While picking out a men’s professional wardrobe, you cannot really avoid buying business suits, which is great because for more than one hundred years, they have been the gold standard of workplace formality. A business suit properly selected is what will separate you from the rest of the office or the corporate event, showing the right side of you to the world.
The point is: just doing business suit shopping without any plan is not enough. If you want to really get the most out of this closet staple, you have to know what you are dealing with.
So, What Is a Business Suit, Exactly?
The essence of a business suit is quite simple. It’s a jacket and pants that come from the same fabric and are made to be worn in a professional environment essentially the standard attire of your office. If you put on a necktie with it, then you create the timeless formal ensemble that has been the norm in the business world for ages. Consider it as your battle gear in the field of professionalism it tells others that you are serious (pun intended).Why Business Suits Actually Matter
Here’s something interesting: the act of putting on a business suit can, in fact, change your whole mood. There is something about a well-tailored suit that literally makes you stand higher and feel more confident. Just think of it in comparison to wearing a t-shirt and jeans’s a completely different mental game.
Besides your own self-confidence, business suits send a great deal of influence to all the people who are around you. They signify that you are a respectful person, professional, and that you take your work seriously. First impressions are very important, and being in a perfect suit makes you instantly recognized as a person who is competent and credible.
Moreover, there is a conforming aspect to the office culture. When you wear appropriate clothes, you are telling your fellow workers and bosses that you know and respect the environment you are in. A business suit is not just a piece of clothing’s a kind of your personal branding that tells a lot before you even say a word.
Two-Piece or Three-Piece? That Is the Question
Typically, business suits are available in two main forms. The two-piece is basically what we are used to seeing: a jacket and a pair of pants made from the same material. It is simple and efficient.
After that, there is the three-piece that simply includes a vest along with the jacket and matching pants. Both are formal, but the three-piece suit is a little more formal than the two. If that is the case, a three-piece suit is the closest friend you can have at a high-stakes meeting, an important interview, or a major corporate event.
What one to go for? It is mostly a question of the event and of your personal style. Knowing the difference gives you the confidence to handle various professional situations at the right level of polish.
Business Suits vs. Traditional S
One may well ask the question if a business suit is essentially a traditional suit. In fact, they have a lot of similarities, are formal, have two or three pieces, and are acceptable in professional environments.
However, there is a major difference. Business suits are designed to be very practical in the office environment. Traditional suits are, on the other hand, more adaptable. You can wear them at a wedding, a formal dinner, or any other kind of social event where you want to look good but maybe add a little bit of your own personality to the outfit. Traditional suits allow you to be creative and expressive in ways that a typical business suit will not.
How to Select a Suitable Business Suit
Business suits are not of the same quality; thus, you must consider the following things when shopping:
Start with the material. It is very significant, especially if you have different seasons in your location. For summer, go for linen is light and you can breathe through it; hence, you will not get sweaty at meetings. When it is winter, use wool. The latter is heavier and provides better heat, so you will be comfortable even on the coldest days. What if you want a neutral one? Cotton is good for all seasons, and it can handle various situations well.
Color is less of your thoughts than you think. As you will be wearing it to work, take the risk of playing it safe with the usual colors. Black is everlasting and very strongjust what you need for the most formal occasions. Navy blue reflects two good qualities of a person like a leader, hence the most choice is made for it. Gray is very flexible, from the dark charcoal to the lighter tones that can be used in different settings. Brown is slightly less typical but is a friendly type of ball that is great for business environments that are more relaxed.
It is absolutely necessary that you get the right size. This is probably the single most important factor. Getting this right, there is no one-size-fits-all answer, and you will be weakened by an ill-fitting suit in the case of everything else you are trying to work out.
Do you want to be 100% sure that it fits you perfectly? Maybe you should think about customizing your clothes. A made-to-measure suit will be tailored to your specific measurements; therefore, it will be a better fit than any off-the-rack suit. The fact that they are more expensive is true, but is the confidence you get and the professional look you give back? Absolutely. Moreover, custom solutions are suitable for everyone, and even those who require big and tall sizes can use them.
How to Actually Wear Your Business Suit
Alright, you have the perfect suit. What now?
Let us discuss buttoning the jacket because, yes, there are rules. A single-button jacket allows you to button it or notit’s up to you. Two buttons? Close the top one, and let the bottom one be. Three buttons? Generally, you button the middle one, never the bottom one, and the top one can be used or not, depending on the circumstances.
It is the accessories that bring you the full power of the look. A tie is necessary in most business suit situations. Most men opt for a conventional necktie, and it really does make the outfit look complete. Besides that, think of cufflinks and a nice watch to elevate your style. A pocket square is a great way to show some of your character without going too far. Also, remember that your belt and shoes should not only be the same color but also the same style. These little things really count.
