Need some fashion advice. Which suit pattern do you like best?

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Metal Made Fox

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First of all let me start by saying that I apologize if this is posted in the wrong sub-forum. I didn't really find any other sub-forum that seemed appropriate to post this and since clothes can be considered gear then I believe this may be the best place to post this.

Now that we got that out of the way, I am about to buy a new suit. I will be attending a wedding this upcoming month and need some advice on a nice suit to pick. I am not a guy who has much need for suits and the only one I have is too old and worn out. So definitely time to shop for a new one!

I went to my local Burlington the other day and tried on a few suits. The salesman measured me up and recommended a few suits that would best fit me right off the rack. I tried on a suit from a small company called "Billy London" and to my surprise it fit me near perfectly. Almost like if it was already tailored to my body. The salesman even told me "that's just about as close as you're going to get to a tailored suit, without having to actually send it in."

So, I have already decided on this brand just because their slim sizing is almost perfect for my body type, and I don't feel like going through the hassle of getting a suit tailored after I buy it. Now the only reason why I didn't buy the suit on the spot is because they had a very limited selection and the only ones in my size were colors I really didn't like. So, I will just be buying one off the company website.

My question to you guys is which suit color/pattern looks better? I have always liked striped suits more than solid color suits so I have narrowed it down to these 3 choices. Suit number 1 in the first link is what I am leaning towards the most right now. However I haven't seen very many suits with wider pinstripes like it so I am wondering if you guys think it looks tacky? Or still elegant with a touch of boldness?

Suit number 1:
http://store.billylondonuk.com/Chesham-Suit-Separates-Coat_p_176.html

Suit number 2:
http://store.billylondonuk.com/Bank-2-Button-Suit-Separates-Jacket--Black-Ministripe_p_36.html

Suit number 3:
http://store.billylondonuk.com/Carnaby-Suit-Separates-Jacket--Grey-Stripe_p_84.html
 
I like # 2 myself classic cut not a big fan of stripes myself has a nice clean look. Good luck with your choice .
 
LEGION 12 said:
I like # 2 myself classic cut not a big fan of stripes myself has a nice clean look. Good luck with your choice .
Click to expand...

I like number 2 as well but my only gripe with it is the fact that the stripes are not very visible. They are very subdued due to their very thin size and you have to be very close to see them. I believe all the suit jackets from this company are cut exactly the same.
 
Looked at them again if I had to pick from all 3 still would pick #2 like I said not a stripe guy. Only own 2 suits both black 1 wool for winter 1 lightweight for summer can mix and match pants ties and shirts black goes with anything. Not that I wear em that much anymore . Probably going to have go to a tailor when I need to wear one next time gained a few.
 
Hello there. Years ago while going through school I worked for one of the more popular suit companies out there and believe it or not; accumulated quite a suit wardrobe while doing it. Never once owned a stripe suit because they seemed to be more trendy and I wanted things that would not go out of style for a long time. I stuck with the solids and then always changed the overall look with a shirt and tie. I guess I would pick the one that barely had any stripes on it if it were me. All of them were nice looking.

You mentioned in your OP that you did not have much need for a suit. I would suggest buying a basic navy or charcoal and getting tons of life out of it. I, like yourself, don't have much use for suits but these past few months went on many interviews (and a couple second interviews) with my navy 3 button and changed the look entirely with the shirt and tie.

Also, FWIW, one way to preserve the suit and make it last longer is to not get it "dry cleaned" every time it gets wrinkled. If it's dirty--smelly, then of course yes. Oftentimes, pressing it will do the job (your undergarments, dress shirt, etc. are the things that get dirty--unless it's a real fun gathering!).

Hope this helps a little if any. Good luck on your decision. Matt
 
Polyester? Ugh... Not for me - plastic clothes for some reason cause horrible BO.

Now that secret's out of the bag...

This one is good enough for any of my friends' weddings. And it's probably close to what they'd wear to my wedding. ;)
wholesale-leather-motorcycle-jacket-16.jpg
 
if it has to be one of those three, then two.

I had to wear a suit to work for more than a few years, get at the minimum the sleeves tailored. A little loose in the chest you can get away with, but cuffs hanging down to far just screams off the rack. just about any good dry cleaner in a bigger town should be able to do it.

get a couple nice ties, girls like nice ties, and use the second button on your shirt cuffs, with a tailored jacket cuff the shirt cuff hanging to far down always looked sloppy to me. YMMV.

have fun suits aren't as bad as they seem at first.
 
I'm a fan of pinstripes. I like number 1. That said, I don't like black pinstripes because they don't suit my needs in an academic setting. Black has the association with it of being the elite. Add pinstripes to black and it's basically saying you're the boss because the stripes are more visible. If I wore black, let alone black with pinstripes, I would be saying my lowly status is higher than my instructors, my mentor, and the department head. Not even the department head wears black pin stripes. The only person I've seen wearing black is the dean of the school. I am getting a grey pinstripe suit because grey is still neutral. I like the pinstripes because they're a bit more stylish without being outlandish. My suit is also bespoke and being made as we speak. I will need it for a number of occasions, my first being proposal defense, followed by dissertation defense, followed by phD defense. I will also likely wear it if I'm tasked with teaching one of the undergraduate classes, which might be as early as the upcoming fall semester.

That said, what is most important is the fit of the suit itself, so if you like choice 2 and it fits you well, go for it.

It's funny, in the 1920s, pinstripes were seen as kind of flashy and inappropriate. Gangsters wore pinstripes a lot. Fast forward a couple decades and pinstripes become associated with bankers and the Wallstreet elite. Eventually, this kind of association gets transformed to any person of position. Fortunately, nowadays, pinstripes are becoming more accepted in fields outside of business. However, those that don't know will still associate certain colors and patterns with power status.

You just have to be careful.

Last bit of advice. If you want to stand out in the wedding, get a French cuffed shirt. Make sure the jacket sleeves allow for 1/4 to 1/2 inch of shirt sleeve to show. Wear cufflinks. Really, the only way to stand out from the other suits is deciding on what tie, pocket square and/or cufflinks to wear. Please, get a pocket on your jacket for a pocket square. Suits become much more elegant if you have a handkerchief. I would match the handkerchief with the tie. The shirt should always be a lighter color than the suit color. Most people make the mistake of wearing a similar shade in shirt color as the suit color. Tie color choice depends on who you ask. Some will tell you to pick a complimentary shade as your suit (IE: lighter or slightly darker shade as the suit). Other people will tell you to wear a tie color that is the opposite of the suit color (IE: on the opposite end of the color wheel).
 
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#2 is the only one of those I like at all, but I am not a big fan of the skinny lapel/tiny suit trend the kids are wearing nowadays. Keep in mind that you will want to use this suit for the next five years for any formal event from weddings and funerals to job interviews and meeting your loved ones parents (basically the same thing).
 
WOOL is the best material for suits....cotton is a distant second.

If you are only going to purchase one suit, pay the money....try Men's Wearhouse....might be able to find something in the same price range.

Get it tailored....doesn't matter if you don't want to hassle with it. Most employees in a store like Burlington Coat Factory don't know much about a man dressing sharp because they have neither the time, money nor the mileage to learn the difference.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
If you're going with a pinstripe, 3 is the best. First one is a little too gangster and strident. Second one looks solid black. Third one has a bit of a pinstripe to break things up and would be appropriate anywhere. (I'm assuming you want to be able to use your one suit for all occasions kind of deal but if its only for the wedding the first one is stands out more).

I also like to have a conservative suit but a really flamboyant tie. Much cheaper to have a few ties to set the mood, than a bunch of suits.
 
There really is no good answer without actually seeing YOU in the suit. Stripes on one person look great, stripes on another look horrid. Same goes for color and cut. You really do need to look at yourself in the mirror to see if it'll work. Probably not the answer you're looking.
 
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