Post: #1

For those of you that practice suit game, do you wear 2-piece suits or 3-piece suits (i.e., a suit with a vest)?

In your experience, do women prefer one over the other?

Post: #2

Why would you care what a woman thinks?

Wear the suit you like best. You're over-thinking this.

Post: #3

In most game situations, the chances are very low that a chick will notice and react favorably.

Bar full of hipsters, no bonus
Bar full of professionals, no bonus
Coffee shop day game, I doubt it.

Tweed run? Yes

WIA

Post: #4

There is no "suit game". There is only wear what makes you feel like you are on top.

If you are not a suit guy, it will fail you worse then if you wore a singlet and flip flops (if you are comfortable in that).

I notice that more guys are wearing suits. Thats fine, but poorly cut, cheap fabric suits that are being constantly preened by the wearer is just telling the world that you are uncomfortable.

Develop your style first. If that happens to become three piece suit wearing gunslinger so be it.

Post: #5

In my experience women don't know shit about suits aside from whether it fits or not. I've received compliments on a cheap ass Zara suit before, so get suits for you and for reasons other than women. Just make sure it fits right.

Post: #6

There's more advice about this in the Lifestyle section.

Post: #7

2-piece. 3-piece is really overdoing it in most situations.

Post: #8

(04-13-2015 01:41 PM)civpro Wrote:  2-piece. 3-piece is really overdoing it in most situations.

Depends on your comfort in it. Make it look natural, then it is.
Like nudists.

Post: #9

(04-13-2015 01:55 PM)spokepoker Wrote:  

(04-13-2015 01:41 PM)civpro Wrote:  2-piece. 3-piece is really overdoing it in most situations.

Depends on your comfort in it. Make it look natural, then it is.
Like nudists.

^^ This. Nothing wrong with a 3-piece suit, it's just that it's way harder to pull it off.

Post: #10

Depends on club. You can't wear suit to a club where people go with jeans and t-shirt. If the dress code is more like button-up shirt+jeans for men and skirt+blouse for women, you can wear 2-piece suit. If the dress code is more like dress for girls and shirt+jacket for men, you can wear 3-piece suit.

Post: #11

When I was a salesman for Sears, I always did a 3 piece. It made me feel that much more confident, at first it felt weird and confining, but strolling through the mall, and knowing I was getting scoped (was approached for modeling twice), made me that much more at ease wearing it, and in the end, improving my sales (commission).
Now when I do a suit, it's 9 times out of 10 a three piece. Plus, more pockets that don't imprint.

Post: #12

I'd buy a three-piece as it's more flexible and I've got a thing for waistcoats.

Post: #13

Can't wear vests here in Florida it's too warm except for a very few days in winter, but I like what's known as the "odd vest" look, meaning a vest that doesn't match the suit. I think they look less formal and conservative and more rakish.

   

   

   

   

Post: #14

Why are you wearing a suit for the club? You should very rarely be wearing a suit to a club or bar. The only exceptions are if you're hanging out with guys from work, immediately after work, or if you're in a place that has a suitable dress code.


Instead wear a nice pair of jeans, button shirt, and a sport coat.

Post: #15

(04-13-2015 03:44 PM)MrXY Wrote:  Can't wear vests here in Florida it's too warm except for a very few days in winter, but I like what's known as the "odd vest" look, meaning a vest that doesn't match the suit. I think they look less formal and conservative and more rakish.

This x10.

Try a jacket and waistcoat in non-matching tweeds. Obviously that's not going to work in the summer, but it works for spring and autumn in the UK, and some cold summer evenings.

In winter you need an overcoat on top (that's worth another thread).

Post: #16

I recently invested in a custom-made two-piece suit. I now regret not getting it in the three-piece option. The reason is that if I'm in a situation in which I don't want to wear the suit jacket, I could have worn the vest without a tie and still felt suited-up. As Mr. XY says, I can, and will, use an odd vest, but I still wish I had the vest that would have matched the rest of the suit for certain situations.

If you're not used to going out suited up or suited down, it might take you awhile to get used to it so you don't feel self-concious. Now that I've started going out suited down whenever possible I don't want to go back to more casual wear. The positive attention I get by being suited down, with a pocket square, is noticeably different and better than before. I feel like I'm on top of the world when I'm striding down the street in my perfectly-fitted suit and polished dress shoes or boots. I've gone into some casual bars suited down, where everyone else was in jeans and t-shirts, and didn't feel out of place at all. No dudes stared at me or tried to challenge me. You just have to have the mind set, I guess, that it's totally natural and correct that you're wearing a suit, which it is.

Post: #17

Do any of you guys wear suits to clubs outside of the U.S? I can't recall ever noticing any. Is it just an American thing?

Post: #18

I would go for the 3 piece, simply because you have more to work with.
having the added vest.
You can wear the suit with or without the vest.
You can wear just the vest.
Depending on the price difference.. why not get more for your money

Post: #19

(04-13-2015 03:51 PM)Easy_C Wrote:  Why are you wearing a suit for the club? You should very rarely be wearing a suit to a club or bar. The only exceptions are if you're hanging out with guys from work, immediately after work, or if you're in a place that has a suitable dress code.


Instead wear a nice pair of jeans, button shirt, and a sport coat.

If you're in a spot where the dudes are wearing suits, the chicks look better.

If you're only going to spots where guys are wearing jeans and having "going out" shirts - you're working in the wrong crowd.

WIA

Post: #20

I haven't invested in a three-piece suit yet, but the idea is highly attractive.

I get all my suits tailored and even if rarely would wear a three-piece setup, it'd be nice to have some properly fitting waistcoats to jazz up otherwise more run of the mill outfits on warmer days where wearing a jacket is less manageable.

And just because you get a suit with a waistcoat, doesn't mean that you always have to wear it as a three-piece. You have the option to wear just the jacket with non-matching pants, just the pants, with a shirt or a different jacket, just the waistcoat incorporated into another outfit, the pants and jacket together or all three pieces together.

Lots more flexibility and value.

I haven't taken the plunge yet, because I prefer more suits to having waistcoats, so that's where I've stuck my money, but in the future, it's a direction I'm sure that I will go in.

Post: #21

(04-13-2015 10:47 AM)Lizard King Wrote:  Why would you care what a woman thinks?

Wear the suit you like best. You're over-thinking this.

There's a word for a man who chooses to let women dictate his sartorial tastes:

(04-13-2015 01:41 PM)civpro Wrote:  2-piece. 3-piece is really overdoing it in most situations.

I think it's a cultural thing; in the US, it's outright peacocking even in most corporate situations, let alone most bars and clubs. In most of Europe, you can get away with most classic looks that may turn heads in the new world: 3-pieces, double-breasted jackets, French cuffs, patterned shirts with contrast collars — these are all still de rigeuer City of London wear.

For my part, I've worn a 3-piece to job interviews of different levels, and in all occasions I either got the job or didn't for reasons (to the very best of my knowledge) other than the rakishness of my outfit.

I think as long as you're being discreet about it and not trying to show off the fact that you have one, i.e. constantly unbuttoning your jacket to show off your waistcoat — 99% of people won't even notice beyond the thought of "nice suit".

As long it's it tailored appropriately to your proportions — the waistcoat should only peek out beyond your jacket lapel — it's just an extra detail that isn't too flashy.

That also means not exposing a midriff of shirt; it's called a waistcoat for a reason:

Post: #22

(04-13-2015 03:44 PM)MrXY Wrote:  Can't wear vests here in Florida it's too warm except for a very few days in winter, but I like what's known as the "odd vest" look, meaning a vest that doesn't match the suit. I think they look less formal and conservative and more rakish.

There are a few situations where an odd waistcoat actually elevates its formality, such as morning dress and stroller/black-lounge.





It's a vestige of the contrasting waistcoats worn during the Regency era a la Mr Darcy:



Unfortunately, the former is going to be seen as outright costume outside of horse races and weddings (and even then, somewhat so at those events) and likewise, 99.99% of people coming across the latter will see it as a sharp, but mismatched suit. They offer heaps of options in assembly than you might think.

Post: #23

(04-13-2015 06:14 PM)Savage Wrote:  Do any of you guys wear suits to clubs outside of the U.S? I can't recall ever noticing any. Is it just an American thing?

You can go suited down to almost any venue in Japan or Korea, even dive bars, and it will give you greater respect and more positive attention from the staff and many, if not most, of the other customers.

Post: #24

Depends on the city - while suits after work in DC is totally acceptable for happy hour and there are women who like it, most DC goverment-ish chicks know shit all about their own clothes, much less those of men. These are the women who refuse to wear heels because "they hurt."

In a place like NYC or even Boston, it's a different ball game - there are more women who know and pay attention to clothes. Still depends on the venue though. Above all else and pretty much everywhere, women notice shoes. Like some natural radar they've got. Might be worth focusing on that area first - find out from your girl or whatever, but they notice.

I've never owned a three piece suit but not opposed to the idea. But remember a proper fitting three piece will not fit the same without the vest. What matters more is getting the right cut for your body type - not all brands will work for all guys. Go someplace that knows suits, not the discount rack at Jos A Banks.

Post: #25

(04-13-2015 07:13 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

(04-13-2015 03:51 PM)Easy_C Wrote:  Why are you wearing a suit for the club? You should very rarely be wearing a suit to a club or bar. The only exceptions are if you're hanging out with guys from work, immediately after work, or if you're in a place that has a suitable dress code.


Instead wear a nice pair of jeans, button shirt, and a sport coat.

If you're in a spot where the dudes are wearing suits, the chicks look better.

If you're only going to spots where guys are wearing jeans and having "going out" shirts - you're working in the wrong crowd.

WIA

^^Yes.

It's dependent on the situation.

What some of you call a vest, in the UK, we call a waistcoat.

If you're wearing a morning suit(funeral? or wedding), you'll have a waistcoat. If you're wearing a normal suit a waistcoat won't be out of place.

Club. 2-piece. 3-piece is too formal.

If you wear a 3-piece suit, it helps if you have all the trimmings: nice cufflinks, tiebar, etc. Some people have a watch on a chain in a waistcoat pocket, very traditional.