Suit (Clothes)

A suit, also known as a business suit, comprises a collection of matching clothing consisting of:
a coat (commonly known as a jacket)
a waistcoat (optional) (USA vest)
a pair of trousers (USA pants)
Though not part of a suit, a shirt and tie generally accompany it. Originating in formal 19th century middle-class modes of dress, suits are traditionally the clothing of males. However, imitations of the male uniform have also become common in formal attire for females in the workplace and elsewhere: in this case a matching skirt may substitute for trousers. The uniform impression of a suit, often appearing in standard configurations such as pinstripe suit or suit and tie, can carry numerous connotations. In business settings it can communicate respectibility and taste. In different milieus, the connotations of corporate life that the suit represents conveys unadventurous conformism. Extreme variations on the suit can convey the opposite (for example, many pimps wear exaggerated versions of suits containing various hues, features, etc.). An alternate use of the word as a references to management staff in corporations as "suits" may express contempt for the perceived absence of autonomy seen as imposed on members in a uniform elitist bureaucracy. It may also be a comment on the perceived amorality or even immorality of those who work for corporations.

Traditional Suit Etiquette

(Note: The following is a general guide for wearing a suit in a professional or respectful manner. Casual wear is at the discretion of the invididual.) When standing, all buttons except for the bottom one are fastened. In the case of three-button suits with lapels that roll over the top button, the top button should not be fastened. Under no circumstances fasten the bottom-most button of a suit jacket. Double-breasted suits are always kept fully buttoned. To prevent "bunching," the jacket should be completely unbuttoned while the wearer is seated. Ties should be darker than the wearer's shirt. The bottom of the tie should just touch or just go over the top of the belt buckle. The shirt collar should not be the button-down vatiety, although this guidleline is frequently ignored. Acceptable colors for belt and shoes are brown and black. The belt and shoes should match one another. The belt's buckle should be silver or gold. Other metallic objects worn with the suit (such as cuff links, tie bar, tie tack, watch) should match the belt buckle. Where watches are concerned: the more formal the occasion, the thinner the watch. In the most formal situations, the watch should be kept in one's pocket. Shoes should not have rubber soles. Rather, they should be made of leather. Some companies also make dress shoes with wooden soles. Socks should match the pant leg. This makes the leg appear longer, as well as minimizes the noticeability of a too-short pant leg. If it is not possible to match the pant leg, socks may match one's shoes. However, it is more correct to match the pants. The classic conservative shirt colors are light blue or white. The classic coservative suit colors are navy blue, grey, and charcoal. Black has only recently gained acceptance as a suit color, and still is not considered particularily conservative. The most formal type of dress shirt worn with a standard suit is a shirt with French cuffs, which use cuff links (or the lesser known silk knots) to close.

 

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