What’s in a Suit?

As the mom of two young boys, I’m constantly trying to find great clothes for them that not everyone around here has. For those of you with boys, you know how hard that can be since most clothing manufacturers all churn out a lot of the same things for boys: trucks, monsters, sports, etc. It seems like girls have so many more options available to be unique in the clothing they wear.

While it is hard to find normal clothes that are unique for boys, it can be incredibly difficult to find formal clothing that gives them a little uniqueness. I mean our options for boys are suits and tuxedos, right? Today, I’m going to talk a little bit about suits and exactly what they can “say” when worn.

• Distinguished Formality – There are many suits out there that are almost as formal as the tuxedo. Generally these suits contain a 3-button jacket and are in black or white. Naturally, the vest and tie also match and are also in a solid color, and the traditional dress shoes are worn to compliment. The great thing about a suit like this is that it can be worn to very formal events (where tuxedos aren’t required) and look just as nice as a tuxedo. For instance, at my wedding, my father wore a striking black suit and looked just as nice as the guys in the bridal party wearing their tuxedos
• A Casual Grace – Suits are great for looking formal, yet casual. How many beach weddings have we seen where the groom has chosen to wear a nice tan suit with his best pair of brown leather sandals…and pulls off the look? I’ve seen it a lot and have to admit, it’s probably one of my favorite looks for a beach wedding. Even for those who aren’t attending a wedding, suits can look nice and casual at the same time. In order to pull off this look, you can opt for a 2-button suit, a 1-button suit or an open jacket without any buttons. Colors include: charcoal, navy, gray, tan and in some instances, black. If you are going for the casual look, skip the vest and opt for a nice dress shirt and tie. Make sure the shoes look nice, but aren’t over-the-top and the look will be pulled off
• Unique Formality – Believe it or not, there are several ways to make a suit look unique. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to mix and match the shirt. Guys can go with solid colors (both pastels and bold colors), as well as, dress shirts with patterns (think plaid, paisley patterns, etc.) to give their suit a unique look. If solid colors are preferred, the tie is the next best solution. Have fun with the ties! They make ties in all colors, patterns and textures so finding one that’s unique to one’s individual personality shouldn’t be too hard!