What Makes a Great Bespoke Suit

The experience of a well-dressed gentleman is not lost on anyone. Whether it’s for work, an engagement, a business meeting, a black-tie event, or a more informal party, everyone enjoys looking at a smart individual in a well-made bespoke suit.

Choosing a Bespoke Suit Jacket

There are over 35 different parts that make up a bespoke suit jacket. Broadly split into the front or back of the jacket, parts include the sleeves, collar, lining pleat, pockets, buttons, lapel, armseye, shoulders. These important parts of a jacket are ones that your tailor will focus on when creating your bespoke pattern. Dozens of colours are available for your suit jacket with the most common offered by suit suppliers being:

  • Black – a timeless classic that can be worn to a wedding, funeral and everything in between. A black suit is a must-have for any gentleman.
  • Dark grey – another classic business suit colour, dark grey means serious business.
  • Navy blue – every gentleman should have a navy suit in their wardrobe.

You can, of course, experiment with other colours, but the aforementioned colours are safe go-to colours for any man.

Buttons are always an interesting topic of conversation and there are rules surrounding how many buttons should be fastened on your jacket. One rule is that if you have three buttons, you should fasten the top two and keep the bottom button undone.

Trousers – Matching Fabric for a Strong Traditional Look

For a suit to truly match, the trousers should be made from the same fabric, and definitely the same colour, as the suit jacket. One important factor to consider when choosing trousers to match your suit jacket is whether they are pleated or not. Traditional suit trousers have a pleated front, which is designed to provide more comfort when sitting. In recent years, men have leaned towards a non-pleated trouser front, as it gives a cleaner overall look to the suit as a whole.

Waistcoat – Taking That Formal Look to the Next Level

Interestingly, before the 1940’s, a waistcoat was considered an essential part of a suit. World War 2 forced garment manufacturers to ration their supplies, and due to this, the waistcoat was dropped as an essential part of a suit. Even though that materials are no longer rationed, the waistcoat has remained an optional part of a suit. For a black-tie event, or to guarantee a formal look, always choose a waistcoat.