# Will colorful men's suits ever come back into style? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 28, 2023, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484 "2023-02-28T14:06:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/61 "2023-03-03T00:05:39Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Those things were ridiculously baggy! You can call them that. Some of us found them dead sexy. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/62 "2023-03-03T15:38:55Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@bump](#): > > > > I was always taught by my father and grandfather (both bankers/financial industry types back in the day) that it’s more important to have a suit that’s _well_ fitted & altered, than it is to have an expensive suit that doesn’t fit right. > > Agreed; once I started having to wear a suit every day for work, I was going to actual men’s suit stores, and having them fitted and altered. Even though I don’t often wear a suit anymore, the couple of suits I have in my closet are fairly recent purchases, and also fitted for me. > > But, then, like your father and grandfather (and maybe you), for me, the suit was part of my regular business attire, and there was/is a value placed on getting the proper fit. But, for a man who wears a suit once or twice a year (if that), for a couple of hours at a time (i.e., at a funeral or wedding), that simply may not be as important or relevant. Back when I was presenting as male and had to occasionally wear suits (including during my mortuary days where I wore one frequently), I was also poor as dirt. (The “male” part changed, the “poor” part hasn’t!) I have literally never had a friend or family member that owned a tailored suit - every suit-wearer in my social-economic circles wore off-the-rack from the Sears or JC Penny discount area. Even “just hemming the pants” on suits at Men’s Wearhouse was _way_ beyond my price range. I say all this just to express that the assumption that you just always get suits altered is nowhere near the default for a substantial segment of the suit-wearing population. On the only slightly related tangent of women’s suits, if anyone has an extra $500 laying around and wants to buy me [this gorgeous number](https://www.hertuxedo.com/products/ivory-tuxedo-suit?variant=42104738119) I would probably never take it off. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/63 "2023-03-03T16:00:08Z")
And to some extent, that’s going to depend a lot on where you work. My husband used to be a retail store manager and at that time, in that store , managers wore suits. My husband was the only person who got them altered. There’s a certain social-economic class where alterations are unimaginable - my husband has a friend who frequently talks about the suit that was “made for him” that he still wears when a suit is called for. It wasn’t made for him in as in “bespoke” or even “made to measure” - it was off-the-rack and altered. It never even occurred to him that someone might have actually have a suit made from scratch after they were measured. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/64 "2023-03-03T17:13:13Z")
> [@NinthAcolyte](#): > > I say all this just to express that the assumption that you just always get suits altered is nowhere near the default for a substantial segment of the suit-wearing population. And mind you, if _you_ are shaped to approximate “average proportions”, you can likely find a jacket that may be say half an inch short on the coattails or an inch wide at the button and half an inch long on the sleeve and _the average casual observer_ will hardly notice anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/65 "2023-03-03T20:57:07Z")
How many people here would agree wearing a tie is kind of like being strangled by a really weak guy, all day long? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/66 "2023-03-03T21:33:54Z")
Nothing sets off a flashy suit like a really cool tie. [![](https://cdn.thecoolist.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Benjamin-Siegel-famous-gangster-960x684.jpg) ](https://cdn.thecoolist.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Benjamin-Siegel-famous-gangster-960x684.jpg) ---
**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:** [March 3, 2023, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/67 "2023-03-03T21:37:55Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And mind you, if _you_ are shaped to approximate “average proportions”, you can likely find a jacket that may be say half an inch short on the coattails or an inch wide at the button and half an inch long on the sleeve and _the average casual observer_ will hardly notice anything wrong. I agree, and this is really not much different from shirts or non-suit pants – for many\* people, while off-the-rack clothing may not be _perfectly_ fit to their bodies, they’re probably able to find clothing that fits reasonably well. \*- I hesitate to say “most,” only because I know that many people do have bodily proportions that make it difficult to find clothing that fits well. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/68 "2023-03-03T21:42:01Z")
I like dressing up, so that’s a no from me. 😁 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/69 "2023-03-03T21:46:14Z")
That may be more a case of your shirt collar being too tight (and even shirts properly sized at purchase have to deal with shrinking). ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/70 "2023-03-03T22:20:17Z")
> [@NinthAcolyte](#): > > On the only slightly related tangent of women’s suits, if anyone has an extra $500 laying around and wants to buy me [this gorgeous number](https://www.hertuxedo.com/products/ivory-tuxedo-suit?variant=42104738119) I would probably never take it off. I just want the waistcoat. Gorgeous. The only person I know who wears colorful men’s suits is Arejay Hale of Halestorm. [Pineapple](https://loudwire.com/arejay-hale-why-halestorm-back-from-the-dead-album-most-challenging-yet/) [Lime green](https://consequence.net/video/halestorm-lzzy-arejay-hale-interview-2022/) (including the hair) [Yellow](https://www.whig.com/arts-and-entertainment/storming-the-stage-an-interview-with-arejay-hale-of-halestorm/article_ac7d2950-0910-11ec-9a56-9f729c56e535.html) [Leopard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2019_RiP_Halestorm_-_Arejay_Hale_-_by_2eight_-_8SC0038.jpg) Probably doesn’t count as much, as he is performing. I’m at the point that I don’t care so much what’s in style - as long as it makes me happy. ---
**Author:** ![NinthAcolyte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ninthacolyte/32/13676_2.png) [@NinthAcolyte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinthAcolyte)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/71 "2023-03-03T22:21:37Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > I just want the waistcoat. Gorgeous. That’s why I budgeted $500 from my hypothetical fairy godparent - the tux itself is only $360, but I gotta have the waistcoat and cravat too! ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/72 "2023-03-03T23:03:58Z")
(I don’t actually agree with that joke, heard it on comedy radio about a turtleneck. I like dressing up and wouldn’t hesitate to loosen my tie if it bugged me.) ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/73 "2023-03-03T23:05:26Z")
It sounds like a Rodney Dangerfield joke. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/74 "2023-03-03T23:06:10Z")
Maybe so, but it was Mitch Hedberg. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2023, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/75 "2023-03-03T23:44:28Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > For a while (starting circa 2010, inspired by “Mad Men”), lighter blue suits were somewhat popular in my area. I That looks like what Trump wears all the time. Maybe he’s one of the people that only have one suit. Hard to tell, his may be darker. I own a few suits, including three piece ones. Black or gray, some with a light stripe. Not really sure of the last time I wore one. ---
**Author:** ![alovem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@alovem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alovem)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2023, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/76 "2023-03-04T17:56:51Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Anybody know what all those tools are in front of Edwige Mbourangon’s shop? I think they’re shock absorber rods. Here’s an image of something similar I found online: [![](https://cdn.onderdelenlijn.nl/parts/100189/14106291/large/701713bb-6673-4314-8580-2b9ea621d11d.jpg) ](https://cdn.onderdelenlijn.nl/parts/100189/14106291/large/701713bb-6673-4314-8580-2b9ea621d11d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/77 "2023-03-05T03:55:52Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > > [@NinthAcolyte](#): > > > > On the only slightly related tangent of women’s suits, if anyone has an extra $500 laying around and wants to buy me [this gorgeous number](https://www.hertuxedo.com/products/ivory-tuxedo-suit?variant=42104738119) I would probably never take it off. > > I just want the waistcoat. Gorgeous. > > The only person I know who wears colorful men’s suits is Arejay Hale of Halestorm. > > [Pineapple](https://loudwire.com/arejay-hale-why-halestorm-back-from-the-dead-album-most-challenging-yet/) > > [Lime green](https://consequence.net/video/halestorm-lzzy-arejay-hale-interview-2022/) (including the hair) > > [Yellow](https://www.whig.com/arts-and-entertainment/storming-the-stage-an-interview-with-arejay-hale-of-halestorm/article_ac7d2950-0910-11ec-9a56-9f729c56e535.html) > > [Leopard](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2019_RiP_Halestorm_-_Arejay_Hale_-_by_2eight_-_8SC0038.jpg) > > Probably doesn’t count as much, as he is performing. > > I’m at the point that I don’t care so much what’s in style - as long as it makes me happy Stephen Fry is known for his large and quite colorful collection ot ties, and he wore some very striking suits while hosting _QI_. [This](https://theartsdesk.com/tv/qi-bbc-two) grey jacket over a purple shirt with an aquamarine and purple striped tie is one of my favorites. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/78 "2023-03-05T04:38:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > I will bet you that most of the men who attended that hadn’t owned a suit in years. I’ve literally never owned one in my life 🙂. Jackets and ties at times, but never the full ensemble. Never worked in a professional industry where they were necessary and I avoid very formal weddings and particularly funerals like the plague. I have done more casual weddings where a jacket and slacks at most has been sufficient to avoid offense. I can’t really imagine ever buying one at this late point in my life. My immediate family are thankfully all anti-funeral services to a person. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/79 "2023-03-05T22:34:15Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > How many people here would agree wearing a tie is kind of like being strangled by a really weak guy, all day long? > [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > I like dressing up, so that’s a no from me. There was a time when I’d occasionally wear a tie with a blouse (and skirt). I liked the look, and there was a cool vintage store I used to haunt that had some awesome numbers from the 40s and 50s. I never felt like I was being strangled, so I couldn’t understand why guys were always complaining about it. I figured they just hated ties and used the “strangled” word as an excuse. > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > [This](https://theartsdesk.com/tv/qi-bbc-two) grey jacket over a purple shirt with an aquamarine and purple striped tie is one of my favorites. At least on my monitor, the grey suit has too much brown in it for that shirt/tie combo. I think they’d work better with a darker suit, less clownish contrast. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484/80 "2023-03-05T23:21:39Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > I never felt like I was being strangled, so I couldn’t understand why guys were always complaining about it. I figured they just hated ties and used the “strangled” word as an excuse. As some previous poster (um, lessee, that was JRDelirious back in post #39) noted, feeling strangled when wearing a tie is more the fault of too-tight shirt collars than of the tie itself. Many guys who routinely wear button-down shirts without ties never button the top button and consequently never notice that their collar size is too small. Then on the day they have to wear a tie and do try to button the collar they’re all like AGHLGGHCKKHHH GET IT OFF ME. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-colorful-mens-suits-ever-come-back-into-style/980484.md?page=5)