Branching Beyond Suit Solids
Adding patterns to your suit repertoire is an excellent way to break up the monotony of your solid suit separates. While this wardrobe upgrade can definitely be exciting it is worth noting that there are several rules to keep in mind to successfully wear patterned suit pieces without committing any major fashion faux pas.
To begin, consider that all patterned pieces fall along a spectrum of formality; from formal to informal. The three main criteria that dictate where a suit piece falls on this spectrum are: color, pattern size and pattern content.
Color: This is a fairly easy one to grasp, neutrals and subdued tones make for more formal articles of clothing than bright and ostentatious colors. Tone on tone, color coordinates and the like all lend variety and determine scale placement when it comes to how formal a suit piece will be perceived.
Pattern Size: Generally, the larger the constituent pieces of the pattern the less formal the piece will be perceived. Consider this: a shirt with fine vertical striping actually presents a solid field of color from a distance, whereas fatter stripes tend to stand out more. The difference between prison stripes and a well designed pinstripe are an excellent visual of this distinction.
Content: It goes without saying that a geometric pattern will probably be more formal than a grid of goldfish on your tie. That said, geometric does not always equal formal; remember polka dots are technically a geometric pattern however will never be considered formal on a shirt.
Non Printed Woven Suit Patterns
When it comes to actual suit jackets and pants (rather than pieces like shirts, mens ties and pocket squares) patterning will be achieved through the weave of the fabric rather than printing on the fabric or embroidery. Common patterns include pinstripe, hounds tooth, check and birds eye (there are however many more patterns and variations that can be found at any quality suit store.
As a general rule pinstripe is considered the most formal of the woven patterns with bird’s eye in a close second. Observe that both of these woven patterns are rather delicate and rely upon very small amounts of thread differentiation to create the effect. When it comes to less formal patterns like hounds tooth or check larger amounts of variation in thread color, texture and weaving pattern create bolder effects.
So long as you dress appropriately and at the right level of formality for your occasion feel free to play with textures as you develop your own personal style. Remember the worst that can happen is you chose a textured suit piece or separate that looks less than ideal. Baring experimenting at a job interview you generally have little to lose for small fashion mistakes.
Other Related Articles You May Like:
Guide to Mens Linen Suits
Guide to Mens Shirt Collars
Your Mens-Ties.com Team