The Dos and Don’ts of Wearing a Suit

As rightly said by Daniele Donato, “Fashion is an art.” Before wearing a suit, you have to learn what the dos and don’ts are and how to style them most fashionably, as well as stay in the trend.

Be it if you’re just beginning to wear suits regularly or you’re already wearing them daily, it does not matter. It is always better late than never. In this article, let’s dive through the dos and don’ts dealing with every part of the suit ensemble.  

Must-know Suit Etiquettes for Men

  1. Blazers or Jackets

Firstly, the overcoats are meant to fit your torso region and the length can vary based on your height. If you’re taller, make it a bit longer, and vice versa. However, it is easy for the designer to remove the fabric slightly if the length is longer than expected, but when tailored short, there is no chance of adding the fabric. Secondly, based on the need, you can add the lining—light or layered.  

  1. Hems and cuffs

The purpose of hemming is to give a neat finish to edges and prevent them from raveling. So, ensure they are neatly stitched. 

The sleeve length of the shirt or the suit must adhere to the standards—the shirt must be visible for at least ½ inch off the suit or the blazer.

  1. Shoulder and armholes

Shoulder fabrics ought to be flat and without any wrinkles, despite the padding. The arm holes must be large enough to ensure free hand movements, as well as in proper shape, without too much fabric left behind. However, the looseness can vary depending upon the suit style—classic or modern. 

  1. Collar and lapels

Ideally, the suit collars have to lay against the dress shirt collars without bunching. The width of the lapels can vary between traditional and contemporary styles. Also, the wearer can personalize the lapel types between notch, peak, or shawl.  

  1. Trousers: waist and legs

The suit trousers must be rightly seated around the higher region of your hip bone or the waist. The width of the seat portion must be correctly measured to ensure the trousers fit the waist without a belt to hold them. 

The regular width between the legs and the trouser fabric is one inch. For baggy or classic pants, it can be more. 

  1. Belts, watches, and shoes

You can choose between belts and suspenders, depending on the suit style. Despite this, they have to complement the shoes in terms of color and material. If you’re trying something unique, gaudy, or witty, it can contrast. Most importantly, make sure your socks give full coverage to the ankles. 

On the other hand, match the watches as per your suit styles—formal, casual, athletic, etc. If possible, try to match them with the color of your belt or shoes. 

  1. Button stance and fastening 

The first button on the suit must sit right above the navel region and the first button on the dress shirt must sit 2⅞ inches right below the bottom of the collar. The top button placement on the dress shirt can vary slightly based on the needs of the wearer. 

There are specific sets of rules for fastening the buttons on the single and double-breasted suits. For example, they can be completely unfastened when sitting and at least one button must be fastened when standing.   

Apart from these, there is a lot to cover, including fit, measurement, neckties, pocket squares, brooches, jewelry, button-down shirts, waistcoats, vests, sunglasses, etc. We will try to cover them in the upcoming blog posts. Stay tuned!

Classic vs modern: which suit style suits you best?

Choosing one suit style that best suits a man is quite impossible. A man can look stunning and feel comfortable in different suit styles depending upon the occasion, style choices, venue, weather conditions, and a lot more stuff. However, in this short blog post, we would like to educate you about classic and modern suit styles, including the best time or occasion to wear them.         

Classic Suit Style for Men

Classic suits are traditional suits but not outdated fashion. It is a timeless suit style that most men prefer for comfort and simplicity. These are mostly single-breasted suits in two or three pieces. The fit is regular with enough looseness and lengthy blazers and trousers. Be it formal or informal occasions, these suits are common.  

When it comes to specifications, the colors are mostly subtle (gray, navy, blue, black, and white); the designs are checks or stripes; and the materials are cotton, linen, silk, and velvet. 

So, men who want to style in the most minimalistic style can choose these classic suits and play a safe game in front of the crowd.  

Modern Suit Style for Men

In contrast to classic suits, modern suits demonstrate a chic and fitted style. The chest is closely fitted, the blazer length is just right, the trousers are tapered, the breasts are double predominantly, and the waistlines are made to measure. Altogether, they give a perfect silhouette. But this doesn’t mean they are tight or uncomfortable to wear. These suits are structured and still cozy. 

Another differentiating feature of modern suits is that the blazers or jackets can match any pair of trousers, unlike in traditional suits wherein the blazers and trousers are always matching. Also, the colors are bold and stylish to go with the latest trending color palettes (pastel and vibrant); the designs are unique (florals, houndstooth, tartan, plaid, abstract, basket weave, dots, paisley, etc.); and the materials are exceptional (fresco, flannel, tweed, denim, mohair, cashmere, chambray, etc.). 

Therefore, men who are more interested in aesthetics and sophistication and want to grab the attention of the audiences can style with these modern suits, along with unique accessories.   

Which style do you choose?

Well, both the suits are special in their ways. And often, men find it difficult to choose between classic and modern suit styles. Thus, we’re here to help you with a checklist that every man has to go through before choosing a suit style:

  1. What is the occasion?

In the case of weddings, a velvet or silk-based modern-fit suit would work. In the case of formal events, a business-color double-breasted suit would work. 

  1. How about the venue?

Check if it is indoor or outdoor and choose light or heavy fabrics with two or three layers. 

  1. Are you a guest or a host? 

Of course, neither the groom, groomsman, or father of the groom nor the bride can style in a minimalistic way. They need to be special and hence specially tailored suits are recommended with minute details and adorable specifications. 

  1. Last but important—what are YOUR style preferences? 

Go with traditional suits if you like the looseness in them or prefer modern suits if you like to be presented chic.

Conclusion

The suit you wear is a reflection of your confidence and personality. So, choose wise suit styles, tailor them to your measurements, and flaunt them with a smile on your face!

How to Style a Linen Suit for Summer Weddings?

In summer, beating the heat is unavoidable. Just in case you’ve planned your wedding at this point in time, you need to be cautious as your wedding preparations, including shopping, become tiring and perspiring. Having said that, as the groom, you have to stay cool, comfortable, as well as stunning in looks, without sweat dripping your wedding attire. 

This is possible only by choosing the right wedding attire—certainly, the wedding suit. Of course, cotton and linen are the go-to choices. In this blog, we’ll guide you on how to style a linen suit for a summer wedding this year. 

Styling the ensemble linen wedding suit

It is not just the linen fabric that makes it a great ensemble but various other factors, like color, fit, fabric blend, pattern, and accessories. 

  1. Color of the suit

The color of the linen suit matters in two cases. One—it has to align with the theme or type of the wedding. Two—it has to cope with the summer weather and try to keep the body as cool as possible. Thus, for a casual, informal, or beach wedding, light colors are best suitable. Examples include ivory, sage green, light tan brown, cream, lavender, and coral blue. Truly, these colors are refreshing and soothing to the eyes. 

On the contrary, for formal summer weddings, grooms can choose black, gray, or navy blue. These suits will have a more sophisticated and classic look.

  1. Made-to-measure fit

The summer wedding suits ought to be airy, breathable, and lightweight to prevent sweating. So, bespoke wedding suits that are made-to-measurements of the groom are recommended. In this case, the groom can customize the padding, canvas, or lining as per the body requirements. Also, this gives a personalized feeling on the special day.

  1. The fabric blend

Pure linen suits are always the first choice. However, linen blend fabrics are also ideal. Flax-linen, wool-linen, and silk-linen blends are some poshy and stylish choices for the groom. 

  1. The pattern on the linen suit

In general, fashion designers recommend minimal design or pattern on a wedding suit. This ensures the overall wedding suit or attire gets all the attention rather than noticing the details on the fabric. Light stripes, checks, and graphics are acceptable and will look subtle on the suit. Try to avoid big or bold patterns to retain the wedding elegance on the suit. 

  1. Accessories

Neckties and pocket squares are the first noticeable accessories in a men’s suit. So, style it in such a way that it blends with the color and the texture of the blazer. 

The next comes the belt. Try to keep them thin and in neutral colors so they don’t create any contrasts or unwanted highlights unless intentional. Pick a suitable watch with a similar color to the belt or neutral based on the type of occasion—formal or informal.  

Shoes are to be chosen carefully so that they complement the suit color, suit style, and accessories. While loafers and sneakers are apt for casual weddings, dress shoes are perfect for formal weddings. 

Conclusion

A custom suit designer can help you with all these selections and deliver you an ultimate linen summer wedding suit or tuxedo, which you can flaunt in style and great comfort.

How to Match Shoes with Different Suit Colors?

With regards to men’s suits, the attire is incomplete without the right set of accessories. And with accessories, there is always an imbalance between shoes and others (ties, belts, and watches). Of course, neckties and belts get more attention than shoes. But it does not mean you can play around with it. The right pair of shoes is badly needed to get the style balanced and enhanced. In other words, the wrong shoe selection can taint your overall look, feel, and confidence. 

In this short blog post, Bucco, the leading men’s couture brand, has developed some guidelines and tips for buying or choosing the right shoes that greatly complement the suit. 

The dependencies when selecting your shoes

Selecting a shie requires a thought process and analysis of various aspects, like the occasion, the suit style, and the suit color. Occasions can be formal, semi-formal, or casual. The suit style can be single-breasted, double-breasted, two-piece, three-piece, lapelled, structured, unstructured, etc. The suit colors can be anything from brown to black, blue to burgundy, pink to violet, and so forth. 

First, let’s see how to pick the shoes for particular occasions and their respective suit styles. Next, let’s get into matching the shoe and suit colors.

1. The type of occasion and the suit style

  • Formal occasions

Most formal occasions involve black suits or tuxedos. So, opt for classic black shoes, like Oxford or Derby, to enhance the look and feel of your formal black attire. An advantage of owning a pair of Derby shoes is that you can wear them for any occasion, including semi-formal and casual ones.   

  • Casual occasions

Casual suits need a relaxed feel. Thus, you can choose between boat shoes, boots, or loafers. When it is neither a formal nor casual occasion, like smart casuals or semi-formals, stick to loafers or dress boots. 

  • Wedding occasions

Of course, weddings can be formal or casual. In that case, you can choose based on the above guidelines. However, most grooms retain Oxford, Derby, or Monk-type strapless shoes for weddings. 

  • Business occasions

Business occasions are more similar to formal occasions, like meetings, conferences, etc. So, as mentioned above, the classic and timeless choice is an Oxford or Derby shoe.

2. The color of the suit

The most demanded and preferred men’s suit colors are blue, black, gray, brown, navy blue, charcoal, and beige. So, let’s explore the winning combinations of shoes with these suit colors. Are you a beginner at suit styling? Please save this post for future reference. 

  • Blue or navy blue suits

These suits are mostly worn during business meetings or traditional wedding ceremonies. A chic brown shoe would be a great choice for this suit color.  

  • Black suits

Of course, black suits need black shoes. It could be a pair of black Oxford shoes or black loafers. It depends on the occasion you attend. In the case of a plaid or patterned suit, black Oxford shoes or boots could be the best choice. 

  • Gray or charcoal suits

The best pair of gray is always black. Yes, no other color can beat a pair of black shoes that complement gray-hued suits. Most groomsmen prefer this combination. 

  • Brown or tan suits

Contrasting brogues are the best-suited shoes for brown suits. If it is a wedding or any celebrative occasion, choose a dark-colored brogue to show off your fashion sense.

Decoding Suit Terminology: Lapels, Vents, and More

You might think decoding suit terminologies is not necessary or out of the box. But if you’re to tailor your custom-made-to-measure suit at some point in your life, either for your wedding or for some important life event (personal or professional), knowing these terminologies will be of great use to you. Most importantly, these terminologies will change the way you look at suits or tuxedos and greatly influence your buying decisions. 

Of course, we cannot cover all terminologies in one shot. So, in this short blog post, let’s explore only around ten important suit terms and their definitions in brief.  

  1. Lapel

In simple words, this is the collar of suit jackets, coats, or blazers. These are formed by folding the front edge of the suit and sewing them at a particular angle. These folds are not functional; they are for aesthetic purposes.  

  1. Cufflink

These are button-like ornamental devices that help secure the shirt cuffs around the wrist for a perfect fit. They are made of wood or toned metal and pass through the button holes of the dress shirt. This is both a functional and aesthetic part. 

  1. Necktie

It is the long piece of narrow cloth worn under the shirt collar that is tied at the front and extends up to the waist. Initially, it was used to cover the buttons of a button-down shirt. But now, the primary purpose has been redefined—to give a formal look and earn respect or self-confidence.   

  1. Tiebar

Also referred to as a tie-slide or tie-clasp, it is a rectangular-shaped functional part of the suit that holds together the necktie and the dress shirt. By clasping them together, men can avoid their neckties being flattered or flapped.

  1. Vent

It is the vertical slit found on the rear end or backside of a suit jacket or coat. It extends from the bottom hem to a few inches in an upward direction. These vents help relax while in a sitting position without any restriction from the coat or the jacket.  

  1. Canvas

A suiting canvas is a piece of cloth or material made of wool that helps give a proper structure or shape to the suit. It is loosely stitched to the jacket fabric and lies in between the outer jacket and the inner lining fabric.     

  1. Pant Break

Technically, this is the point where the trousers’ or pants’ silhouette breaks. Non-technically, this is the folded part that’s seen at the bottom hem of the trousers.

  1. Button stance

It is the position of the waist button on the suit jacket. Most standard-sized suits have a neutral button stance in which the button is positioned right at the waistline. While customizing the suit, it can go higher or lower. 

  1. Made to measure

As the name implies, the measurements of the suit are personalized for the wearer. However, the base of the suit remains the same. The advantage of these suits is their fitness.   

  1. Silhouette

Last but not least, it is one of the most important terminologies for fashion in general. Here, we will talk about the suit silhouette, which is nothing but the shape of the suit. It depends on the style, occasion, or theme of the event for which the suit is being tailored.

Selecting the Ideal Belt for Your Suit

“If you’re able to notice the belt, it can only mean two things—either it is styled poorly or it is used as a statement piece to improve the aesthetics.” —Anonymous

Initially, belts were a functional accessory that helped secure trousers or pants around the waist. However, these days, belts are no longer a functional accessory. They are more of a decorative or style element that grabs attention.  

Before we get right into how to select the ideal belt for your suit outfit, let’s get into the belt anatomy, the ideal length and width of belts, etc. that are essential. 

Anatomy of belts

The two main parts include a strap and a buckle. Other parts include belt loops, punch holes, and belt tips. 

Ideal belt length and width

The ideal belt length for your waist is calculated by adding 2 inches to your pant’s waist size. Also, another way to find the right length of the belt is by checking whether the tail end of the belt is long enough to get into your belt loop when fastening. Most importantly, the length does not vary between a formal or casual suit. On the other hand, there is no ideal belt width as it depends on the occasion or style of your outfit. 

Choosing the belt for a formal suit

Suit trousers have loops for belt fastening and hence belts are considered a mandatory part of the formal suit ensemble. Also, only a leather strap is considered formal with specific color choices, like black, brown, navy, or tan. Besides, the color of the belt must match the color of your formal shoes to balance the formal style. 

A belt for a formal suit must be only about 1 to 1.5 inches wide; therefore, it can look thin, sleek, and professional, adding value to the formal attire. In addition, small buckles made of golden or silver metal frames are preferable. So, when you’re selecting a formal belt, ensure you address all these factors.  

Choosing the belt for a casual or informal suit

Unlike formal belts, belts for a casual suit need not be small, thin, leather-made, or in black or brown hues. Belts for casual suits can be wider than 1.5 inches and need not be hidden under the overcoat like formal belts. These can be made visible as these casual belts are worn for aesthetic purposes.

The material of casual belts can be vinyl, braided, suede, webbing, or canvas-made. The buckles can be of box, plate, frame, O, or D-ring type. When it comes to color, casual belts can be of any hue. In other words, these belts look smart, rugged, and often a statement piece. 

For casual attire, the color of the belt and its buckle need not match the shoes or other accessories. 

Now is the time to check if you own both belt types to style your formal and casual suits! 

Conclusion

As this blog post has educated you on how to select or choose a belt for a particular suit style, you can improve your purchasing decision the next time you buy one.

How to Personalize Your Wedding Suit: Adding Your Signature Style

Of course, a wedding is one of the most important life events that one can cherish forever. Needless to mention, every bride takes time and effort to personalize and design her wedding gown. How about the groom? Most of them buy standard, ready-to-buy suits. 

But, according to us, the Bucco Couture for men, every groom must choose to personalize his wedding suit. Indeed, this is one of the different ways he can express his individuality. Also, tailoring a custom wedding suit with simple tweaks or personal touches can help reflect his personality and style. Here are some important tips for the groom to add a signature style to his wedding suit. 

Tips to personalize your wedding suit

  1. Choose between traditional and non-traditional custom suits

This should be the first thing to happen as soon as the groom decides to wear a custom or bespoke suit on the wedding day. Both traditional and non-traditional custom suits are excellent choices. The only difference lies in the extent of personalization. 

In other words, a traditional custom suit is made of the usual fabric, wedding color choices, and accessories but tailored to measure. On the other hand, a non-traditional custom suit is also made to measure but with personalized fabric, weaves, embroideries, cuff links, lapel pins, seams, style, etc.    

  1. Personalize the fabric, color, lining, etc.

Honestly, if you want to add your signature style to the wedding suit, you have to customize almost every element of the ensemble. From choosing the unique comfy fabric to personalizing the lining, from picking the color of the suit (to match the wedding theme) to selecting the right accessories, you need to impart your ideas and style statements. In fact, you can express anything you want through custom fabrics, lining material, fit, etc.

  1. Accessorize the suit with your personal touch  

There are umpteen ways to personalize the accessories of a wedding suit. Listed below are the most preferred customizations in recent years:

  • Customizing the cuff links instead of the usual buttons
  • Personalized monograms on the inner layers of the suit
  • Adding a personal message on the necktie
  • Including lettered lapel pins in your accessories 
  • Etching the shoe heels with your thoughts
  • Tailoring the suspenders with your custom ideas  
  • Sourcing custom-printed socks, neckties, etc. 
  1. Trust the leading men’s suit designers

The overall aesthetics of the custom wedding suit heavily depend on the quality of the tailoring and only experienced bespoke suit designers can ace it without fail. They take utmost care in maintaining the quality of every detail, including the seams, lining material, hem perfections, necktie or pocket square precision matching, cuff link attachments, buttoning in the waistcoat, etc. 

Conclusion

It is not necessary to try every customization tip listed above. Choose the ones that feel exciting and relevant to you, your wedding theme, and, most importantly, the likes and dislikes of your partner. 
Bucco Couture is one of the leading men’s bespoke suit designers in the United States. Their experienced and professional tailors can demonstrate excellent craftsmanship for custom suits. Their stylists are up-to-date on fashion and trends and can give the best suit styling tips. Explore how Bucco caters to wedding suit needs >>>

A Gentleman’s Guide to Dressing for the Occasion

Dressing up for occasions is the art of choosing the right outfit, accessories, and style to match the gatherings and ambiance of the event or occasion. After all, you make efforts to dress up just to keep yourself comfortable, confident, and presentable. When it comes to special occasions, your presentability depends on the event you’re attending. As simple as that!   

Here are some simple tips and guidelines for men to get ready appropriately based on the type of occasion.   

  1. Wedding occasions
  2. Semi-formal occasions
  3. Formal occasions 
  4. Cocktail parties
  5. Funerals or condolences 

Wedding occasions

Wedding attire for men totally depends on factors like the type of wedding (formal or informal), the venue of the wedding ceremony, whether a dress code is being followed or not, the theme of the ceremony, the time of the wedding (morning, noon or evening), and most importantly, who you are (groom, groomsmen, or father of the groom, etc.)  

Another factor that greatly influences your attire for wedding occasions is the time of the year. Each season has its own suit style, choice of colors, fabric, and a lot more. For example, winter weddings need double-breasted thick woolen suits for insulation. On the other hand, summer weddings need  

Semi-formal occasions

Examples of these occasions include dinner with business leaders or VIPs, casual business gatherings, or semi-formal meetups. You cannot take it for granted on these occasions, as semi-formal also means formal. Therefore, maintain your formal suit but without a tie. This is the simplest semi-formal attire. Based on your profession, you can dabble with some new attractive shades instead of the usual neutral ones. If smart casuals are fine, a pair of jeans and casual blazers will complete your attire.   

Formal occasions 

Formal occasions need the utmost attention. Be it choosing the fabric, slacks, suit color, stripes, necktie, pocket squares, fitness, belt, shoes, etc., everything needs validation, whether or not they are suitable for formal occasions and whether they look professional and sharp. 

Solid dark-colored suits in grey, blue, or black are the perfect ones for these kinds of occasions. A regular fit formal suit should be the most comfortable one, even if you’re participating in a day-long formal event or gathering.      

Cocktail parties

Suits are recommended for this kind of occasion, and definitely not tuxedos. If you want to keep yourself safe with the attire, go with the usual black blazer and white button-down shirt. If you want to try something new, play with different colors, slight patterns, and unique accessories. But ensure you do not overdress than the host of the party.   

Funerals or condolences

A black suit with a white tie could be the most conservative way of dressing up for a funeral-like occasion. Never choose light-hued suits, as they may be eye-catching. Always stick to dark hues like black or navy blue. Forest green is also a great choice when it is subtly styled without flashy accessories. 

Apart from these, occasions like festivals, aristocratic events, beach parties, etc., have some basic guidelines. So, ensure to follow them to fit into the occasion and the gathering!

From the 20th Century to Present: The Evolution of the Modern Suit

Until now, men’s suits have seen leaps and bounds in terms of styling. The suits that men wear in the 21st century are not the same as the ones King Charles II or Beau Brummell wore three to four centuries ago. In this blog post, let’s explore the detailed evolutionary changes of suits from the 1900s to today.   

Just before the 1900s!

From the mid-1800s to the early 1900s (until the Victorian Era), frock coats were considered dapper. And men chose them as their everyday wear. Soon, these frock coats underwent slight modifications and got split into two—the morning coat and the lounge (night) coat. 

The morning coats had tail-like extensions and were considered more formal. On the other hand, lounge coats, as the name implies, were used for informal or casual events. These lounge suits had no tails and looked almost similar to today’s business suits. The only difference lies in the fact that in those days they were predominantly used for informal occasions and today the case is vice versa. 

In the first decade of the 20th century 

The tailors began giving importance to tiny details of the suit and made a lot of adaptations, like altering the lapel width, jacket length, buttoning point, the type of fabric, etc. With these subtle evolutions, the older men began choosing to wear colorful, contrasting, morning or frock coats. Whereas the country-side men began choosing dark-colored lounge suits for their everyday wear.

The Jazz age

This is one of the most noteworthy and significant periods in the history of the evolution of suits. It was the time when the overall men’s suit styling heavily relied on military uniforms and clothing. This resulted in a jazz age in which suits looked much longer than usual, trousers became cuffed, and men liked more draped-style suits.

More details include the widening of the pants (~11.5 inches), high-raised waistbands, more vibrant colors, patterns, fabrics, etc. Also, pocket squares and collar pins were first introduced in this decade, followed by the double-breasted waistcoat trend. 

The Golden age 

In this decade, the shoulders of the coats became much wider, the suits became much heavier, the trousers became much tapered at the bottom, and a lot more transformations eventuated to give men a highly masculine and heroic look. Also, in contrast to the so-far-seen close fit to the skin, suits became loose in style and fit, making them baggy. These refinements earned this decade the beautiful title “The Golden Age of Classic Men’s Wear!”

From the fourth to seventh decade

The 1940s, the World War II period, showed signs of minimalism, and the vogue was narrow lapels, trim-cut trousers, and reduced use of fabric (not much draping, double breasts, or waistcoats). The only exception was the zoot suit.

In the post-war period, the 1950s, the slim fit was not popular anymore and tailors began repeating the history with pleated pants and draped coats. Still, the youngsters of that generation rebelled against this suit style. Again, the ‘sack’ suit style came into use. This was followed by the ‘mod’ suit style, which again popularized slim-fit suits. 

The 1960s and 1970s were just an extension of the 1950s, with less importance and little transformation. 

From the 1980s to the beginning of the 21st century

When compared to the less significant last two decades, the 1980s had outstanding evolutionary changes. Yes, better silhouettes were focused on by giving less padding to the suits. Coincidentally, these were called power suits during the time of capitalism. The lapels were kept wide and the double breasts allowed for reentry. Yet, the 1990s made wavy transformations and had already been forgotten from the history of suits.   

The current millennium and chic suits!

Time and again, suits became slim-fit. In other words, they became slimmer and shorter, resembling the mod suit style with higher buttoning points.

Then came the internet and suit designers began tailoring made-to-measure suits. Also, the suits became more casual, more textured, more colored, and a little unstructured—to add a casual touch while keeping them professional and classic. 

Which suit style is your pick?After having seen such a long evolution, repetitions in the fit of the suit, adaptations in the details, etc., which suit style impressed you in particular? Let’s tailor one for you now… Reach out to the leading bespoke men’s suit designer—Bucco Cuture!

From Ancient Roots to 19th Century: The Evolution of the Suit

When thinking of men’s traditional and formal clothing, a suit is the only attire that comes to mind. There is no doubt about that, though they have been in practice for centuries, what men wear today—the modern suits are definitely the epitome of sartorial standards. However, how they evolved and transformed from ancient clothing to today’s timeless fashion is an interesting timeline of history to know. 

An introduction to primitive clothing

Nearly twenty thousand years ago, ancient humans made a cloth-like covering out of animal skin to cover and protect their bodies from rain and sun. Evidence from Egyptians proves that these coverings (commonly called the outer tunics or cloaks) went up to the knees and were fastened with the help of a hose (belt).

This ancient clothing evolved as the stone age progressed. Humans then used bone-made needles and piercing tools to make pieces of clothing. Vines from plants or strings from leather were used to stitch these pieces together to craft a proper cloth.

The 11th- to 13th-centuries

In Western Europe, men and women began pleating the fabrics to make skirts called bliauts. However, these early civilizations didn’t pave the way for much advancement in clothing. Then came the Renaissance era—a timepoint of notable disruption to human clothing and the inception of suit-like garments.   

The 14th- to 17th-centuries

The Italian tailors in these centuries transformed the bliauts into doublets that resemble slim-fit suit jackets. These doublets were used with hose and breeches (the trousers). 

Notably, this was the period in which the term “suit” was coined from the French words “suivre,” meaning follow, and “suite,” meaning ensemble. The French tailors named it to mean that a jacket follows a breech or vice versa and together these sets of garments form a suite. 

The French Revolution in the 1660s of the 17th century

Influenced by the French Revolution, King Charles II commanded all men in the royal court to wear suits—an ensemble of a long coat (blazer), knee breeches (trousers), cravat (necktie), petticoat (waistcoat), hat, and a wig.

The 18th- and 19th-centuries 

It was in the 18th century that men’s fashion was defined as three-piece clothing consisting of a coat, waistcoat, and trousers. 

Though this three-piece clothing itself was obtained by reducing the elements of what King Charles II decreed, Beau Brummell in the early 19th century further reduced the King Charles suit style. For example, heavily embroidered fabrics were replaced with minimally designed fabrics. The close-fit stockings or breeches were replaced with simple trousers. 

Then came the Victorian era and the frock coats, after which the morning and lounge jackets were crafted. Later, there were back-and-forth changes in single and double-breasted suit usage and little evolutions with slim-fit and baggy suits. Over decades, these new versions of less ornamental suit styles were considered an inspiration and reference to modern-day tailors and designers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The rest is history…

If you’re curious to know the detailed evolutionary changes of suits in the 20th century, stay tuned with us!

Red carpet looks from the 2024 Oscars

Thanks to the Oscars for resuming the nostalgic red carpet this year, 2024! Indeed, the Hollywood night was a little surprising regarding fits and styles. It was a mix of both traditional and non-traditional looks in this most prestigious “Academy Awards!”. Without further ado, let’s get into decoding a few men’s looks.

  1. Colman Domingo

From ordinary to extraordinary! What else can he add to his details—noticeable royal buttons, bigger finger rings, silver bracelet chains, bow ties with gleaming stones, and most importantly, the amusing steel-toe cowboy boots? 

  1. Ryan Gosling 

What a captivating full-black suit! The glittering seams and the attractive hot pink (visible) socks were well contrasted with the black suit. Needless to say, his watch was adorable.

  1. Chris Hemsworth

A conventional no-tie suit! The blazer was styled with satin shawl lapels and the white dress shirt had the first two buttons unfastened to add some style to the overall outfit.    

  1. Mark Ruffalo

His fashion sense was commendable and inspiring this year. You might see it as a usual black formal suit, but the fit was really chic and the details were absolutely unique. Though his red lapel pins were for a cause, they added value to his suit style. 

  1. Jeffrey Wright

Looking for a new style? He is not the one. His style was subtle, with a usual black two-piece suit, white shirt, a black bow tie, and a pair of shining black shoes. Of course, his brooch was unique and minimalistic. 

  1. Matthew McConaughey

An enticing coffee brown blazer and waistcoat paired with black elements—the regular fit trousers, peak lapels, and besom pockets. Do you think it’s a glow-up? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 

  1. Sterling K. Brown

What a twist in the tuxedo’s style! The navy blue suit was a new vogue element with a little tweak in the lapel design—the satin silk lapel hanging down beyond the blazer’s bottom end.

  1. John Krasinski 

While most men preferred dark colors—black and blue—in this year’s Oscars, John flaunted his cream and white suit. Kudos to his choices! The cream blazer looked stunning with a purple gemstone brooch. And the white shirt did justice to highlighting the suit.

  1. Robert Downey Jr

Perhaps he strongly believed in himself winning the Oscars for the supporting actor category and that’s why he dressed up in a great monochrome suit with a perfect fit and bolo tie. It was not the wide lapel. Not the high-waist style that grabbed everyone’s attention. It was the wide-legged retro trousers.

  1. David Oyelowo

He is another gentleman who stands away from a typical suit style and color. The pumpkin-orange suit he wore was elegant and complemented well with the dark brown inner-layered shirt. Even the top fashion stylists wondered for a second, what sort of lapel or shirt collar that was. 

Apart from these gentlemen, there were other show stealers, naming a few of them—Cillian Murphy, Riz Ahmed, Bradley Cooper, Willem Dafoe, Sam Rockwell, Dwayne Johnson, Paul Giamatti, and Shameik Moore.

Conclusion

At large, we could see that most of them chose to wear dark suits without a tie and open-necked shirts. However, there is sartorial learning in every new style or outfit that celebrities wear for grand award functions like the Oscars. What’s your favorite?

Guide to buying the best affordable suits for men

Suits are one of the go-to outfits for men. And it comes in different fabrics, styles, accessories, and specifications. Thus, finding the best affordable suits that match your budget and style preferences becomes challenging. This blog post could be your savior and guide you with quick tips on how to scout for cost-effective suits for men.   

Tips to buy less expensive yet best suits

  1. Choose the colors wisely

You might think black, blue, and gray suits are usual shades and are not fashionable. But when styled perfectly, they can be the most fashionable colors. Most importantly, almost all men look great when they wear these colors, irrespective of their skin tones. When light colors are your preference, try buying beige, light tan, or pink-shaded suits, as they can be styled in many ways. 

  1. Buy fabrics that look premium but are priced low

Fabrics play an important role in leveraging the style of suits. To your surprise, several fabrics on the market are cost-effective and can look extremely posh. So, try to play around with the suit fabrics, like cotton and linen. Tweed could be a choice if you’re fine with paying a little more. Wool-based fabrics can also be counted if you can source affordable, second-quality material. 

Another important aspect of fabrics is their seasonality. Cotton and linen are like all-season fabrics. Though tweed and wool are not all-seasoned, you can wear them for at least 4–5 months a year.  

  1. Check for style details

Every detail matters in a suit and adds value to the aesthetic. From the quality of linings to buttons or buttonholes, from lapels to pocket squares, from pockets to side vents, from padding to single or double-breasted, from two-piece to three-piece, every specification in a suit can do wonders. 

  1. Get the best fit

Standard suit sizes and fittings do not bring elegance. Every standard-sized suit sold on the market needs alteration to highlight the silhouette of the wearer. One of the best tricks to look elegant is to buy a less expensive suit and spend more on experienced tailors who can flawlessly alter the suit to your measurements. 

  1. Be smart with accessories

Adding trendy and stylish cufflinks, neckties, belts, and shoes can make an ordinary suit look stunning. Truly, you can find huge varieties in these accessories, like materials, patterns, fabrics, styles, colors, etc.  

  1. Find the major type of events or occasions you attend

Businessmen often attend formal events and they may need to fill their wardrobes with many formal or semi-formal suits. While some office-going or self-employed men may have to attend formal and casual events almost equally, in this case, you have to buy both formal and casual suits and try to mix and match them for different looks. 

Conclusion

Besides these tips and tricks to buy the best affordable men’s suits, a cost-effective alternative is tailoring a custom-made suit. It comes with the perfect fit and specifications of your choice at a reasonable cost. Thus, it is one of the best solutions to save costs when wearing a suit of your choice and style. 
If you never try, you’ll never know! So, try one now! Talk to the best men’s suit designers in the state—Bucco Couture >>>