Most people agree that men look their best when wearing a suit. A scientifically-backed survey conducted by Professor Adam Galinsky of Northwestern University identified that when shown images of the same man in a suit and in casual clothes, 80% of respondents found the man looked better in a suit. Overall results discovered that men were 6% more attractive in a suit than in day-to-day wear. But what kind of suit suits each occasion?
It is important to discover how to choose the perfect suit for different occasions, whether it’s for the office or a party. Learn about the factors that determine the right style and fit, and consider the benefits of professional alterations in New York City to ensure your suit looks its best. With the right adjustments, you can achieve a polished look tailored to any event or setting.
Office wear
Reports from 2018 indicate that only one in ten men still wear a suit to work. Certain professions – such as the finance and legal sectors – will likely never switch to more casual wear, but many modern companies allow employees to wear smart-casual clothing. Still, if you are going to wear a suit to work, it’s important to make sure you are wearing the right kind of suit.
Office suits should be practical and comfortable – you will be wearing it for the majority of the day. Opt for a navy or grey suit – a black jacket could indicate a more formal occasion. Brighter colors are also more casual and make you look more youthful. Ties should always be a darker shade than the shirt and to project a formal appearance, jaunty colors should be avoided.
Depending on your work environment, it is important to know whether you need to follow a dress code or whether you can wear anything you want, such as a casual suit. Moreover, your style preferences, but also you frame and build should be taken in account when deciding on the cut of the suit.
Black tie
Black tie or a tuxedo is a completely different kind of suit to that which you may wear to work. Many opt for black tie for weddings and functions that are to be treated with utmost formality. Brands such as Saint Laurent specialize in the thin-lapelled jacket and the well-fitted waist. Valentino’s made to measure tailoring can produce a strong look, which is sometimes required when going all out in black-tie.
Casinos, for instance, helped popularize the three-piece black-tie suit – especially back in the day. James Bond, never out of a suit and often choosing a bowtie, also frequented casinos and helped proliferate the image of the casino being the home of the black-tie dress. As we’ve moved towards a more casual style of dress, where a suit may seem out of place, a casino setting still helps the black-tie look flourish.
It is important to remember that if you can wear a more casual suit in a casino or a similar context, you should not wear a black tie suit in the office – no matter how well-dressed you want to be!
As the BonusFinder US site shows, live casino games have grown in popularity and players at home can see a dealer onscreen in front of them as they play live poker, live roulette, and live blackjack. To further recreate the experience of the casino, the male dealers wear waistcoats and bowties, the standard uniform of the casino croupier. Importantly, the dealers would never wear a jacket to create the three-piece suit as that would be reserved for guests at the venue.
The aforementioned survey’s findings posited that wearing a suit works to improve attractiveness through a variety of factors. The material itself is often more flattering, fitted, and slimming. The societally coded message of the suit is that the man is successful and reliable – which can be translated to being a good match as a partner. Additionally, these factors combine to suggest that the man himself would feel more confident in a suit. Knowing you look better can instantly put a spring in your step. It’s important therefore to get the right style of suit for each occasion.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Dress for The Occasion: The Dress Code Guide
A Guide to the Different Types of Men’s Jackets Shoulders (B)
How to Dress to Command Respect
4 Tips on How to Dress Like James Bond at a Casino and Exude Confidence
A History of the Suit: Part 1: 1900s – 1950s
A History of the Suit: Part 2: 1960s – Mid 2010s
P.S. We want to hear from you! Which look do you prefer? Casual or office? Why? What type of suit do you wear in the office? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!