There is always a slight envious look from us towards a man well-dressed in a suit. When the fit, cut and colour is hitting all the right notes, it is hard to beat.
Some men see the suit as simply uniform. Something they are forced to wear for work, a cage for their fashion personality to break free from on a weekend. Here at AGR, we love suits with a passion. For us and many other men, the dream of a walk-in wardrobe of tailored suits is aspirational, if somewhat elusive one.
That doesn't mean we have to make do. There is a wealth of formal choices available for men. So, we wanted to bring you our choices of the key suits you should have in your wardrobe, no matter your budget or individual style choices.
A core foundation piece of any man's wardrobe, the navy blue suit can be your formal partner for any occasion. Probably the favoured colour of grooms on their wedding day, it can also easily take you from the boardroom to the bar.
If you had to buy any suit, this would be our number one choice. Preferably in a mid-weight fabric, single-breasted and with just two-buttons.
The navy blue suit is versatile, functional and can absorb a ton of different colours. Stick a white shirt underneath for the ultimate sartorial foundation, or partner with blue (even pink) if you feel confident enough.
So, whether this is your first or your fifth suit, there is always room in your wardrobe for a navy blue suit.
A saviour of your summer wardrobe, fabrics like linen, seersucker or hopsack will become your best friends in the warmer months. Not all men can don shorts as soon as the sun is out, especially if you work in a corporate environment. Turning to lighter fabrics will be your answer to remaining formal but cool.
Summer fabrics enable you to stay cooler because they have been made with a lighter weave during construction. This allows more air to circulate the body, helping you to stop getting so hot.
Don't stop with the fabric, reassess the fit and construction of your suits during summer. No one wants to remove their suit jacket to be faced with sweat patches. Give your body more freedom by eliminating linings and paddings as much as possible.
An overall more relaxed cut to your jacket will also help when combatting heat. This can take the form of a relaxed shoulder i.e. little or no padding that follows the natural slope of the wearer's shoulder.
Men can choose from a wealth of choices when it comes to a check suit. Personal favourites are a Prince of Wales check or windowpane.
Investing in a check suit is a great way for men to break the monotony of suit-wearing. By cautious choice, men end up with a wardrobe full of plain-coloured suits. This creates little room for personal expression, often leading to a self-imposed style rut.
What we like about a check suit is it has bags of personality depending on how impactful you want it to be. A tartan or houndstooth check suit is bold, while windowpane checks are more subtle.
The check two-piece also becomes more versatile when you break the suit down. Come wintertime, partner the suit trousers with a plain roll neck for a smart casual look.
A formal wedding suit is going to become more prevalent as we get older, with more of our friends and family starting to get hitched. Remember you want to look smart on the day paying awareness to any colour schemes the wedding might have.
For a flattering style that suits most body types, then you can't go wrong with a three-piece suit. Finishing touches like your tie or pocket square can be a nice way to bring through some of your personality.
A lot of weddings full within warmer days, so delve into different fabrics to help keep you cool. Linen or a linen-cotton mix is would be our choice.
Apologies for being morbid, but unfortunately, you will be attending a funeral at some point in your adult life.
This is not the time for a showy, fashion-forward number—a time of reflection. You should not be bringing attention to yourself with your outfit choices. Unless there is a particular celebration of colour to mark the passing, always opt for a classic two-piece, single-breasted black suit.
This navy blue suit from Reiss has a subtle stretch and is crafted from a wool-rich blend. As always Reiss delivers fantastically made formalwear for a competitive price.
Pastels are the perfect hue to see men through the warmer months. This textured blue suit from River Island is ideal for a wedding or an extra special date night once lockdown is lifted.
This suit is part of Massimo Dutti's on the go capsule collection. It offers stylish clothing that withstands the rigours of daily life while being able to be washed at home. Considering the current climate, one less excuse to leave the house and head to the dry cleaners could be a blessing.
Moving into summer doesn't mean you need to ditch the double-breasted jacket. As long as the fabric and fit is right you can still wear with distinction. This Moss Bros suit in beige is made from breathable linen letting you look sartorially on point all through summer.
With a half-canvassed jacket, this suit is bold and impactful. The peak lapels draw in the eye to the houndstooth English wool used to craft the suit.