5 Types of Suits Every Man Should Have
Fashion is fickle and trends come and go. However, there are certain garments, certain styles and aesthetics that never go out of fashion. Classic designs transcend time and always look good, regardless of the era. You can look back at photos of yourself wearing timeless styles without apprehension and reason to cringe. Even better, in the years to come, you’ll be able to maximise the use of these suits and make the most of your purchase. So, what are the timeless suits that every closet needs? These are our top five.
1. Blue Single-Breasted Suit
Choose a navy or midnight blue suit that can take you from day to night, season after season, year after year. The great thing about a blue suit is that it can work with either brown shoes and a brown belt or even black shoes and a black belt. It’s appropriate for a multitude of occasions without looking too stiff or uptight. It’s both classic and stylish.
A simple, good quality, two button navy suit can be dressed up for a wedding, kept formal for a job interview or worn as part of your every day work armor. Opt for something in the lightweight to middleweight fabric so you can wear it all year round.
2. Grey Single-Breasted Suit
Grey suits are a perfect alternative to the standard black and a colour that you can re-use and re-wear for years to come. It arguably has more character than the plain old black suit ensemble. A dark grey or charcoal grey suit can seamlessly fit into your wardrobe. You can mix and match it with different coloured dress shirts, ties and pocket squares. Even better, as the years go by and your style evolves, the timeless grey suit will continue to serve you well.
3. Double-Breasted Suit
Double-breasted suit is not an essential, but if you're going to take your dressing to a whole new level, there will be times when a touch of swagger is required. A double-breasted suit with texture or patterns will make a powerful statement, distinguishing you from 'Mr. Average Office Worker'. In other words, you will definitely get to enjoy that 'Celebrity Walking Along The Street' moment.
4. Casual or Patterned Suit
You may not automatically consider it but a patterned suit is another casual style that you can keep and wear forever. Think of a pinstripe suit or the elegant Prince of Wales pattern, or even a classic plaid tweed ensemble. As proven by all the famous leading men and world leaders who’ve donned the patterned suit in decades past up to today, you just can’t go wrong with it. If you’re afraid of the heat in Singapore, opt for something half-lined and made out of lightweight wool, or even linen in light grey, blue or beige. That way you can look as smart as you do the rest of the year while feeling as comfortable as you would in your t-shirt and shorts.
5. Tuxedo Suit
Black Tie represents a traditional approach to formal dressing - the classic black tuxedo and a crisp white shirt with a black bow tie. If an event calls for Black Tie there is a dress code that should be adhered to, but it doesn’t need to be boring, or even black for that matter. Midnight blue tuxedos or Ivory dinner jackets with black pants are great alternatives for even the most conservative events. The main physical difference between a tux and a suit is that tuxedos have satin details - satin-faced lapels, satin buttons and a satin side-stripe down the pants - suits do not.
Black Tie invitations don't come your way more than once or twice a year. However, when they do, the whole point is not to panic buy at the very last minute but to look and feel your absolute best by participating in the tradition. Don't be that guy who tries to get away by wearing a dark grey or dark blue suit with a black tie. It will never work, and you will be the talk of the town for the next week or so.
When it comes to these timeless suits, it’s extra important to not only purchase one of good quality, but one that fits you perfectly. In this digital era, photos last forever. You want a suit that will look good and fit well in perpetuity.