The best suits for men: Top picks for every occasion

When it comes to the man’s wardrobe, there is nothing more revered than the suit. Every man should have a handful of suits for different occasions. Even if you don’t wear a suit daily, you will come into times when a suit is vital to your look. The possibilities are endless for weddings, funerals, promotions, recitals, and parties.

If you want to build a suit wardrobe, there are many things to remember. You must consider your lifestyle, budget, tastes, and body type. It can get overwhelming before you even begin to shop. We have done the work for you in at least one area. We have found the best suits for men so you can get the right fit and go about your life.

Best all-around suit: Hockerty Super 120s Navy Wool Suit

While some old heads may tell you that your most versatile suit is black (back in the day, it was more accepted), we are here to tell you that the overall best suit in your closet is a blue suit. It’s perfect for the office and dressed up for the evening. The trick is to stay away from the dark navy and go for something like this Hockerty blue, which is light enough to swap to black shoes and darker shirts for the after-p.m. events.

What makes this suit the best? You can customize the details to fit your lifestyle more appropriately. While custom will always be the best option, sometimes it is a cost-prohibitive way to go. This option is the best balance of quality, price, versatility, and style.

Buy at Hockerty

Best tuxedo: Ralph Lauren Purple Label Gregory Hand-Tailored Wool Peak Tuxedo

Ralph Lauren sought to compete with the movie industry after costuming the film The Great Gatsby in the 1970s. With that goal, it launched the Purple Label (RLPL), and there has been no equal in the tuxedo game ever since. You almost have to run the table when inspired by The Great Gatsby.

This option from RLPL is a classic silhouette and the easiest garment to have in your closet for the rest of your life, making it simple to nail the black-tie wardrobe. Before you say anything, stand next to anyone who rented their tux while wearing this, and you will understand why we fully believe that you should NEVER rent your tux — own it.

Buy at Ralph Lauren

Best two-button suit:  Tom Ford Grand Overcheck Shelton Suit

There are no more prominent names in suits right now than Tom Ford. That will happen to anyone who outfits the great James Bond. And after being the suit maker for Daniel Craig’s Bond, his name became a household name even to the uninitiated. But he got there by being a massive name within the halls of the industry for a long time.

If you were only going to get one suit, you would do well if this is the one you picked up. It is subtle enough to be worn to virtually anything and high enough quality to be your go-to suit for every event for the rest of your life.

Buy at Tom Ford

Best double-breasted suit: The Black Tux Ink Blue Double-Breasted Suit

You would think that with a name like The Black Tux, we would talk about its tuxedos. And while it has some of the best of those on the market, we can’t ignore the fact that this double-breasted suit is in its inventory. Light linen usually means an ultra-casual look and one that quickly gets wrinkled. But with this suit, you get the light comfort of a linen suit with the upscale look of a fully structured suit.

The bright blue is unique and will help you stand out in a crowd, and the peak lapels and pleated pants are the perfect combination of vintage and modern that keep you solidified in today’s style.

Buy at The Black Tux

Best fashion-forward suit: SuitShop Burnt Orange Two-Button

A dirty little secret in the suit industry is that trends and fashion changes are the bane of many customers’ existence. Suits are expensive, which means most of us need to stay as conservative as possible, lest we have to replace trending suits every time the winds shift.

With SuitShop’s competitive prices and refusal to compromise quality, you can snag something like this burnt orange suit and wear it proudly. And then, when the winds change, you won’t hesitate to grab another from SuitShop. The beautiful thing is they last, so you can wear them again when the fickle trend comes back around.

Buy at SuitShop

Best patterned suit: Suitsupply Mid Grey Checked Milano Suit

The trick to wearing a stellar patterned suit is subtlety. To be loud but not deafening. To be noticed but not stared at. The point of a pattern on a suit isn’t to be flashy. On the contrary, it is to offer depth to a suit. The idea is to capture attention, not keep it, but redirect it to the person wearing it.

This checked suit from Suitsupply is the perfect way to capture attention and hold on to it while people listen to who you are and what you can offer. If you decide to wear this to the office, be prepared with your A-game because people will be paying attention.

Buy at SuitSupply

Best seasonal suit: Todd Snyder Italian Flannel

Seasonal suits are a fun way to liven up your tailored wardrobe when the weather changes. When spring goes into summer, you will start to see linen, cotton, and seersucker suits. The tweed, cashmere, and flannel appear when the fall begins to roll in.

This flannel piece from Todd Snyder will be the workhorse of your fall and winter wardrobe. It is cut like a wool suit but heavy like a jacket, keeping you warm and stylish all season long. The tan color makes it easy to pair with almost any shirt and tie combination you can think of. You won’t miss the warm weather at all when you get a chance to wear this.

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Best English suit: Cordings Brown Herringbone Tweed Suit

There is an old saying in menswear: “If you want flare, you go with Italian. If you want elegance, you go with English.” English tailoring is all about channeling the gentleman. The old royal etiquette is something more men need nowadays (we mean in the day-to-day dress-to-impress way, not the whole conquering thing).

Cordings is one of the best in the world in terms of English style. it excels in the English country look but can also get the city suits looking good enough for James Bond. This tweed suit epitomizes both: a city suit with a country flare — the perfect mix of England.

Buy at Cordings

Best Italian suit: Brioni Super 160s Brunico Essential Midnight Blue Suit

Few suit brands are more iconic than Brioni. Not only do Jude Law, Matthew McConaughey, and Batman himself, Christian Bale, wear the brand, but it is known to have been an outfitter of James Bond. It is the peak of Italian construction, using handcrafted techniques and taking its time with every garment.

This essential midnight blue is the most classic and iconic option in the collection, and the Brunico line has been a massive hit since its launch in 2010. At a cool price of $6,000, it’s one of the more affordable in the Brioni suit house.

Buy at Brioni

Best unstructured suit: Dandy Del Mar Brisa Linen Suit

A good unstructured suit has a few things going for it. The first is that it is often more comfortable and breathable, thanks to not having the canvas center. The second thing it has going is its ability to be swapped out for something a little more casual.

Dandy Del Mar’s Brisa Linen blazer and trouser set is the perfect unstructured suit. With their resort-style offerings, this option allows you to dress it up for dinner or swap the dress shirt out for an excellent henley for a casual look.

Buy at Dandy Del Mar