When to Wear a Double-Breasted Pinstripe Suit

[jcole208]

I recently found a flawless double-breasted suit at Goodwill. Although I wear suits to work nearly every day, I've never tried a DB, but it was so nice I couldn't pass it up for $10.

Here are the details: It's a 1980's era Christian Dior heavy wool navy pinstripe 6 x 2. It fits nearly perfectly, with the only complaint being the overpadded shoulders typical of the period.

That being said, it really does drape well, and I'd like to pull it out for special occasions if I can. One such possible occasion is coming up. I'm attending a college performance of Hamlet with my wife. Typical dress at this venue is coat and tie. I know pinstripe says "boardroom" to many, but would it work for an event like this or any of the other poll options that I can conceive of using it for?

 

[12345Michael54321]

A double-breasted pinstripe suit may be worn in most of the same settings where a single-breasted pinstripe suit might be worn. Not all, I admit. But most. (Although I don't really care for double-breasted suits in hot weather, as I find them somewhat warmer than I do their single-breasted counterparts.)

As for your concern that pinstripe suits are for the office (not necessarily boardroom), and not really for social occasions, this rule was never quite universally accepted, and in any case has over time lost much of the significance it once held. Today, in most places, nobody will think twice about your choice of suit, just because it has pinstripes and you're not in a business setting. Traditionalist that I am (more so than the vast majority of folks here on SF, I dare say), not even I am bothered at seeing a man in a pinstripe suit at the theater, a concert, or even a wedding. So if you want to wear such a suit to a performance of Hamlet, go right ahead, and not cause yourself even a trace of uneasiness by second-guessing the decision. A key aspect to looking good is being comfortable - physically and psychologically - in what you're wearing.

Personally, I try not to wear pinstripe suits to social events. Just a general preference on my part. But it's not like I'd feel self-conscious if I did have to wear pinstripes in such a setting. (Like if it were a last minute thing, and I didn't have time to go home and change my clothes.)

 

[jcole208]

Thanks, Michael.

Nice to hear from a "traditionalist" like myself.

 

[Balfour]

I'm a traditionalist and I don't really think of pinstripe as an optimal choice for social occasions.

 

[brax]

I agree with Balfour. I would never wear pinstripes outside of the business context.

 

[archibaldleach]

Personally, I would never deliberately wear pinstripe or chalkstripe suits to a social occasion. If I was wearing suits to the office everyday and I knew that I had a social event to go to after work, I would wear a solid suit that day. That said, if I was wearing a pinstripe or chalkstripe suit to the office and was invited out to some (not black tie) gala or other social event last minute, I would not feel self-conscious or that it was necessary for me to change.

I think the rule that pinstripe and chalkstripe suits are for the office is one that is less enforced and cared about these days. I still follow it and know some others who do and I think that solids still look more elegant IMO, especially in the evening, but most people are not going to care.

 

[tonylamer]

I think the rule that pinstripe and chalkstripe suits are for the office is one that is less enforced and cared about these days. I still follow it and know some others who do and I think that solids still look more elegant IMO, especially in the evening, but most people are not going to care.

I was at a wedding last week, and all of the men were wearing solids (charcoal or black). I'd just picked up a new La Vera pinstripe from the tailor, and I wanted to wear it out. I was literally the only one wearing stripes. Some young guys (20-25) were wearing lighter greys, but it was interesting to see how some "rules" persist.

Of course, absolutely no one noticed or cared.

 

[archibaldleach]

^ Would be interesting to know how much of this is a function of the fact that most people only own a couple of suits at most and may be smart enough to gravitate towards things that are less memorable (e.g. solids). The mention of black suits leads me to believe this wasn't a particularly rules conscious crowd.

 

[GBR]

A double breasted suit can be worn on most occasions - when fashion dictates many will. The pin strip cloth of this particular garment restricts it somewhat. A single breasted coat cut from the same cloth would be similarly restricted.

 

[Working Stiff]



I recently found a flawless double-breasted suit at Goodwill.  Although I wear suits to work nearly every day, I've never tried a DB, but it was so nice I couldn't pass it up for $10.  

Here are the details:  It's a 1980's era Christian Dior heavy wool navy pinstripe 6 x 2.  It fits nearly perfectly, with the only complaint being the overpadded shoulders typical of the period. 

This sounds like a really, really awful suit.