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Now that we’ve officially entered winter, it’s time to get a three piece suit. Though not a winter staple per se, December festivities give you a chance to dress up in your best, and a well tailored three piece suit delivers.

What is a three piece suit?

A three piece suit is composed of three pieces – the suit jacket, matching trousers and a waistcoat. The waistcoat can either match the rest of your suit, or be in a striking contrast to it. There are a few things to keep in mind though. The last button on your waistcoat should be left undone. Your waistcoat should cover your trouser belt line, without going too far below it. And finally, don’t pair a three piece suit with a belt.

How to wear three piece suits

Three piece suits are usually perceived as formal, but that doesn’t mean they have to be stuffy and boring. Fashion lovers regularly add playful elements like bold suit patterns, colored shirts, bold ties, etc to adapt it to semi formal occasions. But if you’re new to three piece suit territory, then we suggest you start safe and explore with fun styling as you get more comfortable in it.

What is Color Of The Year?

Before we elaborate on the qualities of Classic Blue, let’s talk a bit about the concept of Pantone Color Of The Year. The selection process involves a heavy amount of trend analysis; Pantone’s trendspotters keep an eye out for new color influences in different fields, from art to fashion to tech, throughout the year. This is serious business, since color plays an important part in contributing to the visual identity of everything from product to brand. And therefore, Classic Blue being chosen as THE color of 2020 was not a flippant decision, but one reflecting the collective consciousness of the moment.

Classic blue in menswear

Blue has always been one of menswear’s favorite colors. In fact, it’s one of the safest colors; it looks good on everyone no matter their age or skin tone. It’s the color of style staples rather than trendy buys (we’re not talking to you turquoise blue). And it’s versatile enough to be worn day and night. Just think of all the men you know who’ve paired blue shirts with blue jeans over the past twelve months. Therefore, with the spotlight on Classic Blue this year, you have the freedom to revel in this color and style it accordingly.

 

The phrase “smart casuals” sounds ambiguous, and yet it has a strong grip on the fashion world. The simplest way to explain it is that it’s more dressed up than casuals, but less formal than business formals. The typical smart casual look will usually have two of the following – chinos, dark-coloured jeans, shirt, or blazer. Comfortable, yet not slouchy, this is the ideal casual dress-code for grownups.

Basics of a smart casual wardrobe:

Before you splash out on a new wardrobe and spend all your savings there, it’s good to remember that you can begin to create a smart casual wardrobe with a just few foundational pieces. Plus, these pieces can easily be accommodated in your business casual wardrobe too. Here are the four core pieces of a smart casual wardrobe:

Chinos form the base of most smart casual looks. They’re not as casual as jeans and they’re not formal like formal pleated trousers. Custom made Washed Chinos from Tailorman are as comfortable as lived-in jeans and can be customized to suit your personal taste. Classic colors like khaki, navy and beige go with almost everything. Plus, washed chinos with a bit of stretch are as comfortable as worn in jeans, if not more so. Chinos are perfect for any occasion where the dress code is vague and the only thing you know is that your sweats and faded jeans won’t do.

There was a time not too long ago when working for a corporate meant dressing up in formals every day. Thanks to the tech boom and the popularity of relaxed work environments, nowadays you often find company employees coming to work wearing casuals, and sometimes, even sweats. Apart from organizations where the employees are expected to convey their professionalism through their clothing (like banking, government, and law), most companies don’t push for formals. However, this does not mean that you wear your favorite graphic t-shirts or saunter in wearing your gym clothes. Instead, the ideal dress code for such work environments is smart casuals, or as we like to call it, casual wear for grown-ups.

Smart casuals are elevated basics. Therefore the fit is impeccable, the fabrics are high quality and styling details are subtle. Smart casuals make you look professional yet approachable.

Tips: Pair a white, check or striped button-down shirt with tapered navy or black chinos. Keep your tan and khaki chinos for Fridays. If you do wish to wear them, balance them with an unstructured navy blazer. Similarly, keep your printed shirts for Fridays. Another look to try – wear shirts with dark wash denims and layer with knit blazers or fitted cardigans.

Don’t forget to add a navy blue and grey suit to your workwear options in case important conferences or business meetings crop up. This way you are really prepared.

Accessorize your looks with Derby shoes or Chelsea boots.

No event creates as much stress in a man’s life as an impending interview. We understand the importance of turning up dressed just right so as to make a positive impression on the interviewer. But in a sea of vast sartorial choices, where do you even begin?

Start with research

A bit of research will tell you exactly what works best at the company you are interviewing for. Go through the Linkedin or Facebook pages and check out the pictures of company events to get a general idea. If you live near the office, you can wait around to see how the employees come into work every day. And finally, if you know someone who works at the office, you can drill them for all the details.

Here we have curated three looks for three popular dress codes:

There are traditional companies that follow the formal dress code. This is more so when their employees directly interact with customers and therefore represent the company on a day to day basis, e.g. banking, finance, law, and government. Exude authority and professionalism by pairing a solid navy or dark grey single-breasted suit with a classic dress shirt in white or light blue. Accessorise with a complementing skinny or regular tie and black or brown leather Oxfords.