Whether men’s suits should match the date’s dress or not is one of those age old questions that everyone seems to have an opinion about. And even if you have a strong opinion one way or the other, what is considered ‘matching’ colors, prints, or styles is completely subjective.  With all the confusion, it seems fitting (pun intended) that we provide a simple answer, so here it is: Never try to match exactly what your date is wearing, but do not clash with what they are wearing. Still confused? Read on.

We all want to steer clear of being the clashing eye-sore of the night, but we should also avoid being too ‘matchy matchy’ with our coordinating. The goal is to choose a suit that will complement what your date is wearing.

Luckily for men, the most common dress suits colors include black, navy blue, and grey. So if your date already has her dress, and she’s willing to share some details, asking what color the dress is will help you determine which men’s suits will work best. For those who are able to get the details, here is a simple set of guidelines to help you and yours look your best.

• Grey dress suits go great with the more vibrant colors – red, yellow, orange, green, aqua blue, purple, pink, black dresses

• Navy blue dress suits nicely complement the more muted colors – brown, beige, yellow, grey, white dresses

• Black dress suits, the most formal choice, can work with almost all colors, but be careful of vibrant dress colors looking too harsh in certain settings. Dress colors should be more muted as suggested with navy blue men’s suits.

No matter how great you think your new green tie will look with her green dress, doing so would lead you straight into the ‘matchy matchy’ category.  While each of these suit colors can be worn with a variety of shirt and tie color options, be careful of looking like you and your date are part of a wedding party. If you are truly unable to figure out your date’s dress color, choose simple patterns and subdued colors to ensure the only one standing out is your lady. A safe bet is to base your men’s suits selection on what is appropriate for the type of event you will be attending and dress accordingly.

Whether preparing for an interview or a first date, it’s important to look sharp for that first impression, and a well-chosen dress suit can make all the difference. We know choosing your first few mens suits can be a daunting task, but these tips will have you looking G-Q in no time.

Color – Focus on the most versatile colors which are black, navy blue, and grey. These three colors are acceptable for most events and are easily matched with any colored shirt or tie. Unless you’re getting married and need a sandy/cream suit, wait to mix things up until after you get these three covered.

Material – While there are many fabric options for different seasons and events throughout the year, choose something durable and that you can wear year-round. We recommend worsted wool as the best choice for versatile and breathable dress suits. For the fabric weight, choose a twist number between 80 and 120. Higher twist equals better quality, but also a larger price tag.

Style – You may have a pretty good idea of what you want, but single breasted suits (one row of buttons) are a common option for those who want something they can dress up or down. Double breasted suits (two rows of buttons like a pea coat) are considered dressier than single breasted jackets and work best on slim, medium to tall builds. The single breasted suit is likely the best option for your first suit.

Two-button dress suits are very popular and work well for most occasions. Taller men can pull off three buttons, but you should never exceed 3 buttons. For your first suit, choose a single-breasted, two-button jacket and mix things up later.

Sizing – Unless you have the body of a manikin, the only way you will ever get a true ‘perfect fit’ is to have your dress suits professionally tailored. Understand that men’s suits are not made to fit while you’re working out so please leave the yoga positions and jumping jacks at home. Relaxed and with your arms to your sides, the jacket arms should end at the wrist, the buttons should not pull when closed, and the back should cover your rear. Any other tests of agility will merely be entertainment for anyone around you.

Pants –You may already have several pairs of dress slacks, but remember your goal is assemble your very first ‘true’ dress suit, so choose a pair that actually matches your jacket. The waist should be at your natural waistline, but is often dictated by what’s most comfortable.

We recommend a popular length called the single break. This means the hem meets the front of the shoes with a single crease of fabric and the back of the shoes where the heel meets the lower back of the heel.

While your personal preferences will play a large role in what your first dress suit looks like, you cannot go wrong with a navy blue or black, single-breasted, two-button jacket with properly fitting trousers. Dress for the job you want, the dad you want to impress, and go forth in confidence!

The holiday season features tons of events and parties where you’re expected to dress a certain way, but how do you know what you’re supposed to wear? While there are generally no “set in stone” rules for holiday party attire, here are some dos and don’ts of choosing mens suits for the holidays.

Do: Wear a Suit
You will never be underdressed in a basic men’s suit with a blazer, a dress shirt, a tie and a nice pair of shoes. If you find that you are overdressed, just take off the tie and throw on a pair of sneakers you keep in the car for a cool and casual look.

Don’t: Under-dress for Family
Even if you’re with your family, and especially if you are celebrating with someone else’s family, it’s important to dress modestly on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Think casual blazer or men’s suit jacket, a collared shirt, and wool slacks (you can also add on a tie if it’s more of a cocktail party). Christmas Eve is technically an evening celebration, so darker colors are welcome. If your Christmas celebration takes place during the day, feel free to wear lighter colors, like heather gray, lighter blues, red or camel, but keep it formal.

Do: Keep it Tasteful at Work Events
If you’re celebrating in the office, whether during the workday or directly after business hours, you probably won’t be expected to get dressed up, but you should put some extra thought into what you wear to work that day. If your office is usually business casual, the day of the party should be your day to dress more on the side of “business” and less on the side of “casual.” The trick is to look polished (i.e. no wrinkles in your clothes, combed hair, etc.), but not overdone. You never know which of the higher-ups will be attending the party, so you want to look cool and confident.

Don’t: Underestimate the Power of a Tuxedo
If the invitation says “black tie” that means it’s your chance to wear a nice-fitting tuxedo and party the night away. Even if you dread the thought of buying one, remember that tuxedos are like kryptonite to women, no woman can resist a man in a great-looking tuxedo.

We have everything you need to look great for the holidays – even big and tall men’s clothing. And all of our suits are designed to flatter your figure while offering uncompromising comfort and an impeccably tailored fit. Order your holiday wear today!

If you’re like most men, having a well-fitted dress suit is a wardrobe necessity. Occasions requiring a dressier get-up seem to come around far too often, and forking out those hefty rental fees just seems ridiculous! But at the same time, finding affordable suits for men that fit well can be very difficult for those needing sizes larger than what’s usually carried in department stores.

To make sure you don’t settle for something that doesn’t quite fit, it is important that bigger and taller men turn to retailers specializing in Big and Tall mens sport coats and suits. You don’t need to be an expert, but once you’ve found a reputable retailer offering appropriately sized apparel with styles and prices you approve of, you should prepare yourself by knowing a little something about dress suits. Consider these important factors—they should limit any uncomfortable wedding situation where you can’t hardly move on the dance floor.

Know your size
It seems really obvious that you should know your measurements when shopping for big and tall mens clothing, but many do not actually know how to take these measurements correctly. For chest measurements, wrap the measuring tape across the fullest part of your chest (without holding your breath), under your arms, and across the shoulder blades. For best sleeve measurements, place your hand on your hip (arm at a 90 degree angle) and the tape in the middle of the back of your neck. Use the tape to measure from your neck down to your wrist following the outside of your arm. Pants sizes should be equal to your waist size in inches, so with one finger between your body and the tape (for comfortable fit) measure where you would naturally wear a belt. Inseam measurements vary by style, but you can generally wear a pair of pants that fit well and measure from the top of the inner seam to the bottom of the pant leg. The final measurement, that is often forgotten, is the neck. While keeping the tape level, place one finger under the tape (again for comfort) and measure around the fullest part of your neck (Adam’s apple). This is for shirt measurement purposes and can make a huge difference in comfort.

Blazers
Since jacket styles change like the wind, you should always focus on choosing a jacket closure that fits best. The most common style is a 2-button jacket with 1-button left undone, but this depends on personal preference. It is important that the blazer goes to your hips in a straight line, so make sure you can button the jacket up without any bunching or pulling. Also be sure to move your arms around and sit down to make sure your can comfortably move in the jacket without too much pull on the seams.

Slacks
Pant pleats should always fall straight without any horizontal pulling. Any outward pulling on the pleats is usually a sign that you need a bigger size. Choosing pants that properly fit in the waist is especially important for men who carry their weight in the stomach region. Some men also find that pants without pleats tend to provide a better fit. Also keep in mind that pleats may lie differently depending on the shoes you are wearing, so be sure you base your measurements off of what shoes you would actually wear with the dress suit. Keep in mind that tuxedo and dress suit pants will usually arrive with the seam un-hemmed, so give yourself some time before your big event to have them professionally altered.

So for the style-conscious individual looking for big and tall menswear that does not compromise quality or fit, use these guidelines for choosing a dress suit that you not only love, but that will last for years. Of course fit matters no matter what size you are, but larger than average men need to take the time to find the right fit and not settle for a dress suit they can hardly move in. With accurate measurements and an understanding of how dress suits for men should fit, you are sure to find the perfect suit that makes you feel as great as you look!

We have many clients always asking us: what’s the difference between prom tuxedos and wedding tuxedos? Well, to be honest there isn’t much difference between the two types of tuxedos on a base level. You could buy one of our classic tuxedo looks and wear it to prom one day, then to a wedding the next day.

The main difference is in the styling!

While prom is a formal dance, it’s considered to be way less formal than a wedding. Weddings have a lot of rules and traditions as to what you can and cannot wear, while prom is more go with the flow. Many guys choose to coordinate their prom tuxedos with their date’s dress, so they could end up with a striped tux, a white tux, a zoot suit, and we’ve even seen blue and orange tuxedos (although we wouldn’t recommend wearing one). You could even choose from a wide selection of mens suits for prom – you aren’t required to wear a tuxedo.

Wedding suits are lot less common on the other hand. Most wedding handbooks will tell you the groom must always wear a tuxedo (although there’s a little more leeway when it comes to what the groomsmen wear). There are also certain recommendations of what type of tuxedo to wear depending on whether the wedding is traditional, formal, semi-formal or casual and whether the wedding is in the morning, afternoon or evening – but that’s a whole other blog post!

Whatever type of tuxedo you’re looking for, Menswear eCollection can help you find the perfect style, with a great tailored fit that flatters your figure. We even have a wide selection of big and tall mens clothing too! Let us know how we can help you today.

From style to color to fit, men’s suits have the ability to say a lot about the person you are. Here are some key points to keep in mind when choosing your perfect suit.

1. What is the Role: First, decide what role your suit will be playing. A suit made of finer fabric is great for occasional use, but if you’re planning on wearing it every day the material will wear out in no time, and something more durable would be a wiser choice. For more formal events, such as a wedding, try a tuxedo. Tuxedoes come in various styles, colors, and fabrics. Look at 2 or 3 buttoned styles and various lapel cuts to determine your best look.
2. How to Pick the Right Size Jacket: Men tend to buy jackets one or two sizes too big. Instead, choose a more fitted silhouette. Jackets with high armholes that fit your shoulders will help you achieve the “waisted” look.
3. The Best Cut for Dress Pants:The right dress pants can play a huge role in tying your look together. These days, it is common to see dress pants cut like low-rise jeans, often with a boot cut. For a more stylish look and elongated silhouette, consider a higher cut.
4. The Perfect Size Shirt: Be careful to choose the right size shirt. Keep in mind that most commercially available shirts are cut to accommodate larger waists, so those on the smaller end should look for shirts that fit as closely as possible.
5. Personalized Size and Style: Many retailers don’t offer a wide variety of sizes for all different body types, so it can be hard to find a suit that fits perfectly right off the rack. For larger sizes, look for big and tall men’s clothing that specialize in maintaining the classic, elegant style available in smaller-size suits. In general, it’s fine to buy off the rack as long as the shoulders and torso fit correctly, because the right tailor can take care of the rest.
6. Choosing the Right Color: Colors are a great way to accentuate your look, but you should generally include no more than three at a time. It is fine to wear different shades of a color, but when doing so be sure to contrast the color of your shirt and tie with your suit.
7. Incorporating Patterns into Your Look: When incorporating patterns into your suit of choice, wear the same pattern throughout. Try varying the scale – for instance, a suit with large checks can be paired with a shirt with smaller checks.
8. Check the Stitching: Finally, make sure that the suit you choose is properly made. The best suits are hand-stitched and fully canvassed, not fused or semi-canvassed.

Choosing the right suit can be a long and frustrating process. Follow the tips outlined above to easily find the perfect suit for any occasion. Still have questions? Post them below.

The dress pants that are selected for a particular suit should match that suit perfectly. There are many times that we are tempted to purchase a suit for a jacket or shirt without the actual accessory items present. This is a large mistake and you can end up with two items that are not matching. It is better to have the shirt or jacket that you need the pants for present and to ensure that they blend well.

There are some other points to address as well such as the fit of the pants. Comfort is a factor in the selection of dress pants. The best fitting dress pants will have a fit that allows two fingers to fit into the waist band when the pants are worn. This will allow the wearer the necessary room to feel comfortable and for movement as well as sitting comfort. There are also other factors to consider concerning the style of the pants. The pants should be designed well so that they do not appear too dated.

One part of the design is whether to wear dress pants with pleats. The presence of pleats can accentuate the way a pants looks on some persons and not be complimentary on others. The rule of thumb is that it is better to have pleats when the pants are for a person that has a stomach as they shadow the stomach to a certain extent. Flat pants fronts are more suited to thin individuals as they will make them appear a little bigger.

When choosing dress pants always remember that the most important factor in any piece of clothing is the comfort factor. Ensure that you look good but also that you are comfortable in the garment. There are many occasions that you will need dress pants for so purchase well.

There are several online suit stores that are available and that make the choice of the right suit simple. All that you need to do is follow some simple guidelines as to measuring yourself and you can source the right suit online. The measurements will lead you to a suit that fits well and they will ensure that no major adjustments have to be done to the suit in question. This will mean that you are able to fit into your suit without too many problems and the suit will not appear like if it were borrowed.

There are many suits that can be sourced online. These online suits are typically of a good quality but again fabric choice will be critical. The type of fabric that is selected should be material that will not wrinkle. Look out for suit materials such as gabardine and other worsted wools that are durable and that do not wrinkle easily. These are able to provide you with a suit that is suitable for many occasions and that can be worn on several occasions with great results. The fabric combined with a style that is not dated is crucial in the process.

There are many online stores that stock suits that range from cheap to expensive. The quality of suit that you buy will not be influenced by the fact that you are shopping online. Always get the best quality suit that you can afford. This will mean you will be able to reuse this suit for many occasions. Ensure that the style and the fabric are sedate enough for an all season suit. There are many online places where you can source huge savings on suits and you can end up with great quality for a low price. These stores will provide shipping to your door and for better convenience they are a great option.

There are many places that one can source a cheap suit from but the problem is in the fit of the suit. There are a few pointers that we should follow even when looking for a low cost suit and the end result will be a suit that fits well but that did not cost us a ton of money. These points will ensure that the suit that we are wearing will not stand out like a sore thumb and that we will not look like if we borrowed the suit from someone just for the night.

A cheap suit is not necessarily a bad suit. One of the points to look for is the length of the pants. Make sure the pants are not too long and neither too short. One tip is that if we are buying a suit we should go with the shoes that we are intending to wear with the suit or at least a pair of dress shoes. The pants should reach the shoes and cover the socks completely. The problem of the right length of the pants is one that is essential to not having a sloppy appearance and even the best fitting suit with the wrong length of pants will look bad.

The cheap suit market is one that is vast but if we are wise we can find a suit that looks expensive and fits like it was custom made. Another point to look for is the length of the suit sleeves. The sleeves should reach to the base of the thumb. They must not be longer or they will completely hide the shirt cuff which should have an inch exposed. The fit of the jacket is another consideration and this should be well fitting but not tight over the stomach. All these points will lead to a suit that fits well but is reasonably priced.