A Suit of a Different Color....

Open most men's wardrobes and you'll find their suit selection tends to look as though it were rendered in grey scale; with the odd blue, khaki or pattern thrown into the mix for days when they're feeling "daring". This austerity is a holdover from the suit's somber Victorian heyday when it emerged as every gentleman's staple attire. While a mid-weight grey suit truly is the men's equivalent of the Little Black Dress and something that will rise to any occasion, sometimes a gentlemen needs to bring some color and attitude into his wardrobe. Dandies looking to venture outside the classic color scheme seem to be in luck this fall as a deep wine red suit has popped up in at least three fall collections over the last month. Keep in mind, though, that when venturing outside the standard suit color one must tread with caution as there are ample opportunities for catastrophe. Gentlemen know that fit trumps all else and this is never truer than when you try something a bit unorthodox. A too baggy crimson hued suit may leave you looking less rakish and more like a doorman or pimp; neither a desirable outcome. Furthermore, please note that the suits below are not bright, tomato-toned red; they are deep, refined, subtle shades that work well in an evening setting. Which brings me to the final stipulation; a red suit is not to be worn to the office, to court, to funerals or any other place that demands a sense of propriety (with the exception of nuptials, though it depends on the wedding). Showing up to cocktails or a dinner party in your crimson best, on the other hand, brings you one step closer to the rakish cool of dandies like Paul Weller and Johnny Marr; something the rest of us mortals can but strive for. With that said, here are a few options currently in stores:

Skinny Fit 2-piece Suit by Topman

77% Polyester, 20% Viscose, 3% Elastane

$400.00
www.us.topman.com/

I've started off with the worst of the bunch; though I could be biased and I encourage you to make your own decisions. My main qualm with Topman is that their quality doesn't match their price point. It is constructed entirely of man made materials which means it doesn't breath well and won't stand the test of time, but it will still cost you as much as or more than a superior wool or cotton version. The silhouette is nice and its convenient that you can order online; but there are better options. Additionally, I make it a rule not to buy a suit with "Machine Washable" in the care instructions.

Slim fit 3-piece suit by Zara

87% wool, 9% Polyamide, 4% Elastane

$360.00
www.zara.com

This three-piece suit by Zara is absolutely the best of the bunch when it comes to balancing cost, quality and versatility. The tailoring is decent off the rack, it has a high wool content (wool = good) and as you can see the price point for a three-piece is lower than that of both the Ben Sherman suit below and Topman's poorer quality plastic two-piece previously discussed. Anytime you have the chance to buy three-piece, do so. It allows you more versatility for blending it with the rest of your wardrobe which means you get more for your money in the end.

2-piece, 3-button Camden Fit (slim) suit by Ben Sherman

100% wool

$485.00

www.bensherman.com/us

This two-piece from Ben Sherman is the highest quality of the three. Ben Sherman in general tends to be better constructed than Zara or Topman, and they excel in tailoring. The drawbacks of this piece are the three-button jacket rather than two-button (a throwback to the Mods who popularized the look; though I believe a two-button version may be available soon) and the fact that it costs more than the Zara three-piece. In the end though, you would be getting better quality for the cost.