As we are
getting closer to Easter, many men take this opportunity to purchase a new suit
for Sunday Easter service. This is a really good time to purchase a suit
because many retailers understand that many people will be purchasing suits and
you can get a really good deal on your purchase. Done correctly, you can add a
quality suit (or suits) to your wardrobe at a really good price. Done
incorrectly, you can be stuck with a disaster hanging in your closest that you
will never wear again. So, I will share 4 quick tips to get you going in the
right direction.
1. Do not shop at the last minute!
Shopping the
week of or even the day before Easter is a huge mistake. When you shop at the
last minute you will be left with everything no one else wanted or the options
will be so slim that you may not find what you are looking for. Another problem
with last minute shopping is that you won’t have time to invest into getting
quality tailoring done on your new suit. I understand the store has an in-house
tailor but you don’t know this person’s work (and of course you want to have
someone who you are familiar with tailor your suit). In house tailors upcharge
during this time of year for their service. Also consider the fact that if the
tailor is pushing out many suits in a short amount of time, who is to say they
will do a good job since they are rushing to do yours and a ton of others
before Easter Sunday? I stress… DON’T WAIT until the last minute!
2. Just a little color can go a long way.
If you live
in the south then you know what I mean by this. Traditionally in the South (many
years ago) men would wear bright color suits at Easter. Easter would signify
the transition into Spring and thus it translated into the color of the suits.
Over time bright, primary or pastel colored suits dominated the southern black
churches. A poorly constructed suit or choice in material can make a suit look tacky
or cheap. Of course, being dapper is always the goal! Tone down the bold colors
to just the shirt, ties or pocket square. If you want to wear a bold suit make
sure you are purchasing a quality suit from a reputable suit maker or retailer.
Like with anything we wear, clean and precise tailoring can neaten the entire look.
3. Step up with the right shoe.
We cannot
deal with the suit and not talk shoes. For example, the worst thing you can do
to a new car is have bald, worn out tires. It completely ruins the ride. This
is what a pair of bad shoes does to a good suit. Many times we have the
tendency to cheap out here and honestly this is where you want to invest well.
I have written about shoes previously, so you can read in detail about what type
of shoes to buy. I urge men all over and especially in the south to STAY AWAY
FROM FAKE CROCODILE SHOES.
4. Think beyond Easter.
Your investment
should take you well past Easter. It should also be appropriate for many other
occasions. Aim for a look that can be easily translated to work, evening,
dressed down and so forth. For example, you should be able to pair the blazer
with jeans or coordinate the shoes with another suit. The key is to be unique
yet versatile at the same time.
I hope this
helps you make your Easter look as dapper and stylish as possible. Until next
time!
