How Important is Wearing a Suit in the 21st Century

It is often said that dress rules have become more relaxed and casual, especially since the advent of dress down days at work and the widespread opinion that results matter more than appearance, but is this really true for men?

Wearing a suit for formal occasions, interviews and in certain types of profession is still the convention for a number of good reasons.

Clothes have a transformational power not only for the wearer but also for the observer. Wearing a well-cut, stylish suit can give a man confidence when it is necessary.

It is also believed that dressing professionally improves self discipline and this is true not only of those in the military. A suit suggests planning, forethought and being prepared but also sends out the message that the wearer has considered the situation important enough to take some trouble with his appearance.

Seeing a man in a suit also works psychologically on the observer.  It suggests professionalism, someone to be trusted and in whose judgement one can have confidence. It is not surprising, therefore, that a suit is generally the choice for those in the legal and business professions where trust is an issue. It is generally said that people form their impression of someone they are meeting for the first time within the first three seconds.

However, the style of the suit also matters. It is probably best to avoid the extremes of fashion in the more conventional professions, so the current trend for skinny leg trousers and tight fitting jackets that only just button is probably not a wise look for those ambitious for success in their careers in these environments.

Choosing a well-cut suit need not depend on buying a ready-made outfit from a top designer name.  For the same amount of money a man may be able to get a better quality suit by choosing bespoke tailoring.

The current “classic” style is one that is not likely to look dated very soon is a suit cut that would appeal to a military officer, one that accents a sense of the masculine through broad shoulders, a slim waist and slim trousers.

It needs to be made of good cloth and fit the wearer well and this is where expert tailoring will make all the difference. For anyone within reach of the UK capital, tailoring in London is still considered to be the best in the world. It is, after all the origin and home of the classic man’s suit.