We live, undoubtedly, in an age of relaxed business dress. Casual Fridays have turned into Casual Weeks, and working men are encouraged to value comfort above all other considerations. We certainly would not want you to be uncomfortable in your job; after all, comfort can be helpful to improve performance. However, too much comfort can actually impede performance. It can cause us to grow slothful and careless in our work. We would therefore encourage every man who works in an office setting to avail himself at least part of the week of traditional business dress, and that means a lounge suit. Think of this as our guide to the first step in that progression.
If you are buying a business suit for the first time, it’s best to search for something simple and versatile. A two-piece suit, consisting of trousers and a jacket, will be fine for almost any office, respectfully formal without being too showy. Look for a suit whose waist is not too low and whose armholes are not too low; going higher in both of these will aide your freedom of movement. The lapels of your jacket can be thinner or thicker; the recent trend has been towards skinny lapels, though that is beginning to reverse. It’s generally best to keep everything in proportion to your body, so if you are a larger man, opt for thicker lapels, while thinner lapels look best on smaller men. Similarly, your own size will be a consideration when deciding what cut your jacket employs. If you are a barrel-chested man, it is unwise to try and squeeze yourself into a slim-fit suit.
For your first suit, we suggest either a dark gray color or a navy color. Both of these are extremely versatile, able to be matched with many combinations of shirt and tie; moreover, both of these colors can take either black or brown dress shoes, meaning they can transfer from a more casual daytime environment to a formal event in the evening with some modification of their accoutrements. They are acceptable at weddings and funerals, at work meetings and job interviews. They are the suits of a man who knows what he wants from the world and how to get it. Yes, that man is you.
