WHY SUITING UP MATTERS IN THE MODERN SOCIETY
Fortune favours the bold, and certainly the dapper.
Men's fashion has evolved considerably over the past century. At the turn of the 20th Century, men in suits were a common sight. The suit was the de facto mode of dressing, regardless of one’s occupation or economic status. Come today, most men have opted for comfort over style, and streetwear dominates the majority of men’s wardrobe.
For most of us 21st-century city dwellers, dressing with a focus on speed and comfort in this fast-paced society, is a logical choice. It also helps that sports casual is one of the dominant fashion trends now. In fact, popular icons like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg are famous for their paired down-dressing. So between all that track pants, sneakers, jeans, and tees, it is hard to argue for a modern man to put more effort into his wardrobe unless the job or event specifically calls for it. Even then, many may choose not to “adhere to the dress code”.
Now, why would we want to make a case for suiting up in modern society? In this article, we will attempt to answer them in a few key reasons. For starters, there are serious merits for dressing to looking one’s best. Next, there is a fundamental difference between wearing a suit, versus being in a bespoke suit – think Daniel Craig’s James Bond for example. Finally, we are not saying that it is bad to be trendy, we are merely saying that there is a time and place for every type of dressing, and business casual and sports casual should not be the only options in one’s wardrobe.
Looking Your Best
There are intangible values for choosing to look one’s best. Simply put, wouldn’t it be great to know how much better you can look, at any age, regardless of your build? A proper suit is designed to support the wearer; limit the flaws and flaunt one’s strengths. Almost all clothing was designed, cut, and made in advance to a theoretical proportion, and we attempt to find the closest fit for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to experience what it is like to have something that truly fits our unique body.
Portrayal Of Confidence
Is suiting up all it takes to portray confidence? No. There are many more factors such as the way one speaks, mannerism, and more that add to the portrayal of confidence, too many to be covered in this article. Having said that, dressing the part is definitely one of the first things anyone can do.
A sharp suit helps the wearer to look better and feel more confident. In addition to that, it is also an instant reflection on the value the wear places on his work, the event he attends, and the people he’ll meet. In the hospitality and banking industries, it is almost universal to see staff dressed smartly in suits. Some think that it is simply for the company to portray a certain brand image. While that is true, suiting up goes further than that. It is an indication of the importance they place on the customers that they will come in contact with daily. Every guest/customer is important, valued, and everyone dressed the part to show it.
If we apply the same approach to our own dressing, it would be easy to imagine the impact we can have on those around us. Not only do we feel good and look our best, we also communicate to those around us that they are worth that little bit of extra effort.
Standing Out By Being A Cut Above The Rest
Whether it is in the office, or on the street, dining in a restaurant, or having a presentation on stage, there is no denying that suiting up allows one to stand out. The suit is to the modern men, the armor to the valiant knights. It reinforces one physically and psychologically, and at times gives one that little extra boost.
When in the romance department, suiting up is a surefire way to impress, and differentiate oneself from the rest for all the single men out there. There is still something inexplicably charming and romantic when the guy offers the lady his jacket to keep her warm. And to do that, one needs to start with having a suit on in the first place.
For those who are attached or married, it is still a very good idea. A wise man once said, “one of the keys to a happy marriage is to never take each other for granted”, and in our case, making that extra effort to dress up after having won the lady’s heart will definitely help keep the flames alive.
In closing, we would like to address one of the most common comments raised by our readers – isn’t it weird to be the overdressed guy in the room? This answer is a clear no. We can always remove the tie, or the jacket, as and when the situation deems fit. But we cannot put on what we don’t have when the opportunity arises.
After all, in the immortal lyrics of ZZ Top’s song Sharp Dressed Man – “Cause every girl’s crazy ‘bout a sharp dressed man”.
