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In the Navy
If you’re going to buy only one suit, make it navy. Classic, refined and always appropriate, the navy suit works in the boardroom or at your cousin’s wedding. Zegna suit, $2,295; Brioni shirt, $595; Charvet tie, $185; Hermes pocket square, $130. Neiman Marcus, Plaza Frontenac, 314-994-5050, neimanmarcus.com.
Tux Luxe
Why rent when you can own? Made from beautiful fabric, this tuxedo is all gentleman—a far cry from blue ruffles at prom. Joseph Abboud tuxedo, $745; John W. Nordstrom tuxedo dress shirt, $120; Robert Talbott bow tie and cummerbund set, $125. Nordstrom, West County Center, 314-255-2000, nordstrom.com.
Cool Khaki
This suit is wearable all year long. Plus, you can break it up by pairing the jacket with jeans or the pants with a sweater. Go with 100 percent cotton, and you can’t go wrong—even in July. Stafford suit, $325, and tie, $35; Van Heusen shirt, $50. J.C. Penney, West County Center, 314-288-2020, jcpenney.com.
Gray Matters
A gray suit is a basic that delivers—the perfect slate to accessorize on. And gray looks dashing with every color of the rainbow. Canali suit, $1,795; Joseph Abboud shirt, $88; Robert Talbott tie, $135; XMI pocket square, $45. Mark Shale, Saint Louis Galleria, 314-725-4888, markshale.com.
Expert Advice: “The biggest mistake that men make when trying on a suit is paying too much attention to the sleeve length: This has nothing to do with the fit and can easily be altered. The most important thing to look at is how a suit fits in the shoulders because that can’t be changed.” —Mike Schutter, Mark Shale general manager
(Photographs by Mark Gilliland)
