To this very day, striped men’s suit is undervalued by a wide circle of native men, who openly state that it’s a relic of the past that fell into oblivion a long time ago. Is this thesis just? Below, you will find plenty of answers to crucial questions…
Historical overview!
A striped suit originated in Great Britain in the second half of the 19th century. The precursor of today’s suit was a pair of striped trousers worn to a blazer. Over the course of the aesthetic progress, the blazer lost its popularity and was replaced with a matching jacket. That is how a striped suit came to life. From the very beginning, it was connected with professional realm. It was mainly associated with the broadly understood English financial world. Up to this day, nothing has changed.
It’s also worth highlighting that the biggest elegance icons loved this type of suit. These were, among others, the Duke of Windsor, Cary Grand, or Clark Gable.
In the 80s of the 20th century, Giorgio Armani made a certain drastic interference into the cut of the suit, creating today’s power suit. Armani went for a fabric change and introduced a broad shoulder line. It resulted in an overdrawn character. The striped suit remains one of the power insignia, but it doesn’t limit us in our play with male elegance.
It’s high time to talk in greater details about the types of stripes:
- Pinstripe – it is pronounced and consists of a fine dashed line of dots. Definitely, it’s an option for men who are on familiar terms with male elegance, but, at the same time, are still conservative in showing their own style.
- Chalkstripe – it involves a visible straight line. It seems to the observer that the stripe was made with a tailor’s chalk on the fabric. That is why another name that functions in Poland is connected with a game of tennis. Chalkstripe can be most often found on flannel which absorbs light instead of reflecting it. As a result, the colour of the fabric is soft and the stripe is blurred.
Universal application
The sales potential of this product lies in the possibility of breaking up the suit and creating outfits that are of different formality levels. It often happens that our boutiques are visited by men who have a strictly defined dress code at work. It means only one thing, they need to inspire trust and authority. These are precisely the type of men to whom we offer a striped suit from our collection. The vertical lines of the stripes slim down the male figure, so it’s another advantage of the sales potential of this type of suit.
The jacket can be used in co-ord sets that are completed with garments and accessories with a softer colour palette. Jeans that are associated with casual style will ideally match a striped suit that is designed for the daily use. Remember, however, that the best choice in this situation will be a deep navy blue without any stitching.
What about the sets that are characterised by a higher level of formality? Well, it’s worth going for more toned down accessories. Let’s start, however, with the shoes that directly define the whole outfit. Brown and its derivatives will match the casual daily use of the stripped pattern. In fact, there are two options available – brogues and Oxford shoes.
Brogues are characterised by decorative perforations, known as broguing, located along the leather area that makes up the upper. Remember that the decorative features decrease the formality of the shoes.
Oxford shoes with a closed instep are the most universal and formal footwear. The characteristic instep is the part of the upper with holes for shoelaces, covering the instep of the foot. The shoes are smooth, with no embellishments or perforations.
