Men's Suits
Invest in a good suit this is where your wardrobe dollars are best spent. Every man should own at least one nice suit. So what kind of suit should you buy? Well, let's do little explaining here. You might come across a men's suit that is advertised as a "high-twist," 100, or Super 110. This just means that the suit is made of a worsted wool yarn that has been twisted more often than the usual 60-80 twist fabrics. This makes it a finer cloth of a somewhat lighter weight. Such mens suits would be perfectly fine for spring, summer, and fall, but might not carry you through the winter.Choose from an assortment of two button, three button and double breasted suits. Four button men's suits are not seen much these days and certainly aren't a suit a man would buy for their first or second suit. It is more of a fashion suit, not a classic style. Also keep in mind that four button men's suits really look best on those that are tall and slim. If you are shorter, unbuttoning the top button versus the bottom will give the illusion of being taller.
Unless it is really your style, stay away from the double breasted suit. Suit vests are for dandies, but also seen in English, western, and evening looks. Vents are definitely more European and shapelier. They are also a symbol of better tailoring.
Pleats on trousers a bad idea because first thing is that flat fronted trousers are always more flattering no matter what your size and age. Pleats bring attention to that area of the body.
When suit-makers make a suit, the first thing they start with is the fabric, so we'll do the same. It may seem to you when you walk into a men's wear store that all fabrics look alike, but you'd be wrong. Each fabric is different in terms of quality, durability, feel, and price. The main message we want to impart to you is this: you must buy wool. Only wool. 100% wool. But for the sake of greater knowledge, here is a full list of potential choices:
- The non-wools
- The wools
The non-wools include linen, polyester, microfiber and teflon. Linen wrinkles quickly, stains like a bitch, does not travel well, and is not a classic look. Be warned that your dry cleaning bills will be quintupled. Polyester had its time, and that time is over. It doesn't wrinkle, but it also doesn't breathe. Polyester's okay in a blend with wool if you're trying to keep your costs down. Microfiber is just another word for polyester.
Wool is the fabric of choice for a good men's suit. It's natural, it breathes well, it's durable, and it's also stylish as hell. There are four main kinds of wool out there, as follows:
Tweed – Tweed is a very heavy wool fabric, popular in places like Scotland, where it's cold. The average wearer of tweed is in his 50's, gray-bearded, and favors pipe-smoking by the hearth. He is most likely a professor, or a literary critic.
Flannel – The heaviest of the non-tweed, flannel is made corded wools. It's durable, very hard-wearing, and especially nice in a charcoal gray with classic pinstripes. However, for a men's suit, it might be a bit too hot in most office environments.
Tropical – This is usually a kind of wool crepe, which is a lightweight fabric. It's more of a summer weight, the sort favored by Don Johnson on Miami Vice. Being lighter, it is also more susceptible to wrinkles, and therefore more frequent dry-cleaning not an ideal fabric for a first suit.
Worsted – The worsted wools are your best bet for a first man suit. These will be your gabardines or mid-weight corded wools. They are durable, hard-wearing, and usually fine for year-round wear. They can be a little lighter or heavier, depending on the weave, but consider them the mid-weights. The mid-weights are best overall, especially with the usual "air-conditioned-car-ride-into-the-air-conditioned-office" venture that most people have in summer. And if you will be visiting a lot of clients or doing hefty traveling, you will need this kind of durable fabric which will stand up to the extra wear, but not be too hot.
Luckily you can find a look for every special occasion with the online assortment of men's suits and formal apparel including tuxedos, sportcoats, trousers and men's dress pants available on the Internet.
