Basic suit questions

[mediafred]

1. How many buttons should a suit jacket have? Two?

2. Are the choices between notch and peak lapel simply a matter of preference? OR is one more formal?

Thanks.

 

[H. neanderthalensis]

You can't go wrong with a two or three button suit. The two button is more classic and conservative, but nothing is wrong with a three button. For a three button you should only button the middle button.

I prefer a notched lapel. They just seem to be the standard. Peaks have a little more flare but I think for a suit a classic, clean, conservative look is best.

 

[mediafred]

What about trouser cuffs? Yes or no?

 

[JamesX]

Cuff use to mean country/casual suits. Now days all the rules are out the window. But I prefer no cuffs on my suits.

 

[H. neanderthalensis]

Rule of thumb is that if your trousers have pleats then cuff them. If they're flat front then don't. Cuffs and pleats are a bit outdated IMO. Every time I think of pleats and cuffs on trousers I think of grandpa. I rarely see them these days even on older men. I'm 31 and have never seen cuffs on any of my peers, friends, and coworkers at the office.

They can be stylish though. Ralph Lauren makes some nice suits that have pleats and cuffs, but I don't think I could pull off that look, yet. I'd stick with flat fronts and no cuffs for trousers.

 

[tgt465]

Cuffs are more an individual thing. For light weight fabrics cuffs are useful to add weight to the trousers so that they lie better with fewer wrinkles. For short people cuffs are less recommended as they break up the clean line of the leg, making the person look shorter. You should try to figure out what you prefer.

 

[Metlin]

Originally Posted by JamesX

Cuff use to mean country/casual suits. Now days all the rules are out the window. But I prefer no cuffs on my suits.
+1. And I prefer no cuffs on any of my trousers, period.