A good quality suit is something that every gent must have in his wardrobe because you never know when you might need it. A suit should always be carefully considered and good quality is always better as that will give you a wardrobe staple with a long lifetime of wear. Purchasing a suit is a big decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. After all, most men wear suits for formal occasions or when there’s a good impression to be made, so it’s important to choose the right type of suit to create the best possible look without sacrificing personal comfort.
- Preparation is key. A suit is a major purchase, so look around online to get an idea of the styles, fabrics and colours available. Try having a look at a site like Suitsmen which has a wide range of styles and plenty of choice.
- When shopping for a new suit, you’ll need to consider fabric. Cotton and linen are excellent choices for the summer months or less formal occasions. But if you’re planning to wear your suit during the winter, you may want to choose a heavier fabric like wool. Wool is heavier than both cotton and linen, so it will keep you warm and comfortable during the cold winter months. Many suits have a mix of fabrics like wool, polyester and lycra. Each material used adds a quality to the mix: wool is warm, polyester is hard wearing and lycra is great for stretch and comfort.
- Colour is important too. Blue, black and dark grey suits are probably the most common choices, but those colours will seem a bit oppressive in the summer. If you are looking to stand out from the crowd, you might want a colour that makes a bit of a statement. Whatever colour you choose, you need to match the garments and accessories with which you wear it. If you’re planning to wear a brown suit, for example, don’t choose a black button-up shirt. Instead, choose a shirt in a colour that matches brown.
- A good fit is all important. Undersized suits are also a poor choice because of their constricting appearance. The other downside is that they can lead to stretching and this can permanently damage your suit by causing certain areas of the fabric to stretch while retaining the original size and shape of the other areas. If your suit is too big for your body, the excess fabric will drape off your body creating an awkward and unflattering appearance. Trouser length is important too. Your suit trousers should fully cover your legs and ankles when you stand up. If any part of your leg or socks are visible, you should consider choosing trousers in a longer length.
- Add years to your suit’s life by buying an extra pair of trousers or two. Extra trousers means that you don’t need to have your suit cleaned as frequently and your suit will last longer. It’s almost always the trousers that wear out first on a suit, so it’s worth protecting your investment by having an additional pair to hand.
I viewed lockdown one as a bit of an opportunity, but didn’t really do all the positive things I’d planned because the weather was so nice, so I just spent time indoors. Since then I’ve felt that it’s more important to take care of myself rather than than have any high minded ideas about the ‘perfect lockdown’. There have been some unexpected benefits though including escaping early morning starts for a while. So what are my positives.
