There are a few milestones that mark the onset of manhood for growing boys. Facial hair, of course, and other biological markers tend to indicate a level of physical maturity, but what of our cultural markers? What is there to separate boys from men? For fathers around the country, the answer to that question is simple. It’s the first suit you own that truly belongs to you. It’s not a hand-me-down, or borrowed from your dad for the year ten formal. When a boy steps into a suit tailored just for him, he takes, to paraphrase Neil Armstrong, one giant leap towards adulthood. Men’s suits are indicators of maturity and respectability in a way that no other item of clothing will ever be.
The Value of a Suit
A tailored suit made from high-quality material should last you a lifetime. You truly get what you pay for when you buy a made-to-measure suit, and, although it might be cheaper in the short term, you can’t afford to skimp on the quality of material or workmanship on your suit. Replacing and re-tailoring poorly made men’s suits is far more expensive in the long run than making the initial investment early in your adult life. When you purchase a tailored suit, you’re not just buying new clothes. You’re investing in yourself as a professional and showcasing your self-confidence to the world through the high-quality, tailor-made clothes on your back.
Choosing Colours
Every man needs a few suits in his wardrobe to ensure that he’s never caught out by any occasion. Of course, they should be complemented by a variety of ties in a range of colours and designs, but ties are just the garnish on the main meal of men’s suits. At a minimum, you should own a black tailored suit and black tie to wear to formal events. While many men opt for brighter colours than black for formal events (burgundy and royal blue are popular for weddings, for example), it’s far easier to make a fashion faux pas with a brightly coloured suit than with a black one. Black isn’t the most fashion-forward suit option, but it will always be the most reliable for all occasions.
Suits designed to be worn to work are usually either grey or blue, both colours that communicate power and professionalism without the formal connotations of a black-on-black ensemble. If you’re in a job that requires you to wear a suit to work, be sure to have more than one tailored suit on hand. You’d be surprised how easy it is to wear out a poor-quality suit when you wear it every day. Herringbone fabric is both attractive and durable, and won’t wear out as quickly as suits made from synthetic material. A rotation of two to four work suits in shades of grey and blue is a classic staple of white-collar wardrobes, and subtle patterns on the suits can add a bit of extra variety. Pinstripes, herringbone and checks are all very popular variations on the plain blue or grey theme, and will make you stand out from the crowd in your tailored suit.
