difficult to keep looking fly in that three piece when its 95 degrees out. The three-piece, however is another great choice for versatility however because you get the vest that can be layered with other things.
Slow your roll playa. There's a time and place for the three-piece. Where and when? That's up to you as you evolve your personal style. You may be able to pull one well off but every day bro? Its pretty difficult to keep looking fly in that three piece when its 95 degrees out. The three-piece, however is another great choice for versatility however because you get the vest that can be layered with other things.
