If you are a first time suit buyer and are currently looking for a new suit then you have probably heard a few terms being thrown around that you may not be completely familiar with. “Double breasted” is probably one of them. To give you a little background, the term double breasted is usually used to describe a suit’s jacket. A double breasted suit is a type of jacket that has wide overlapping front lapels. Such jackets usually have two sets of buttons and buttonholes arranged in two separate columns. These are usually contrasted with the more conventional (and traditionally worn) single breasted jackets, which only have one set of buttons and button holes.
Double breasted jackets date back to very early times. They used to be the norm back when suits were not as accessible to the general public and were worn only by the extremely wealthy. As mass manufacturing of suits started to pick up, they became more affordable while a need for practicality shifted production of suits towards the single breasted design. This is how single breasted suits became the more conventional choice.
For this reason, the double breasted suit nowadays, has become more of a defining statement when worn. Since it deviates from the single breasted trend, the double breasted jacket will automatically separate you from the crowd and will give you a dressier, more elegant look. As such, it is normally worn by men who want to set themselves apart. You may have also noticed that double breasted jackets do not make a recurring appearance amongst employees at work, apart perhaps from the Chief Executive or other senior executives who want to command respect (I may be stereotyping here but it really is true in many instances). So you’re interested in buying one of these suits? A word of caution: double breasted suits usually look better on men with a medium to tall build. Otherwise, special measures need to be taken to tailor the suit so you don’t look oddly proportioned.
Now that you know why and when double breasted suits should be worn, you also need to know how to wear them correctly. When dressing up in a double breasted jacket, pay special attention to the following: One fourth of an inch of your shirt’s collar should still be visible from under your suit and so does around half an inch of your shirt’s cuffs. In addition, see to it that your double breasted suit has wide peak lapels that create the illusion of a broader chest and a leaner, taller figure. Your double breasted suit should also have a slim fit that makes it appear more crisp, modern and elegant. It should not hang on you and look loose. See, if you choose to wear your suit in this style, you need to NAIL every aspect of the look – everything from your shoes to the type of shirt you wear, need to tie in perfectly with your suit. You absolutely cannot make a half-arsed attempt at it unless you are happy to end up looking like this young fellow below 😛 .
This article went through a few basics that one should consider when looking at double breasted suits. If you have any other questions at all, feel free to leave a comment below. I will do my best to help you out. Happy suit hunting!
photo credit: stylecountz cc
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