Suits look rather simple, considering all the complexities in their styles. Suit jackets alone are designed with utmost precision and care, with each part of it labelled for its uniqueness and arrangement.
There are various elements to look for in jackets before making a choice. They could be based on:
Material: Suit fabric is one of the most visible elements of the suit. It is necessary to choose a fabric of the best quality to ensure its longevity and toughness. A good suit jacket can last up to 20 years and more if preserved finely with appropriate maintenance and care. The fabric could be wool, linen, velvet, cashmere, cotton, etc. Some of them are on the expensive end but are worth it because of their quality and richness. While selecting the material, consider checking the:
- Breathability: This aspect is about how light or easy a suit fits on the body. It is usually easier to wear thinner material in the summers to avoid sweat and heaviness.
- Fabric texture: A fabric can be smooth or coarse on the surface, depending upon the material. Some can even gather lint. Lighter fabrics like linen gather less lint.
- Weight: Some materials are heavier than others, making them much more durable too. These extra layers of material can be advantageous during winters to bring warmth.
Colour and pattern: Suit jackets come in a variety of combinations of colours and patterns. Choosing a pattern of the knit of the fabric is necessary to evaluate its tensility. Close-knit patterns last longer and do not tear easily. It could also be knit fashionably in lines or cross stitches according to the necessity of the design. These are mostly available in classy shades of blue, grey, black, etc. Other colours can mostly be seasonal and customized choices but also available otherwise.
Lapel: Lapels are the collars of the jacket. They are divided into three types of designs, i.e. notch, peak, and shawl. They all shape the jacket and are each worn on specific suiting occasions. They could have incisions or be plain depending on their type, which could either be worn for ballroom dances or a Sunday afternoon brunch in their unique way.
Vents: Vents are the slits behind the jacket on the bottom. They help in adjusting by flaring or spreading when one needs to sit or bend. It gives easier access to things and helps solve restriction of movements. This slit could either be a single slit in the middle of the suit or two slits on either side at the back.
Buttons: Suits have different button counts, but they also have rules for how many are to be buttoned up. There are 1, 2, 3, and double-breasted jackets, each of which has a specific significance as to why only many buttons are to be worn correctly. All of them are worn differently for comfort, styles, and occasion.
One button jackets are to be buttoned at all times, two buttoned jackets need to have the first button done, and the second is optional, three-button jackets have the middle one to be compulsorily buttoned, and the rest are optional. Double-breasted jackets require all the buttons to be buttoned.
Apart from these, one could also look for buttons on the arms or pockets and pocket placements. Several other details differ from suit to suit that provide them with calibre and character. It is always better to make an informed choice, so the money is well spent!
