Individualising The Suit

Awards season is well and truly under way, and with the Oscars steadily approaching, people can’t seem to get enough of the red carpet – though sadly, the best dressed guys often get overlooked amongst a sea of samey suits and headline-grabbing dresses.

Menswear is often built around rigid rules and strict codes, nowhere more so than evening wear – but what if you fancy switching things up now and again by adding a dose of personality to your formal looks?

The good news is that the limitations of tailoring and evening wear are actually strengths; a good suit or tux is a blank canvas for you to customise. With that in mind, we’ve compiled the easiest ways to make your suit your own without looking like you’ve tried too hard.

Armed with these handy tips, you can easily switch up the same suit for different occasions, whether it’s a spring wedding or client dinner.

1. Decorate Your Lapel

Although often overlooked, your jacket lapel is primed for accessorising.

The most formal option available to you is a boutonnière. If you’re going down this route, you could always ask your florist for a sprig of flower to pop in your buttonhole (I actually know someone who habitually does this, relying on florists handing over their offcuts for free) – but there’s always the chance that it might wilt in a matter of hours, leaving your suit looking more mobile garden than your wardrobe’s finest.

In our eyes, it’s far better to settle for a luxe, reusable solution that’s not in danger of going limp, such as a floral fabric pin – Parisian brand Lanvin’s are exceptional.

With a wide spectrum of colours available on the current market, you could go bright and contrast it against your jacket, or try tonally matching it to your neck wear or pocket square. For example, a mid-grey suit worn with a pale grey tie and charcoal flower pin always looks sharp, no matter if you’re bound for a wedding or charity gala.