Please be gentle. Picked up my MTM royal blue suit today...

[Cayne-Abel]

Yes, I know it's really ******* blue. I swear, when I picked the swatch, I guess I just didn't realize how blue. I'm a lawyer, but I work in a field / courthouses where there's a very mixed bag of "types" -- conservative vs. flashy, finely-tailored vs. pants puddling around the ankles, etc. Do I have any chance in hell in making this work in a business setting, even the one I described? What about in the summer? Is there anything I can do to tone it down? Maybe black shoes and tie?

Evenings? Weddings? Other special occasions?

What about the fit?

EDIT: just to throw in a little story...I wore the suit to court today. For whatever reason, black people (especially black women) seem to love it. At least a dozen of them complimented me - people on the street, lawyers, and court staff. All black. (One elderly white lawyer I know asked me if I lost a bet.) I just thought that was odd/funny.

 

[imatlas]

I have no problem with that color, in fact I quite like it. I’d wear it with a white or pink shirt and a green, yellow or blue tie in the Spring or Summer, and I think yes to black shoes/belt.

I’ll let others dissect the fit.

 

[Patrick R]

You made the news today: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/03/french-coronavirus-smurf-world-record.html

 

[bc78]

Despite your experience today, I wouldn't wear it to Court. I'd make it my wedding/special occasion/night out suit. Just my opinion

 

[dieworkwear]

I think the outfit might be a little too dandy for a courtroom.

 

[compuccesory]

Yes, I know it's really ******* blue. I swear, when I picked the swatch, I guess I just didn't realize how blue. I'm a lawyer, but I work in a field / courthouses where there's a very mixed bag of "types" -- conservative vs. flashy, finely-tailored vs. pants puddling around the ankles, etc. Do I have any chance in hell in making this work in a business setting, even the one I described? What about in the summer? Is there anything I can do to tone it down? Maybe black shoes and tie?

Evenings? Weddings? Other special occasions?

What about the fit?

EDIT: just to throw in a little story...I wore the suit to court today. For whatever reason, black people (especially black women) seem to love it. At least a dozen of them complimented me - people on the street, lawyers, and court staff. All black. (One elderly white lawyer I know asked me if I lost a bet.) I just thought that was odd/funny.

A very dapper black lawyer pulled off almost the exact same suit last time I was at court. People with darker skintones can pull off different colors that us palefaces cannot.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

It's a fantastic suit. You can really see the quality of the tailoring. I'm a lawyer too, and I wouldn't wear it to court. It's just too colorful. That said, again, it's a fantastic suit. WELL worth the money, even if you can only wear it out to dinner, to weddings, etc. In fact, do you happen to know who makes the cloth, and what it's called / its style number? I'm going to order suits in a few months and I'd love to have one in that color.

It's funny that you got a lot of compliments from black people. When I lived in Chicago there was a men's store that specialized in styles favored by black men. I think it was right across the street from the Daley Center. I've no idea if it's still in business, I haven't lived in Chicago for 20 years. But that store used to have the greatest suits in its main display window -- mustard yellow, lime green, etc. I ALWAYS wanted to buy one of those suits. At the time I couldn't afford to do something like that on a whim, though. But that store might have offered a suit in this color. It would have been one of their more conservative choices, but I can imagine finding a suit like this there.

Actually I'll bet that if you wear this suit to social gatherings upper-income clients in their late 40's - early 60's will be drawn ot it. It's a confident choice. A little too much for court but just perfect for a benefit, a cocktail party at someone's home, etc.

 

[Ebitdaddy]

Cool for summer?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Since we're on the subject, a few other sartorial thoughts: (1) the lapels are too aggressive. A little too wide, and they actually point up rather than down. They work fine with that color but they'd be out of place in a more conservative color. (2) I think pants should have cuffs, people have different opinions on that issue but IMO cuffs are essential; (3) the walnut monk straps are too showy for court as well. When you're a litigator it's good to look sharp, a little fashionable is OK too, but double monk straps are too aggressive for court IMO. That said, they are really nice and the obvious quality of the shoes (and the way you've cared for them) means that you can get away with them. But I'd choose a more conservative style, especially if you're going with walnut. (I wear walnut shoes to court sometimes too but they're brogues, captoes or shortwings.)

Seriously, though, if you could PM me with any info about that fabric I'd be most grateful.

Fit is DEAD ON, really really really good. The cuffs are a lot higher than mine, but my guess is that you chose that length? If so I can envision the look you were going for, and I think you achieved it.

 

[asturiano]

why are the front darts looked skewed and not straight? Maybe the angle of the photo? It is very clear on the second pic but not on the first one?

ps I like the shoes, from where are they from?

 

[Camerashy]

Looks as if it wants pressing down the right side

 

[Phileas Fogg]

I’ll offer a contrarian view and say I cannot see the quality tailoring here. The shoulders fit and the slacks are good. The suit simply has no drape. The lapels are pulling off of your chest and it’s cut so close your pocket square is causing bunching and creating an unsightly bulge. The sleeves, too, are cut too tight causing rippling around the forearm.

You look like you’re pretty fit so it doesn’t look like a complete disaster. There’s a lot that good, but you probably work hard at keeping yourself in shape and deserve better from tailored clothing.

The color is not my cup of tea, at least for a suit and I cannot offer an opinion on whether it’s appropriate to wear to court.

 

[Cayne-Abel]

why are the front darts looked skewed and not straight? Maybe the angle of the photo? It is very clear on the second pic but not on the first one?

Probably the angle, coupled with the fact that my torso was rotated in the 2nd pic, and maybe the pocket square bunching up and bulging?

ps I like the shoes, from where are they from?

Thank you. Allen Edmonds.

 

[Cayne-Abel]

I’ll offer a contrarian view and say I cannot see the quality tailoring here. The shoulders fit and the slacks are good. The suit simply has no drape. The lapels are pulling off of your chest and it’s cut so close your pocket square is causing bunching and creating an unsightly bulge. The sleeves, too, are cut too tight causing rippling around the forearm.

You look like you’re pretty fit so it doesn’t look like a complete disaster. There’s a lot that good, but you probably work hard at keeping yourself in shape and deserve better from tailored clothing.

The color is not my cup of tea, at least for a suit and I cannot offer an opinion on whether it’s appropriate to wear to court.

Some of the things you noticed might be my fault. I asked for a very fitted look. I believe I gave the tailor some photos of Conor McGregor and his suits as a reference point. A mistake in hindsight, as I'm not nearly as fit as he is, but thanks for the compliment.

Regarding the drape, I was told that it's best to wear the suit at least 4-5 times to allow the canvassing to break-in and mould to my body before considering alterations to remove the lapels-pulling-off-my-chest issue that you (and the tailor) both noticed.

 

[Cayne-Abel]

It's a fantastic suit. You can really see the quality of the tailoring. I'm a lawyer too, and I wouldn't wear it to court. It's just too colorful. That said, again, it's a fantastic suit. WELL worth the money, even if you can only wear it out to dinner, to weddings, etc. In fact, do you happen to know who makes the cloth, and what it's called / its style number? I'm going to order suits in a few months and I'd love to have one in that color.

Thank you (and everyone else) for your feedback, both positive and negative.

To answer your question, the only information I have regarding the fabric is that it's from Ariston, an Italian fabric mill.