How To Take Your Suit From Ordinary To Extraordinary?

Gentlemen – it's time to suit up. You want to leveridge style to stand out and to show off your personality – to be a cut above every other guy in the room.

I get it.

But how can you do this in a suit?

I mean… you'll just blend in, won't you? How do you stand out when everyone's dressed the same?

In today's article, I'm going to show you how to take your suit from ordinary to extraordinary.

#1. Practice Wearing Your Suit

How comfortable did you feel when you first went swimming? If you were like me, you sank to the bottom of the pool and felt very uncomfortable indeed… but the more I practiced, the more comfortable I became in the water.

The same principle applies here. A lot of men think wearing a suit is uncomfortable but this couldn't be further from the truth. A well fitted suit is like a second skin.

It may be unfamiliar. But that is temporary.

Go and find events and reasons to wear your suit more often or even wear it at home when you're working. Practice wearing your suit until you're used to how it feels and your confidence levels will shoot up.

#2. Only Wear A Suit If It Fits You

Do you own a suit which doesn't fit? Get rid of it or get it adjusted.

When you buy an off-the-rack suit, you should make sure it fits you as closely as possible. You should expect to have it adjusted but keep in mind that a seamstress or tailor can only do so much.

First up – if your suit does not fit in the shoulders, do not buy it because it will never look right. The work involved in altering the shoulders of a suit is significant and therefore very expensive.

The sleeves have to come off for a start… don't even go there.

Same goes for the length of your suit jacket. Put your arms down to your side – the bottom of your jacket should end around the first knuckle of your thumb. It should cover the curvature of your buttocks.

Your suit trousers should fit you in the thighs and crotch area. It's inexpensive to have the trousers brought in at the waist and the same applies to having the trousers lengthened slightly or taken up a couple of inches.

Read my guide – How A Man's Suit Should Fit before making that purchase!

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#3. Level Up Your Accessories

Gentlemen – the devil is in the detail. A small addition to your outfit can make a big difference to your appearance and if you want to go from ordinary to extraordinary – it's time to level up your accessories.

The watch you wear sends a message because it tells the world about you. Don't ruin a great suit with a cheap looking plastic watch. Ideally you want to go for a clean, elegant watch with a round analogue face. Your watch should look timeless, like your style.

Vincero produces affordable men’s watches with the right mix of “quality” & “affordable”.

A quality watch does not have to cost the earth. As a rule of thumb, make sure the leather on your watch strap matches the color of leather on your shoes and belt.

#4. Don't Be Afraid To Go Double-Breasted

Double-Breasted Suits are awesome and in my opinion, not enough guys give them a chance. I wouldn't recommend a DB Suit as your first purchase but they can add variety to your wardrobe, on top of the single breasted suits you own.

You can wear a Double Breasted Suit anywhere you can wear a Single Breasted Suit. Remember, the same buttoning rules apply – always leave the bottom button undone. However unlike the single breasted suit, your jacket should remain buttoned when you sit. Undoing it will leave you with two huge unsightly flaps of material.

The double breasted jacket is not as forgiving as the single-breasted jacket so the fit has got to be good.

If you really want to add attitude to your outfit – combine the double breasted suit with a roll-neck sweater.

#5. Color Matters

A lot of guys go for black suits. In my opinion this is a mistake because black is too stark; it's too formal for most events so save it for black-tie functions.

Look at more versatile colors like Charcoal Grey and Navy and consider other options like Brown and True Blue. Did you know Green is an extremely versatile suit color? I don't advocate it as a first suit but if you've got the basics, why not try and bring a bit of color into your suit game?

#6. Pattern & Texture

Your shirt fit is just as important as your suit fit.

#7. Does Your Shirt Fit?

I see this all too often. Your suit might fit but if your shirt doesn't, it will ruin your whole look. You should be able to see around 1/2 inch of your shirt cuff below your jacket cuff. Any more and you'll look like you've shrunk your suit jacket and any less and you'll look like you've borrowed your bigger brother's suit. This might not sound much but it's so important – that thin stripe of shirt cuff on show helps balance out your whole outfit.

And what about the collar? First up – you should be able to button up your collar comfortably and you should be able to get two fingers between your collar and your neck. And while I'm talking about the shirt body, your shirt should follow the shape of your torso but shouldn't so tight that people around you are expecting to be hit by a button every time you breathe out. And it shouldn't be loose enough to billow around your waist. This is what's known as the dreaded “muffin top”.

#8. Choose The Right Necktie

A great necktie can complement your outfit or make it pop but the wrong one can bring your style down a few notches. Silk is always a great option with suits but avoid cheap looking silk. You can tell a quality silk tie by its weight – cheap silk is very light and it won't hang properly from your body.

Your tie knot is also important – you need to know how to tie a tie properly. If your shirt has a wide point collar, go for a larger tie knot to keep it in perspective. Likewise, if you have a narrow point collar, go for a smaller necktie knot.

…and if you really want to stand out – lose the necktie and go for a bow-tie. It's a statement piece but it can be worn to any event where a necktie is required.

#8. Wear A Pocket Square

It really is that simple: start to wear a pocket square. You won't see me without one! You don't have to go with patterns and complicated folds; a simple white cotton square in a Presidential Fold can be worn with almost any outfit and it will make you stand out from the crowd. It shows people that you've taken that extra time and attention and that you care about your appearance.

#9. Bring In A Vest

3 piece suits come with a vest. The monochromatic look is strong but some may feel it is “too much” for events where a suit is required. So mix it up and experiment – try different colored vests: a great combination is a Navy suit and Grey vest underneath.

Take time to experiment with different textures and materials. In the video which accompanies this article, you'll see I am wearing a Sweater Vest. Sweater Vests are made from a thicker wool and the difference in texture complements a suit jacket perfectly. It keeps the outfit formal but doesn't push this into overly formal. And as an added bonus – it keeps you warm!

Gentlemen, use these tips to make sure you stand out. Sure, it's easy to throw on a suit but it takes a different kind of man to make his suit stand out from the crowd.

Do you have any tips? I want to hear from you! Let me know in the YouTube video comments. (I read every one!)