# What's your opinion of this suit's plaid? Men, would you wear it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418 "2019-02-12T19:52:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/1 "2019-02-12T19:52:51Z")
What’s your opinion of this suit’s plaid? [https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool®-Plaid-Suit/MK00753,default,pd.html?dwvar\_MK00753\_Color=BLUE&dwvar\_MK00753\_Size=42\_LG&contentpos=1&cgid=men-flash-sale](https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool%C2%AE-Plaid-Suit/MK00753,default,pd.html?dwvar_MK00753_Color=BLUE&dwvar_MK00753_Size=42_LG&contentpos=1&cgid=men-flash-sale) Men, would you wear it? I’m thinking of buying it for my 19 year old who’s 6’1", 178 lbs and planning to apply for business internships in NYC. I wouldn’t buy it for my husband but what would you think of it for a young man? I’m wary of plaid myself but the reviews are very positive. I already bought him a more conservative one: [https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool®-Stripe-Suit/MK00754\_\_\_\_\_GREY\_42\_\_\_LG\_\_,default,pd.html](https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool%C2%AE-Stripe-Suit/MK00754 _____GREY_42___ LG__,default,pd.html) ---
**Author:** ![senoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@senoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/senoy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/2 "2019-02-12T19:58:08Z")
Eh, I’m 40. My suits are all monocolor or with a thin non-contrasting pinstripe. I’m not all about the plaid. At the same time, I know as much about fashion as my cat knows about astrophysics, so I’m probably not a good source. I wear largely what my wife tells me to wear and clothes just mysteriously appear and disappear from my closet when the urge overtakes her to change things up. If she bought me that suit, I’d wear it simply because she told me to. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/3 "2019-02-12T19:59:27Z")
Oh sure. Not my taste, but plenty of professionals would wear something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/4 "2019-02-12T20:02:51Z")
It looks fine? I dunno, I wouldn’t even give it a second glance on the street. Just looks like a normal suit to me. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/5 "2019-02-12T20:08:18Z")
I wouldn’t wear the plaid on an interview, but I am old and stodgy. OTOH I am not sure I would want to look young when applying for an internship. Good luck to your son. I wear suits to work. I have a light gray suit, a dark gray suit, a black suit, and a brown suit. Sometimes when I really want to shake things up, I wear dark blue pants with the black suit coat. Plaid suits are harder to match - you need a plain tie (my daughter the fashion maven tells me). I tell her that I have seen other people bring it off. She looks at me pityingly and says “you aren’t other people, daddy”. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/6 "2019-02-12T20:27:02Z")
A 19 year old could wear that, for maybe a year, before fashions change. The grey one could be worn for a number of years. A black one could be worn for quite some time. If your son is going to be working out and getting bigger in shoulders and arms, then this might work out for him for the year he can wear it. If he gets bulked up, and the suit gets too tight, then he can choose a new fashionable one. As an interviewer, I’d see a 19 year old in a fashionable suit, inwardly grin a little about the impetuosity of the young, hearken back to my first suit handed down from my brother, and then continue on asking him about his work ethic and business knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/7 "2019-02-12T20:29:13Z")
I think the plaid suit is a great look for a professional of any age. I have a coworker in his mid 60s who has almost that exact suit (maybe it is) and it looks great. Wear it to an interview? For sure. Great way for an interviewee to stand out in a positive way. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/8 "2019-02-12T20:29:16Z")
I can see it more as a sports coat than as an entire suit. Later in the day, it gets warm in the office, you want to take off your jacket, but you don’t want to walk around in those trousers, you look like a circus clown. OK, I’m retired, and no judge of what people wear to work any more. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/9 "2019-02-12T20:36:20Z")
I like it, I’d wear it (and I’m 53). OTOH, I do agree a bit with Shodan on this one – it might be a little too trendy for business interviews. A lot probably depends on what sort of businesses your son is interviewing at – ad agencies would love that suit, Wall Street financial banks, probably not so much. ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/10 "2019-02-12T20:38:40Z")
Thanks, I realize that the reason I need to ask is that my taste in men’s clothes was formed generations ago, in the late 60s and 70s, by my father (born 1912) who had gray, navy and black suits. Pinstripe was about the most daring he would get, and he had a tweed jacket too for a more casual look. I can see him frowning at that plaid now. And I’ve never forgotten hearing our principal in middle school yelling at a boy for wearing plaid “circus clown” pants. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/11 "2019-02-12T20:40:41Z")
I would look at two things you said in the OP - NYC and business internship. In my experience , those two factors suggest dark conservative. Things might have changed lately, but I wouldn’t go with either of your linked choices for that environment. The plaid would work in a creative or publishing environment, but maybe not business. The gray is kinda light for NYC, they tend darker (charcoal, dark navy). But that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/12 "2019-02-12T20:43:48Z")
That’s pretty subtle. I was expecting to see something more like [this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bb/ee/c4/bbeec4f027ca43f98071e0b4bab7bd42.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/13 "2019-02-12T20:53:36Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > That’s pretty subtle. I was expecting to see something more like [this](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bb/ee/c4/bbeec4f027ca43f98071e0b4bab7bd42.jpg). THAT is how you land a job. In plastics. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/14 "2019-02-12T21:23:14Z")
I agree it’s too much for an interview. It’s best to play it safe with your attire for that (unless it’s for graphics design or fashion). ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/15 "2019-02-12T21:36:00Z")
There’s nothing wrong with that suit but For a business internship or an interview, I’d recommend sticking with dark solids. ---
**Author:** ![Bayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bayaker/32/3454_2.png) [@Bayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/16 "2019-02-12T21:53:58Z")
It might be appropriate for an interview to be a [door-to-door Bible salesman](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fb0%2F2b%2F01%2Fb02b0153ec3e1e8907d216a571de05ea.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F516295544772540764%2F&docid=_Vn7D5B1glUVdM&tbnid=n4B-kuQ7mR-dNM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw..i&w=326&h=480&client=firefox-b-1-d&bih=711&biw=1344&q=ryan%20oneal%20costumes%20from%20paper%20moon&ved=0ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8#h=480&imgdii=n4B-kuQ7mR-dNM:&vet=10ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw..i&w=326), but other than that I don’t care for it. Dark solids are the way to go. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/17 "2019-02-12T21:59:35Z")
> [@Bayaker](#): > > It might be appropriate for an interview to be a [door-to-door Bible salesman](https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2Fb0%2F2b%2F01%2Fb02b0153ec3e1e8907d216a571de05ea.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fpin%2F516295544772540764%2F&docid=_Vn7D5B1glUVdM&tbnid=n4B-kuQ7mR-dNM%3A&vet=10ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw..i&w=326&h=480&client=firefox-b-1-d&bih=711&biw=1344&q=ryan%20oneal%20costumes%20from%20paper%20moon&ved=0ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw&iact=mrc&uact=8#h=480&imgdii=n4B-kuQ7mR-dNM:&vet=10ahUKEwjg0IrZlbfgAhULGKwKHVlgALAQMwg-KAcwBw..i&w=326), but other than that I don’t care for it. > > Dark solids are the way to go. You’re more generous than me. I was thinking more cockney villain. To me that’s the sort of suit that goes best with a cigar and a dented signet ring. Definitely wouldn’t recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/18 "2019-02-12T22:03:50Z")
> [@gkster](#): > > What’s your opinion of this suit’s plaid? > [https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool®-Plaid-Suit/MK00753,default,pd.html?dwvar\_MK00753\_Color=BLUE&dwvar\_MK00753\_Size=42\_LG&contentpos=1&cgid=men-flash-sale](https://www.brooksbrothers.com/Regent-Fit-BrooksCool%C2%AE-Plaid-Suit/MK00753,default,pd.html?dwvar_MK00753_Color=BLUE&dwvar_MK00753_Size=42_LG&contentpos=1&cgid=men-flash-sale) > Men, would you wear it? Not only no but HELL NO! Get him a pinstripe suit - dark blue, not black. I do, however, like the other suit you got him. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/19 "2019-02-12T22:23:00Z")
It’s perfectly fine. ETA: I’d wear it and I’m 56. Perhaps not to an interview. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2019, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418/20 "2019-02-12T22:23:12Z")
I think it’s kinda tacky looking and while I might not openly mock the wearer, I’d question his taste in clothing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-opinion-of-this-suits-plaid-men-would-you-wear-it/829418.md?page=2)