The Golden Rules of Wearing a Suit - how do I wear a suit nicely?
Saying that suiting up is a powerful look is an understatement. Whether you're dressing for a job interview, a meeting with the big boss or a date, a man in a suit exudes confidence and power. But if you don't wear it correctly, all of that goes out the window and you'll look like you're trying too hard. So we've put together all the golden rules of wearing suits so that you can make sure you always look your best.
This is one of the most important parts of this article. There are certain suit-wearing rules which simply cannot be broken. Here are all the basic rules for wearing a suit:
- Never do the final button-up on an Italian suit jacket (the button at the bottom is never done up)
- Accessorize (but use the right suit accessories more about this later)
- Keep accessories and shades the same color
- When sitting down, undo your buttons of your suit blazer or you may damage it
- Don't wear overly-baggy dress pants, dress shirt, or suit - American suits are overly-sized most of the time
- Wear an overcoat for over your suit if you want to look really formal - or if it's going to rain/be cold
- Your belt and your shoes should be matching, and the belt should be reasonably thin
- Make sure your shoes are always polished and clean
- Wear a dress shirt and dress shoes that match the colors of your suit - if in doubt go with a white dress shirt and a black pair of dress shoes as this goes with the most suit combinations
When should I wear a suit - to which occasions?
The first rule of wearing a suit is only to wear one when the occasion calls for it. You wouldn't want to show up to a laid-back office in a three-piece, double-breasted suit or go on a casual date in a tuxedo. If you're not sure whether the event you're dressing for is formal or not, err on the side of caution and dress more formally. It's better to be over-dressed than under-dressed.
Some occasions that always call for a suit are:
- Job interviews
- Weddings Dress Code
- Funerals
- Court appearances
- Dates with someone you really want to impress
- You may have to wear a suit every day depending on your job - Business casual or Business Formal is a requirement for some jobs
You can take a jacket off, but if you show up in jeans and a t-shirt when everyone else is in suits, you'll stick out like a sore thumb.
Also remember that a suit can be worn to any occasion - if you simply don't wear a tie, and you wear some sneakers. Wearing a suit and sneakers is a newer trend -Kired's suits are perfect for this because they are quite casual suits.
Recently Kired teamed up with IsuiT in order to bring you the modern suit for the modern man.
These suits are perfect for literally any occasion, they are comfortable, with elastic pants - and we have all of the basic suit colors.
How to choose the right suit - Suit Styles
The second rule of wearing a suit is to make sure you choose the right one. The wrong suit can make you look slovenly, out of shape, and like you don't know what you're doing. So how do you make sure you pick the right suit?
- Fit is everything. Make sure the shoulders of your jacket fit properly and that the jacket falls at the right length. You don't want it to be too short or too long. The same goes for your pants. They should fit snugly around your waist and fall at the right length. If you're buying online learn how to measure yourself for a suit and how to choose a drop for your suit.
- Choose a classic style and cut.
- Consider the suit fabric and which is best for your situation. Wool suits are the best choice for most occasions, but if you're going to be wearing your suit in a hot climate, choose a lighter fabric like linen or cotton. Certain types of wool are also good for hot weather
- Stick to neutral colors. A black, grey, or navy suit is always a good choice.
- Avoid trends. Trends come and go, but a classic, well-tailored suit will never go out of style.
Choosing a suit brand for you
Once you've found a suit that fits well and is made from a classic fabric, you can start to experiment with different colors and patterns. But always remember the first rule of wearing a suit: only wear one when the occasion calls for it.
Another thing you have to think about is which brand of suit is best - we personally recommend:
Basically - Italian suitmakers are considered by many to be the best in the world. Also, the Neapolitan tailoring tradition has dominated classic menswear for many years.
If these brands are out of your budget, then check out some more affordable Italian suit brands.
Choosing a suit style for you
There are several different suit styles, the one that you wear depends on what occasion you are going to. For example, a three-piece suit is perfect for a wedding or a more formal occasion, whereas a standard two-piece suit is perfect for business casual.
Here's a list of different suit styles, with some different ways to use them:
| Type of suit | Use of suit/occasions |
| Standard suit | Job interview, Business formal, business casual, first date, less-formal dinner |
| Three-piece | Wedding, funeral, Gala, Black Tie Event, Dinner |
| Double-breasted | Wedding, Funeral, Gala, Black Tie Event, Dinner |
| Deconstructed | Dinner at the sea, lunchtime in summer, going to a bar |
| Tuxedo/Smoking | Gala, Black Tie Event, Opera |
Make sure you choose the right suit for the right occasion, and you'll make sure to stand out in the crowd.
What accessories should I wear with my suit?
- The absolute basics are obviously a tie, you can choose either a silk tie or a Cashmere tie from Kiton for example. You can wear a colorful tie with a white shirt, and a navy suit. This is a standard look and can be used in 99% of situations (except funerals and black tie events, which have a dress code)
- Next, you will want a pocket square - You can either go for something colorful or if you just want to wear a white one that is also fine. White pocket squares are very rarely wrong, but it's a good way to incorporate a lot of color into your look. If you're wearing a yellow tie, a good way to choose a pocket square is to look for a fantasy pattern with yellow shades on it - or like in this example burgundy, red, and orange:
- The belt - Do you wear a belt with a suit? Personally, we love subtle belts such as a suede luxury belt that matches the shades of the rest of your outfit. For example, if you were wearing the example above from Fefè - We would recommend a burgundy belt (obviously assuming you're not wearing braces) - and then burgundy shoes. This is a much more refined look, and you're now colorful and stylish at the same time.
What should you not do when wearing a suit
One of the biggest problems have is that they wear large suits in strange colors. Take Steve Harvey as an example - before he went through a makeover he wore exclusively overlarge suits, and looked frankly ridiuclous.
However, after taking the advice of a stylist, he started to wear small suits with only the traditional colors and patterns - probably from Kiton or another suitmaker - and now is known for being one of the best-dressed men on television.
Another common mistake is that colors are mismatching - this can lead to a wardrobe disaster and will make you seem immature.
Can you wear a suit everyday?
Yes - not only can you wear a suit everyday, it's honestly recommended as a man. Take Jordan Peterson as an example - did he always wear suits everyday? Quite possibly - but if you get in the mindset of wearing a suit, then you can almost guarantee taht your career will progress more quickly if you decide to start wearing one daily.
If you live in a warm climate - then choose linen or cotton. Or you can choose fabrics which are good for winter and summer, for example fine Wool, or a blend between Cashmere and linen.
Another very specific combination is virgin wool with Mohair wool, which is one of the most valuable fabrics in the world.
Should suits be tight or loose?
This is a common discussion between the suiting community. However, the prevalent thought process is that a suit should be like an Italian cut suit, which means that it is much tighter than an American suit.
The reason for that is that it's almost like a second skin, and although many people think that this makes it harder to move around, it's actually the complete opposite. The idea is that because the skin is so close to your body (what some people would call tight) that you can move around more easily, because it is an extension of your form.
