Why no love for the three piece suit?

[mrjester]

Some 3 pieces look great I think. Like a lot posted on this page. But a 3 piece in a standard conservative fabric in grey/blue isn't that great. Damn near any in MrDaniels post are awesome. But not my style.

 

[Stugotes]

Not that great? What is, then? Those abominations from The Rake?

 

[Big Texas]

To be honest, it is not uncommon to see young man in their 20s wearing a three piece to work.

As opposed to old men in their 20s?

Sorry, couldn't resist. But seriously, this is all relative. I see a lot more three-piece suits -- and more suits, in general -- in NYC than I do in LA or SF. In those latter cities, the suit is almost nonexistent among the general working population. It's concentrated to a relatively small niche of wearers, most of whom seem to work in finance. One of these fellows could pull off a three-piece and look a bit eccentric, though not entirely out of place. But anyone not required to wear a suit to work would almost certainly appear to be in period costume. A recent obsession with period dress among the hipster set has given rise to a very modest and very idiosyncratic comeback. But it will be short lived.

The three-piece isn't extinct, per se, but it has been extirpated from wide swaths of the country -- sort of like the brown bear, or the Orange Julius.

 

[George Rond]

You do not have to be any particular age to wear a 3pc suit. They look great on anyone, and I find the vest very comfortable. I have only three piece suits and I wear them whenever I can, which is any time I go out in public. I feel I always look nice. I have pride in myself and in my appearance. I get compliments daily. If you feel like you might like to try a three piece but are afraid of the expense, there are plenty of them on eBay and in thrift stores at reasonable prices. You should try them. It may be an experience that you will like.

 

[VinnyMac]

You do not have to be any particular age to wear a 3pc suit. They look great on anyone, and I find the vest very comfortable. I have only three piece suits and I wear them whenever I can, which is any time I go out in public. I feel I always look nice. I have pride in myself and in my appearance. I get compliments daily. If you feel like you might like to try a three piece but are afraid of the expense, there are plenty of them on eBay and in thrift stores at reasonable prices. You should try them. It may be an experience that you will like.

They CAN look good on anyone. Some do make you look like an old man. Some make you look like you're trying too hard to be young. Then again, that's the case with any type of clothes.

 

[Coburn]

I love three piece suits. Since I went MTO, I only buy 3 piece.

I wouldn't say it is any more formal then a 2 piece. However, I think filmmakers and TV use the 3 piece as a visual metaphor for "the boss".

I agree with an earlier poster, in most work places, people see the vest the way they see a pocket square -- not as a signal of higher status so much as a signal for 'a dude'

I don't mind this. Where I work, people think you're well dressed if you wash you underwear.

 

[HarveySpecter]

No matter how old you are, a good bespoked 3-piece suit will look great on ANYONE. I'm still in my teens and I wear them! You essentially get 2 suits when you buy one, a 3-piece and a vestless 2-piece.

 

[MisterFu]

You do not have to be any particular age to wear a 3pc suit. They look great on anyone, and I find the vest very comfortable. I have only three piece suits and I wear them whenever I can, which is any time I go out in public. I feel I always look nice. I have pride in myself and in my appearance. I get compliments daily. If you feel like you might like to try a three piece but are afraid of the expense, there are plenty of them on eBay and in thrift stores at reasonable prices. You should try them. It may be an experience that you will like.

As someone who (when wearing a jacket & tie) also almost always wears a waistcoat or 3 piece suit (for 20+ years), I'd say it's something that requires a degree of confidence. Clothes should, frankly, be fun to wear; if you aren't able to shake that sense of self-consciousness when wearing the more formal setup of a 3 piece, it may not be for you (and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that).

It's not entirely unlike the bow tie (which has also seen a resurgence as of late). I once, years ago, tried to wear a bow tie and felt like a doofus in doing so. I never again wore a bow tie because (right or wrong) I felt I couldn't pull it off - it just wasn't who I am. Put simply, you have to wear the clothes or they will wear you.

 

[David Reeves]



Some 3 pieces look great I think. Like a lot posted on this page. But a 3 piece in a standard conservative fabric in grey/blue isn't that great. Damn near any in MrDaniels post are awesome. But not my style.

Nah, a solid navy or charcoal looks super powerful:

http://clothesonfilm.com/michael-caine-in-get-carter-killer-suit/20222/

 

[George Rond]

No way could I wear a bow tie. On m they look silly, and I feel dilly in them. Three piece suits,no. I feel and look great in them.

 

[MisterFu]

Nah, a solid navy or charcoal looks super powerful:

http://clothesonfilm.com/michael-caine-in-get-carter-killer-suit/20222/

By the way, your suits are spectacular.

 

[Roycru]

I have been wearing three piece suits my entire life. Here I am last December buying a Dundee Cake for our Christmas tea wearing a brown tweed three piece suit that I got at Brooks Brothers in 1965. I have lived in Los Angeles my entire life (so far)......

 

[Roycru]

Here I am in March of this year, wearing another Brooks Brothers three piece suit that I got in the late '60's.....

 

[Roycru]

Before church last Christmas Eve, wearing another Brooks Brothers three piece suit from the late '60's......

 

[Roycru]

Tuesday of last week wearing a Brooks Brothers Special Order three piece suit from March 1976......