Men’s Suits

A sharp-dressed man begins and ends with the suit. Sure, a suit isn’t the end-all, be-all when it comes to being sharply dressed. But it sure doesn’t hurt. Suits have come a long way since the early days. Layers, lots of layers, defined the 1800s. Folks were buttoned up, and while the styles were quite intricate, even the simplest occasion resulted in extreme formal wear.

Now, overall formality has definitely decreased over time. Heck, the wealthiest people on the planet are dressing in flip-flops and shorts. But while suits have remained formal, they are infinitely more nuanced today as compared to simply throwing together a ton of layered button coats and scarves and calling it a day. Men’s suits in 2020 are works of art, and how you decide on one should be taken with great care.

Like cars, stereos, or any other product, determining your budget is the first step. Suits come in all price ranges. A quality one will run you a minimum of $800 up to $1,500. Deluxe suits can easily stretch over $3,500. The good news is you have a range of options. The bad news is you’re not going to get away with anything decent for under $800. Second is whether you’re going to opt for a two or three-piece suit. The two-piece suit is the more traditional choice, while a three-piece suit comes with a matching vest. From a functionality standpoint, a two-piece versus a three-piece does not have any inherent advantage. This comes down to a matter of taste.

Ok, you’ve got your price point set, the type of suit you want, and next up is the color. This is a hard category for many. There aren’t many colors to choose from if you want to keep it classic. The choices are navy, gray, or black. You can get a little crazy and go for red or purple, but take that leap at your own risk. The worst-case scenario is pulling the trigger on a muted pink suit, showing up for your presentation in front of the Board, and making a questionable first impression that is guaranteed to last the entirety of your time with your company.

The style of the suit is the next item on the agenda. The English style is one with soft, unpadded shoulders and mimics the shape of an hourglass body. The Italian style is a very lightweight suit with squared shoulders that sits high. And lastly, the American suit features a generally roomy design, a back vent (an interesting addition), and is a straight cut.

In terms of brands, there is a host to choose from. Ermenegildo Zegna is an Italian brand, based out of Milan. They are a luxury brand so if you’re considering Zegna be sure to save your pennies. These are suits designed to impress, but they’ll also last for years. If you have the cash to invest, it’s a classic brand that will not go out of style anytime soon. Tom Ford is another exceptional choice for men’s suits. Ford was the former creative director of Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci. He is known for his meticulousness, especially when it comes to the weaving, dyeing, knitting, cutting, sewing, etc. his signature suits. Rumor is every suit passes through hundreds of hands before it arrives on the rack. Ford suits are cutting-edge, but also timeless. Again, a bit pricey, but well worth it.

Some other brands to keep on your radar are Brioni, Oxxford, Stefano Ricci and Ralph Lauren. Some of these have outlets where you can get your hands on end-of-the-year liquidations for half off. That’s where the real bargains are had!