A key component to having good fashion sense is knowing how to dress appropriately for the occasion. It is knowing how to be bold and individual with aesthetic and elegance.
Having a general knowledge about your items of clothing, will aid you in dressing skillfully and appropriately for every occasion. This article touches on the levels of formality in classic menswear, and the key components that set one garment apart from the other.
It’s not always easy to differentiate between the levels of formality each garment holds. Certain structural components need to be paid attention to. As a rule of thumb, the phrase “less is more” generally applies to clothing higher on the scale of formality. Clean-cut, sleek and simple makes for formal. Certain indicators, such as the color, texture, pattern and structure, helps determine how formal a clothing item is.
Starting off with color, garments of brighter shades are deemed more casual than ones that are somber.
For example, a light blue suit would be more casual than a navy blue or black suit. Picture bright colors typically worn in the summertime, as opposed to the more subdued choices worn in the winter. This can be analogous to casual versus formal attire. If your preference steers towards vibrant colors, though, simply opt for a darker shade to make your outfit more formal.
The same rule applies for patterns: formality is found in subtlety. Garments made with patterns such as plaid, houndstooth and stripes were generally saved for casual outings, such as social gatherings and sporting events. Plain and dark colored suits are most commonly worn at formal events, namely conferences, seminars and business meetings.
Then comes texture, a less obvious indicator than the prior, but an important one nonetheless. Smoother and shinier fabrics are generally more formal. To give you a picture, compare corduroy pants to suit trousers, or a basketweave jacket to a tuxedo. Linen, cotton, wool (tweed and flannel) and cashmere are ranked in order in terms of formality. Fabrics that are less prone to wrinkling, such as cashmere and silk, will always be higher on the spectrum of formalwear. This can be assessed with pants, too. If it has a sharp crease down the center of the legs, it will be more formal than pants that have a smooth front. This is the difference between formal dress pants, and casual chinos or jeans.
When talking about the construction of a garment, ones with added structure and shape will be more formal. For example, unlined jackets are less sophisticated than jackets with lining and padded shoulders. For shirts, there are key features that set them apart in terms of formality. These being the cuff, weave and collar of the shirt. Hard collars are more formal than soft collars, due to their added structure.
When it comes to accessories, ties play an elemental role in mens formal wear. They essentially “tie” the outfit together, acting as the icing on the cake. The “less is more” rule, can be dismissed for this particular item. An exception is made for patterns and color when determining formal ties. Uniform and sophisticated patterned ties are accepted in the realm of formal attire. Fabrics such as linen, cotton, wool and even cashmere are reserved for less formal ties. Silk is the premium fabric for these accessories.
Piecing together outfits in coordinance definitely makes you a looker. Learning the scales of formality, however, will aid you in making your outfits all the more elegant and poised. Having this understanding of fashion is definitely advantageous to throw in your toolbox. With this newfound knowledge at hand, make sure you turn heads at your next outing!
