Your formalwear questions answered

— 17 May 2012

Every man needs a great suit in his wardrobe but buying formalwear can be tricky. How do I know if it fits me? Should I go double-breasted? What colour will see me through the season and beyond?

Whether you are looking to buy for work, play or every day, our Formalwear Buyer answers all your burning questions.

How can you tell if your suit fits properly?
It’s all about where it fits on the shoulders and chest - too wide and it drowns you, too tight and peak open on your chest.
Sleeves are the measure of a good fitting suit, if they are too long they make you look lazy and that you haven’t made effort to visit a tailor.
Your sleeve should finish at the point where your hand comes away from your wrist and should show a ¼ inch of cuff.

Where should my suit trousers come to?
It can be very personal, however your trousers should lay as long as they can at the back without breaking and have one good break at the front.

One button or two?
One button is great for weddings as it gives you a sharp long clean line and shows more tie. Two buttons are better for business as it’s more of a classic, everyday look.

How do I know what cut will suit my bodyshape?
A great suit should hide all of your faults and showcase your strengths, most of our suits available online are forgiving and should fit all body shapes. You just need to have an idea of your size.

I love the look of double breasted suits but can they really work for everyday?
They certainly aren’t as easy to wear as you have all the extra fabric in front of you and they must be worn fastened, however they do look incredibly sharp.

I want to inject some personality into my workwear but I work in quite a conservative office. Is there something I can add other than coloured socks?
I am not for coloured socks. Buy clothes that fit and in shades that suit your colour palette and people will notice you for the right reasons.

I work in a very fashion-forward environment and there’s a lot of competitive dressing in the office. What should I be looking to for the next season? I want to stay a step ahead.
There isn’t really such thing as being a step ahead now that we have the internet and such a steady stream of daily information in front of us. My advice would be to find a look that works for you and do your best to personalise it. For me, it’s dark denim, suede shoes and a navy blazer.

I only want to buy one suit this summer but I have lots of events to attend. What would be the most versatile suit and how can I alter my look for each event?
Go for a great navy suit. You can wear pretty much any colour combinations of shirt, tie and pocket squares with them and you can constantly reinvent yourself that way. It’s all about the details.

I’m getting married this summer and want a suit that’s going to stand out but not look dated in a couple of years time. What styles and details should I be looking for?
We are a generation of gym memberships and diets - people want to show that in the clothes they wear so slim lines will always be important. Try to keep the styling classic or in keeping with your own personality - you definitely don’t want to look back on your wedding and think ‘what was I thinking?’. Nail the details; a great white shirt with a sharp collar, silver cufflinks, a great tie, a great hankerchief and definitely some new socks.

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