A Guide to Mens Formal Attire

No one will admit it but formal men’s fashion varies according to your age. Teenagers can get away with a poor quality rental suit, while a supposedly established guy in his 40s won’t get any cred without a custom suit and premium necktie. By your mid-20s, though, your formalwear should already be up to 40 year-old scratch; it’s one of the surest ways to be taken seriously by both your peers and your elders.

Own Your Outfits
Before you can ‘own’ an outfit – that is, carry the look well – you have to literally own it first. Once you hit legal age, you should no longer be relying on rental companies for the clothes you wear to formal affairs. Your wardrobe ought to be sufficiently outfitted for all the outfits you could possibly need – including the dressy ones.

At the very least have a navy or charcoal gray suit, the chameleons of men’s formalwear. Because it’s still a suit, it passes many dress code requirements with flying colors. Do you need an office formal ensemble? Wear a light shirt with a dark tie under the suit. What about something dressy for after-six? Replace the office shirt with a dove gray one with no necktie. It’s a practical style chameleon – have one that’s really yours (read: preferably tailored).

If you’re up for an additional investment and you already have a navy suit, a black or gray one would also be a wise purchase. It’s a step up in terms of formality and, when worn with a slim and strong dark silk necktie, is just a few inches away from black tie attire.

Nothing beats a tux, however, in a formal contest of formalness. If black tie affairs are regular occurrences for you – say, at least four to five times a year – a tailor-made tux is definitely a good buy. Otherwise, you could do with a tux from the store, altered or fixed for a better fit if possible. A proper bow tie had also better be part of your plans; none of those pre-tied or elastic imitations will ever be as good as the real knot-it-yourself thing.

Trial and Error No More
Countless men make the mistake of trying to personalize (read: mess around with) formal dress codes, as if they were today’s new tastemakers. One thing you should realize at this point is that dress codes – the formal ones in particular – are always about tradition, not reinvention. Sure, the fits might fluctuate every now and then, but the basic pieces will always fundamentally stay the same. Want to try a new combination? Don’t bother.

Does the invitation say formal? At the very least wear a suit and tie; you don’t want to look like someone who wandered into the wrong door. If the card says black tie, there’s no other way to do it: wear a tux and a bow tie – although the under-40 crowd is usually amenable to a slim black suit and an equally modern skinny black tie.

Keep away from novelty combination like piping, contrast stitching, odd zippers or non-standard fabrics. Unless you’re trying to make a statement at a fashion industry event or a costume party, such suits aren’t very safe – or very good – ideas. Stick to the formula.

Simple is Stylish
Your age is inversely proportional to the risks you can take, and that goes for fashion as well. Avant garde styles and designs fresh off the runways are easier to pull off for the younger crowd. As you get older, however, you’ll want to start distancing yourself from such aesthetics in favor of a more subdued perspective.

It can’t be said enough: keep to the classic formulas of formal menswear. Keep your tuxedos, suits and ties classic if not simple. Not only do such pieces make fewer faux pas, but they also never go out of style, making them fantastic investments in your closet. At the same time, they make you appear more mature and sophisticated – something that formalwear is always supposed to do.

Safe does not have to mean boring; a bold necktie or printed handkerchiefs conveniently add uniqueness to black tie. Sophistication, however, always calls for understatement.

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