Business Suit Basics

Whether you are going to an interview, attending a formal event, or simply going to work, it can be nerve-wracking if you have no idea on how to wear a business suit.  You want to make the best impression, as your clothes say a lot about you, and you need to look perfect on your suit to achieve that lasting impact.

Here are the basics you need to know about business suits.  You may have heard of them, but you will soon understand more about it.

Single-breasted versus double-breasted

The "breast" referred in coats, jackets, and similar garments actually refer to the arrangement of the buttons.  Single-breasted suits have just one column of buttons and a narrow overlap of fabric.  They also have a pair of notched lapels, although some single-breasted suits have much sporty peaked lapels common in double-breasted jackets. 

In contrast, a double-breasted coast has a wider overlap and two parallel rows of buttons.  Single-breasted jackets with either a two- or three-button closure are considered the most business-like and are acceptable in all business environments.  Note that you should always leave the bottom button undone.

Meanwhile, double-breasted jackets were once considered sporty, as they are descended from yachting wear.  These days, they are acceptable even in the most formal of settings.  A standard double-breasted suit has six buttons with a two-button closure.  As with a single-breasted jacket, the bottom button should be left undone.

Lapels

Aside from the notched and peaked lapels, jackets also appear in shawl or even "Mandarin-style" and other unconventional styles of lapels.  Each style carries different connotations, and is worn with different cuts of suits. 

Shawl lapels, for instance, are derived from the Victorian informal evening wear and are not normally seen on suit jackets.  Lapels also have a buttonhole intended to hold a boutonnière, a type of decorative flower.

Jacket pockets

Most suits come in a variety of inner pockets, as well as two main outer pockets, which are generally either patched, flapped, or jetted. 

The patch pocket has an single extra piece of cloth sewn directly onto the front of the jacket, while the flap pocket is standard for side pockets and has an extra line flap of matching fabric covering the top of the pocket. 

A jetted pocket, meanwhile, is the most formal.  It consists of a small strip of fabric taping the top and bottom of the slit for the pocket.

In addition to the standard two outer pockets, some suits come with a third one called a ticket pocket.  It is usually located just above the right pocket and roughly half as wide.

Sleeves

Suit jackets usually come in three or four buttons on each cuff.  On most store-bought suits, the buttons on the sleeves are merely decorative, but that is not the case in custom-made jackets as you can actually unbutton your sleeves with it.  However, unbuttoning your custom suit is not a fashionable statement.

Vents

Vents are slits found in the bottom rear of the jacket.  These were originally a sporting option, designed to make riding horses easier. 

Nowadays, vents come in three styles:  the single-vented style with one slit at the center; the "ventless" style, which is usually associated with Italian suits; and the double-vented style with one slit on each side, which is common in British jackets.  They are still convenient today, especially when using a pocket or sitting down.