This has been a debate that has ultimately been raging for decades now and has become increasingly intriguing to me of late. I used to think it was simply a case of perspective but in reality, the answer runs much deeper.

At Me My Suit & Tie, we share tips and style guides to teach individuals how to wear a suit well and to become gentlemen. I want to show you how this debate can teach you how one can seamlessly compliment the other.

Does the Suit Make the Man?

I posed this debate to a group of people, made up of male and females. It was a mixed result from both sides, but the majority of females that gave their feedback expressed that they believe the suit definitely makes the man.

They went onto explain that the right suit can give a man a certain appeal, even if that particular man went previously unnoticed. Others said that a suit can make a man but it has to be the right suit and it has to look right. Which brings us to the following essentials:

A Suit’s Fit

Our very own Sebastian Ford spoke about this, when purchasing a tailor made suit and Paul Cachia also eluded to this, when talking about how to get the best out of your suit.

When trying on suits, the first thing you should focus on is how a suit fits, as the fit is the most essential element when wearing a suit. If your suit doesn’t fit you properly, you can safely assume that the suit doesn’t make the man.

Colours of Your Suit

Naturally, the combination of colours that make up your suit play a huge factor in whether a suit will work for you or not. I tend to gravitate towards dark grey suits, as I feel they work for me. However, I’m looking to be more adventurous going forward.

If you’re also stuck in a rut and looking to break out of your comfort zone, there are a few things you should consider when purchasing a suit or having one made:

Your complexion, let’s face facts - not every colour is going to work for you. Some colours will cause you to look washed out and others will simply clash. Look for colours that will compliment your complexion, before moving onto colour combinations.

The combination of elements, be sure to consider the combination of colours and patterns when assembling your suit. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to wear a bright coloured shirt, like pink or orange for example - be sure to combine it with a darker suit.

Does the Man Make the Suit?

As I mentioned before, it was a mixed result but the majority of the males in the group believe that the man makes the suit. Expressing that a confident man will pick the right suit every time.

Others expressed that in order to get the best out of the suit, a man has to carry themselves in the right way. Otherwise the suit won’t look right, which brings me to the following points. For a man to make a suit, they have to possess the right mentality when wearing their chosen ensemble:

Ego at the Door

If you tend to let your ego influence your overall character, then people will be quick to stereotype you as an arrogant douchbag, who wears a suit just to look big. If arrogance is all they see, then the suit becomes unimportant and irrelevant.

It has been said that there’s a thin line between confidence and arrogance, but I don’t believe that to be true.

• Arrogance tends to stem from insecurity, they believe themselves to be superior to others, they always know what’s best and can never admit when they’re wrong.
• Whereas a confident individual understands that they can learn from others, have an opinion on a subject but can admit when they’re wrong.

A Quiet Confidence

Don’t pass up the opportunity to recognise the confidence that a suit gives you. We’ve all felt that exchange, especially when putting on a suit for the first time. It’s an uplifting sense of confidence, when slipping on your suit jacket.

As mentioned above, a gentlemen that acquires confidence, without arrogance is a lot more well received.

A Sense of Pride

Lastly, you must have a sense of pride when wearing your suit. If you get no enjoyment out of wearing a particular suit, then you are clearly wearing the wrong suit and this’ll translate to how you’re perceived.

If you take pride in the suit you’re wearing, that tends to effortlessly translate to the people around you and others will soon notice.

Conclusion

Personally, I think if you get the right combination, the man and his suit will complement each other. Occasionally, this is easier said than done, but to teach you how to become a gentleman and how to where a suit, is the very reason Me My Suit & Tie exists.

A special thanks to all of you who took the time to give me your thoughts on this debate. If you have not yet shared your opinion, we would love to hear from you. Does the man make the suit or the suit make the man? Cast your views below.