When most people think about men’s fashion, it’s often quite easy to see it as quite classy and professional — and not necessarily the strange blob of colors people often see on the runway. Men’s fashion most definitely has its fair share of strangeness, though there is a very good reason why it is often attributed as being quite classy. We’re sure you’re already picturing the outfit, as it’s hard to think about the upper echelons of men’s fashion without thinking of it. The name itself exudes a sense of mystery and awe to it – the suit, as perfect and straightforward a name as anyone could concoct.

Of course, we’re not just talking about this because we’re hopelessly in love with everything about suits — although it most definitely helps. The fact of the matter is that suits are an inescapable part of male culture, and it cannot be understated just how much a suit can color the opinions of those around you. While there are plenty of ways to express yourself with fashion, there’s just something about a suit.

Why the Suit Matters

Due to the overall popularity of suits, it’s only natural that there are naysayers that claim to not get why a suit is all that great. Trying to claim that a suit is overrated is like saying that the lady in the red dress is overrated — and that you aren’t looking at her twice over just because. In the case of the suit, there’s an effect it has with just about everyone. In a place where people aren’t used to seeing people wearing a suit, their gaze will naturally gravitate toward that person. A lot of people feel like suits are generally best used at formal gatherings, but that’s denying the very nature of a suit, which is its practicality and versatility.

Why does a suit matter? The short answer is because it is one of the most crucial aspects of male fashion and expression. Most guys prefer a suit because it tends to be a one-size-fits-all outfit in a variety of situations. A person can also effectively wear a suit different from another based on different designs, or even the simple act of removing the jacket or blazer. The suit matters because it has consistently stood the test of time to the point where people are predisposed to being treated better just by wearing a well-tailored suit. It’s a strange fact, but it’s similar to the aforementioned lady in the red dress. Most people can’t help but respect elegance, and a suit tends to be the height of elegance for guys.

How a Suit Manages to Stay Versatile

For most people who don’t bother with suits (and there are a surprising number out there), a suit can seem like a strange outfit to wear. It can seem stuffy — something most businessmen would wear whether the situation (or weather) called for it or not. It might seem a little odd to such people about the idea of a suit being versatile, but keep in mind that it makes use of one of male fashion’s most perfected aspects, layering.

A suit is often composed of quite a few layers, and the removal of said layers can showcase different advantages of a suit. For example, going to a job interview with a suit might seem like a good choice, but for jobs that are a bit more casual, it might suddenly seem overdone. However, all you have to do is take off your jacket and roll up your sleeves, perhaps removing your tie, to show the suit in an entirely different light. Suddenly, it’s looking quite a bit more casual compared to the full, seemingly stuffy look. When considering the many advantages of the suit (and we will most definitely consider it), one only needs to look at the various layers and how they can be switched up to your advantage.

What if you don’t look good in a suit?

While fashion often has some do’s and don’ts with certain outfits that might be better worn by a specific body type, let it be known that it is just about impossible to look bad in a suit — provided it is well-tailored to your measurements.  Most people who do not have great experiences with a suit likely just borrowed or rented a suit out for an occasion or two, such as a prom or a wedding.

The genuine fact of the matter is that it doesn’t matter how a man looks, or how much they weigh. When they wear a suit that was tailored specifically for them, it transforms them. People will undoubtedly look twice, and not because they’re amused that the person looks awful in a suit. The suit has a habit of transforming guys. It is often considered to be the grail of men’s fashion due to its habit of transforming people for the better. Guys that might not have had too much confidence with the way they wear clothes are suddenly able to realize their potential through a suit.

Wearing suits formally and informally

Now that we’ve briefly touched on why a suit can be so effective at transforming guys, it’s time to talk about how to make the suit work in various situations. As stated above, removing the jacket suddenly makes the outfit seem much more approachable, while simultaneously making the look with the jacket seem a little too formal. It’s something of an odd phenomenon, but one that is crucial in figuring out how to make the suit work.

Let’s say for example, you’re about to get married to your blushing bride to be (congratulations to both of you). You want to wear a suit befitting a groom and the man of the hour. Chances are, all of your other guy friends are going to be wearing suits as well, and are probably going to have it tailored just like you. Suddenly, the suit doesn’t seem so special since everyone else is likely going to wear one. How do you dominate the event with your suit and ensure that all eyes are on you and your bride?

One of the best ways to get the job done would be with the help of a current 2021 fashion trend — the vest. Adding in a vest to the overall outfit will effectively turn the two-piece suit into the more formal three-piece suit. At this point, your outfit’s overall class is sure to impress, though that doesn’t have to be the end of it! When you remove your jacket at the reception, compared to everyone else wearing suits and removing their jacket to reveal a dress shirt, you’ll still have your vest on. It’s classy, and it’s professional, even when compared to the classic two-piece suit.

It doesn’t even end there!

While having a three-piece suit is a great way to stand out during your wedding (congratulations again, by the way), it is only one of many things you can do with a suit. For example, we haven’t even touched the notion of suit design and color! There are various ways a person can wear a suit, and also various designs for something as simple as the collar of the jacket. In the case of colors, the combinations can be muted, or they can be vivid. Both have their pros and cons, though the latter seems to be gaining more steam nowadays with acid hues. In any case, something as simple as choosing a blue suit with brown shoes can have far-reaching effects.

After all, there are many components to a suit. When you wear brown dress shoes, would it make sense to wear a similarly colored belt? Would it be best to have a vest that is brighter in hue than the rest of the suit, or darker? There are so many questions to ask when it comes to wearing a suit, and the best part is that they are all legitimate questions. The runway has its fair share of weirdness, while the suit provides an anchor that can help individuals express themselves without feeling like they are getting too carried away. While a suit tends to look the same for the most part, the opportunities it provides any given individual is practically limitless.

So, where exactly can I wear a suit?

If you’ve gotten this far and haven’t yet figured out that a suit is good for practically any occasion, it’s quite fine as I was just getting to that. As mentioned above, I talked about wearing a suit to a wedding (understandable), and a job interview (also understandable). What I haven’t entirely mentioned  is the fact that people often get preferential treatment when they wear suits. Even those that wear a suit to a restaurant that isn’t necessarily used to serving individuals in suits will find themselves becoming much more attentive when taking your order. The idea of a suit brings with it an air of professionalism and class that can’t be denied.

It was also stated above that a person wearing their favorite suit can easily make the people around him breathe easier by foregoing the jacket and rolling his sleeves. There’s a reason why that look was considered the most casual look for guys back in the day. There is still that sense of class, but it’s a much more approachable way of wearing a suit. In that sense, you can wear a suit anywhere you want and still look perfectly fine.

Is there anything I should watch out for with suits?

Considering that there are fashion do’s and don’ts for just about everything, there are also quite a few that relate to wearing a suit. For example, untucking the dress shirt while you have the whole ensemble is… an odd choice at best. Unless you’re going out of your way to look out of place, it might be a good idea not to untuck a dress shirt.

Another thing to look out for would be the color combinations that are much too close to each other in terms of shade. While it might not seem like such a big deal when the jacket and pants are only slightly different in shade, things take a different turn when the shoes are quite similar to the rest of the ensemble. A brown suit with a just-similar-enough shade of dress shoes can often make a suit look sloppy, because it makes the person seem like they got dressed in the dark.

That said it can be quite difficult to really talk about the do’s and don’ts of a suit because it still depends on how you feel about it. If you feel great wearing similar hues for shoes and the rest of the suit, I wholeheartedly recommend that you go for it. After all, one of the most important parts of fashion in general is that confidence will win the day. If you aren’t feeling great or confident about what you’re wearing, chances are it’s not going to look good on you unless it’s a well-tailored suit. Otherwise, if you feel great with what you’re wearing, you’ll undoubtedly carry the look just fine.

The suit is for everyone!

While it is crucial to express yourself however you like, there’s no reason to be intimidated by a suit. Even those who have never worn a suit before will find themselves pleasantly surprised by the results. The only real rule when it comes to wearing a suit is to ensure that the measurements are precisely the way you want it!

It can seem strange that one of the very top echelons of male fashion can be so approachable and cheap (!), but the suit is undoubtedly a special case no matter who gives it a try. Even women will find themselves looking quite sharp when dressed in a well-tailored suit. Whether two-piece or three-piece, vivid or muted, knitted or otherwise, a suit has so much to offer!