Chapter 1 : How To Wear A Plaid Suit Men's suits in the s were wide, wide, wide. Broad shoulders, long jacket, wide lapels, and pinched in waist gave the silhouette of superman. Stripes were in as well as plaids, windowpane, tweed,and herringbone in all colors. You can get the 30s look with a modern suit with a distinctive. If you find it difficult to successfully match different striped patterns within a single outfit, you are definitely not alone. Many men have trouble finding the right balance to make sure they look great while still having fun with their striped garments. But it can be done! A very simple rule to follow: This should work as long as these two patterns are NOT the same. Ideally you would want to mix diagonal stripes on your tie with vertical lines on your shirt. The same rule applies to all garments in your ensemble: The key takeaway is not to repeat the pattern more than once. Go for different stripe proportions. Already wearing a tie with wide stripes? Then choose very thin stripes for your shirt. Wide and thin stripes can be a killer look! Color harmony If you have followed the two previous rules you are pretty much on the safe side now, but what if the colors you choose have no real harmony with each other? Leave the wild, clashing colors to your other accessories and only when it makes sense to do so, or when not working with overpowering patterns. Well, this extra tip will help you achieve that next level: A Few Great Examples: Wide stripes on tie, thin stripes on shirt. In this great example we can see how the first rules is perfectly applied. We have a very wide striped pattern over a thin pattern on the shirt. Oh and see the contrasting plain white collar? This detail took this ensemble to a whole new level! Pinstripe suit and striped tie. Here we have an amazing pinstripe suit paired with a colorful tie with stripes in many different widths. You can see how they match perfectly together with a plain white shirt. Blue and gold go great together, making this outfit an absolute winner. Three different stripe patterns. In case 2 different stripe patterns are not enough of a challenge to you, then go for 3! As long as you respect the three rules I have described, you will succeed. In this example we have a striped shirt, striped tie and a three piece striped suit; and yet it looks amazingly put together. And one again, we have the plain details in the pocket square and lapel flower. Matching suits and shoes. I hope this article will help you and make it easier to stay dapper and original! See also 4 essential suits you need in your closet. What other difficulties have you found when trying to mix different patterns? Leave them in your comments below. Page 1
Chapter 2 : How To Pull Off A Plaid Suit - AskMen Shirt and Tie Combinations with a Patterned Suit Patterns can add dimension, texture, and visual interest to your outfit, but many men are unsure of suit, shirt and tie combinations once you've added some pattern to the mix. Paul March 3, 0 Comments I am sure many of you are asking yourselves how to mix patterns of your suits, shirts and ties. There are some rules that you should follow. Once you learn them you can start to break them. But first things, first. Use solid colors for a start Mixing sold color shirts or suits with patterns is pretty easy. This is the easiest thing. If you are beginner at mixing patterns, always have one piece of clothing in solid color. Preferably shirt or suit. The safest is to go with white or pale blue shirts, since these colors go well with majority of suits. For a start try wearing navy blue suit, pale blue shirt and add some splash to the mix with pattern tie or pocket square. If you are feeling comfortable with matching patterns, try adding some pattern in the shirt also. I like to wear my ties in solid colors. You can wear windowpane suit, gingham checked shirt and solid tie and pocket square. I do not like to wear too many patterns, so having two patterns in your combination is more than enough. You will look distinctive from the majority of the guys wearing solid colors and on the other hand you will still look serious enough. If your patterns are the same, lets say checkers, they must be in different sizes. As different as possible. The first example I mentioned in paragraph above. Windowpane suit and gingham shirt. Windowpane suits have large squares, gingham shirts have small ones. Another example would be stripes. In both of these two examples person viewing us can distinguish the patterns more easily. You can go with sold shirt and patterned tie, but always pay attention to patterns. They must not clash. Mixing two different patterns If you are mixing two patterns that are different like squares and dots pay attention so they are close in size. If the checks on your suit are smaller, make sure your polka dot tie has smaller dots, or you can wear a solid suit and have a dress shirt in dominant pattern which is paired with a tie of different pattern but the same size. For example, solid gray suit, gingham check shirt and tie with stripes that are wide as closely as gingham checks. The example above shows how ties stripes and checks of the shirt are almost the same in size. Do not use too small patterns. They will be hard to distinguish and your style will look messy and chaotic. You have to have some experience in mixing patterns so that you can pull off three patterns mixing. Two patterns are quite enough. If you are brave enough you can try wearing three different patterns that are same in size. Like herringbone suit, checked shirt and striped tie. Make sure all patterns are close in size. You can go with two same patterns and one different. Like Glen plaid Prince of Wales suit, gingham shirt and striped tie. In this case you should separate in size two same patterns. For example you can wear large check suit, small check shirt and large stripe tie, or large stripe shirt, small stripe suit and polka dot tie. Keep in mind that the two same patterns have to be different in size. The suit has large checks, tie has the same pattern but much smaller and is close in size with the stripes of the shirt and dots of the pocket square. You can go with two solid colored elements, like suit and shirt and add patterned tie. In this case you can play with colors. If you are inexperienced in mixing patterns, start small. Add one pattern and when you are comfortable add another. If you are feeling brave add third one. What ever you do, you have to feel good in your combination and you have to know how to wear it. You have to have confidence in your style otherwise it will not suit you and you will not feel comfortable in it, meaning it is not for you and you should scale down. Page 2
Chapter 3 : The evolution of menâ s suits Fashion The Guardian The dress code for the Royal Wedding was specified as "Uniform, Morning Coat, or Lounge Suit." In short, if you have an appropriate uniform, wear it. Otherwise, full Morning Dress Code applies. Patterned fabrics help bring a breath of fresh air into what can otherwise be a somewhat stilted selection of suits. As one might expect, patterns are a bit more difficult than solid colors, and require more thought in their selection. As a general rule, patterns are less formal than solid colors, and so should be reserved for more relaxed occasions. The exception to this rule is the pinstripe, which in all but the most formal cases is on par with any other dark colored suit, and indeed forms an integral part of certain kinds of formalwear. The same is true of scale and constituent colors; large scale patterns are less formal than small scale ones, and bold, multicolored patterns are less formal than reserved, monochromatic ones. Stripes With that out of the way, the first pattern to consider is the stripe. Stripes on suits are always vertical, but come in a number of different styles. The first, foremost, and most classic is the pinstripe. A pinstriped suit, particularly a navy pinstriped suit, is an extremely traditional look, almost a uniform of sorts for the businessman. Pinstripes, as the name suggests, are very narrow though generally prominent stripes, most often in white, although gray is a not-uncommon choice, especially on dark gray or black suits. Occasionally one will find stripes in other colors â pastels were in vogue for a time â though these suits will quickly become dated once the fad has passed. Additionally, they limit the opportunities for wear, being both informal and somewhat more difficult to match with shirt and tie. A classic, white pinstripe never goes out of style. These, and all stripes, help to make the wearer appear taller, as they draw the face upwards, and can make a heavyset man appear thinner, by breaking up and drawing attention away from the solid midsection. This is particularly true for thin, close set stripes like the pinstripe. These stripes, which are generally set farther apart due to their greater width, are significantly less formal than the pinstripe, and while continuing to provide the appearance of increased height, are less appropriate for large men, as they can draw attention to ones girth. Checks Moving on from the stripe is the check. Checks come in a number of different styles, though the best known among them is probably the plaid. Plaid in American English is synonymous with tartan, the check patterns most closely associated with Scottish clans. In British English, particularly in Scotland, plaid refers to a thick tartan cloth used both as a blanket and thrown over the shoulder when wearing a kilt. What plaid is not synonymous with is check, which describes any fabric with crossing vertical and horizontal stripes. With the exception of a legitimate Scottish tartan worn as part of a formal occasion, checks are always less formal than solids or stripes. Glen Check While tartans are arguably the most familiar checks to most individuals, Glen check is likely the most common for suits. This check, often called Prince of Wales check, resembles a tartan, though it is primarily monochromatic. It utilizes bands of vertical and horizontal stripes which, when viewed as a unit, create a wider check effect in the fabric. Glen check has deep associations with the country and weekend wear â having been created for use by English nobles in Scotland who lacked a family tartan â though it is appropriate for most semi-formal occasions. It may be frowned upon in certain professions with a particularly strict dress code, but should be an acceptable if not welcome divergence for most men. Windowpane Another check option is windowpane, a much more bold option where the stripes forming the check are far apart, creating a checkerboard effect. Full windowpane suits are not frequently found anymore, though windowpane sports jackets may appear from time to time. A heavy dose of confidence and a certain amount of panache is required to carry off this kind of daring pattern. Herringbone and Houndstooth A more subtle option is the herringbone, a small arrow-shaped pattern most often found in heavy woven fabrics like tweed. Herringbone, like Glen check, is an appropriate pattern for most occasions, though because it usually adorns heavy fabrics, it is most often found on winter and country suits. Similar is houndstooth, which somewhat resembles a saw-blade, a pattern far more common on sports jackets than full suits. Nail-head is appropriate in any occasion where stripes would be, and can be substituted for solids on all but the most formal of occasions. There are a number of other patterns â bolder varieties of check, diagonals, argyle, paisley, Madras â though they are not to be found on suits, at least not on suits worn by a gentleman. These are things to be Page 3
considered in the realm of shirts, ties, and socks, which will be taken up in future, along with the true pattern art-form: Page 4
Chapter 4 : Mixing suit patterns A men's chalk striped suit, as popular by the name is a men's pinstriped suit with white colored pinstripes on them. The chalk striped suit for men comes in different colors like brown chalk striped suit, black chalk striped suit, navy blue chalk striped suit and so on. An old-school look is getting the new-school treatment. What is a plaid suit? The windowpane suit has both horizontal and vertical pinstripes that intersect to make boxes; the glen plaid is a tight twill pattern of broken checks; and the Prince of Wales is actually a glen plaid on a windowpane scale. When to wear a plaid suit? When it comes to the workday, the plaid suit is super-sartorial. It has a dapper, alt-executive demeanor that pulls a on the solid suit: It has a modish appeal that makes a solid seem outmoded and dull. The plaid suit owns distinctive style and eminent versatility. The individual components can be worn separately to more relaxed, stylish events. For instance, pair a bold-plaid blazer with jeans for your next date to impress her with your outside-the-box abilities. How to wear a plaid suit? The plaid suit presents you with many options. For the truly sophisticated, the patterning should be very subtle; trendier looks can be derived from bolder patterns. And since it does suffer from an old-timer stigma, the fit should be closely tailored in order to pull off a plaid suit. Ways to wear a plaid suit? Here the pattern is straightforward and what you see is what you get. Those with more fashion sense can probably pull together three patterns with a fair amount of ease though. The pattern in a glen plaid is much more subdued; you can always play it safe by wearing a solid shirt and a patterned tie or you can experiment with three patterns: Consider a striped or lightly checked shirt with a patterned tie. The intricate patterning and bolder lines running through a Prince of Wales plaid are more noticeable. The smart choice is always playing it safe: Go with the solid shirt and the patterned tie. Let the suit speak for itself in this instance. Why wear a plaid suit? The look is presently enjoying a modish revival that lands outside old routines. In a plaid suit, a man looks dapper, demanding and distinguished. More ways to learn how to pull off a plaid suit Chapter 5 : Mens Suit Patterns, Striped, Check, Windowpane, Houndstooth, Bird's Eye Many men have trouble finding the right balance to make sure they look great while still having fun with their striped garments. Proof: you'll hardly find pictures of men in suits mixing more than one single striped pattern. Chapter 6 : 3 Basic Rules To Mix Stripes When Wearing A Suit - My Dapper Self The other main style of stripe is the chalk stripe. These are stripes that are spread farther apart in contrast to the narrower pin stripe. The chalk stripe is worn as a more casual pattern and allows the wearer to create height. Chapter 7 : Bespoke Suits Online itailor The Men's Suit: Exploring Patterns. Now that we've mastered suit color and picked out the basic suits that should be in every mans wardrobe, it's time to begin thinking about adding patterns to the mix. Chapter 8 : 3 Piece Suits Custom Men's Three Piece Suits OWNONLY Pin stripe. Probably the most well known stripe today is the pin racedaydvl.com is a very thin (not wider than about 1/18 inch, usually about 1/30 inch wide) single stripe that gives the impression of a pinhead spot. Page 5