Where can I wear my suit

August 10, 2006 5:54 PM

I bought the suit ostensibly for a wedding but, frankly, I liked the idea of posessing a suit again not having owned one for at least ten years. I enjoyed wearing it. I felt good in it and was told I looked good in it, and that was nice. Having spent so much money on an item of clothing which also made me feel good, I'd like to wear it more often. But the question is to where? I'm rarely invited to weddings. Occassionaly I attend church. Once or twice a year I attend an awards dinner. What else can I do socially to give me more opportunities to wear my suit? This is a man posting, just to clarify.
posted by TheManticore to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (28 answers total)

Go out for dinner. Attend theatre, opera, symphony, and other performances.
posted by acoutu at 5:58 PM on August 10, 2006

If I go to a play I dress up.
Sometimes when I vote.
posted by Iron Rat at 6:20 PM on August 10, 2006

Do you have a job? If so, I assume that you do not need to wear a suit to your job (which would, of course, obviate the need for this question). Anyway, you should unilaterally implement "Uncasual Fridays" and wear your suit to work every Friday.

Also consider investing in a tuxedo to alternate with your suit, for a much more Formal Friday.
posted by dersins at 6:31 PM on August 10, 2006

Have you considered becoming one of those guys that wears a suit 365 days of the year? And even to the beach? I certainly have.
posted by cillit bang at 6:31 PM on August 10, 2006

Wear a suit to that nice little local café with the cute waitress. Take an hour to sip a coffee beverage of your choosing. Nibble a dessert. Read a chapter of a book. Write, using paper and pen. No consumer electonics allowed. This is a great way realx after work and a great excuse to wear a suit.

Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you can't play dress-up.
posted by lekvar at 6:56 PM on August 10, 2006

If it's the right suit, you can throw a US-Army fishtail parka on top, grab a crew of mates who want to do the same and go to a Northern Soul All-Nighter (on a squadron of Lambrettas).
... if mod-revivalism isn't your thing, however, you can often wear a suit when you're just "going out". Again, it has to be the "right" suit (i.e. not too corporate, not too....sleazy), but I find that I never feel like a total pill even when I'm the only guy in the bar or club wearing a suit because the suit is just so freakin' good.
Like you mentioned, it's all about how good you feel in the suit (and partly the belief that maybe, just maybe, you look just a little bit like Paul Weller. Or even Nick Cave.)
posted by bunglin jones at 7:03 PM on August 10, 2006

I wish that more men would think this way.
posted by crabintheocean at 7:05 PM on August 10, 2006

If you normally don't wear a suit to work, and then wear one, everyone will assume you're having a job interview that day. :) Whether you want them to think that or not is up to you.

Going to performances ensuited is a good idea (above). It's also nice to wear a suit when shopping in better stores---you get better service.
posted by LeisureGuy at 7:06 PM on August 10, 2006

Going to performances ensuited is a good idea (above). It's also nice to wear a suit when shopping in better stores---you get better service.

If you feel like you need to actually "do" something to wear the suit there you go - wear it places you normally go and document the different treatment you get. Make unusual requests of people/businesses and see what happens suit vs. casualwear. Post results to a blog and run suit-related banner ads. Use money to buy more expensive suits. Repeat.
posted by mikepop at 7:13 PM on August 10, 2006

Can you pair up the suit jacket with jeans? Then, you could wear it everyday and just be that guy who wears a sportscoat around. Or, wear the pants with a nice shirt, without the jacket. You could also wear the suit to the bank, when you need a loan. Or go house hunting in a suit. Start up a monthly dinner club with friends! Go to fancy restaurants!
posted by hooray at 7:14 PM on August 10, 2006

I don't see why you can't just wear the suit without a tie on a regular, non-occasion basis. We have a business casual dress code at work, so oftentimes the execs and the sales guys will where a suit jacket over a dress shirt without the tie.
posted by phoenixc at 7:15 PM on August 10, 2006

Well, maybe it's different because I am a woman, but during the year I wear pieces of my suit with more business casual attire to work...a jacket with khakis and a nice shirt looks nice & polished, and my suit pants look fine with most work-appropriate tops. Maybe you can do the same?

An alternative is to become a wedding crasher. Just don't crash black tie weddings unless you plan to buy a tuxedo. You could also start interviewing for jobs just for the hell of it.
posted by tastybrains at 7:19 PM on August 10, 2006

Can you pair up the suit jacket with jeans? Then, you could wear it everyday and just be that guy who wears a sportscoat around.

I wish fewer men would think this way.
posted by crabintheocean at 7:32 PM on August 10, 2006

End up in court and you will wear the suit. That is the only time I wear one any more it seems, except for fancy parties of wedding, bar mitzvah, whatever persuasion, and anymore too many of these are requiring black tie (aghhh), and then all the charity balls are black tie - I think I could chuck the suits because all I need at work is a polo shirt, and just get by on a couple of nice tuxedos. (OK, after that postmodern sentence I retire)
posted by caddis at 7:34 PM on August 10, 2006

I have a policy of wearing a suit to the office once every few months, just to keep my employers on their toes. My office is very jeans-and-t-shirts, and if they infer I am interviewing and want to give me more money to keep me on board, who am I to dispell their notions?

I also second playing dress-up and treating yourself to a nice dinner/evening in a cafe/whatever. It can be a lot of fun, and a nice thing to do for yourself.

And yeah, I also wore a suit to court. But I'd recommend following some of these other suggestions before pursuing that.
posted by sonofslim at 7:44 PM on August 10, 2006

This specifies a tuxedo, but I'm sure a suit would be almost as impressive.
posted by harkin banks at 8:29 PM on August 10, 2006

If you are called on for jury duty, wear a really nice suit. It will improve your chances of being challenged.

Assuming you don't want to sit on a jury.
posted by Ritchie at 8:32 PM on August 10, 2006

To the gym. Isn't it obvious?
posted by mkultra at 8:47 PM on August 10, 2006

Wear a suit to that nice little local café with the cute waitress. Take an hour to sip a coffee beverage of your choosing. Nibble a dessert. Read a chapter of a book. Write, using paper and pen. No consumer electonics allowed. This is a great way realx after work and a great excuse to wear a suit. - lekvar

This is also a great way to catch the eye of the cute girl killing time at the cafe with her nose ostensibly in a book, but really people watching.
posted by raedyn at 10:04 PM on August 10, 2006

I bought season tickets to the opera almost solely because it gave me and my lady an excuse to look fancy and go out. This was 5 years ago. Eventually I learned to appreciate opera and we haven't missed a production yet.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 10:38 PM on August 10, 2006

Anywhere!

Just wear it.

I often play early gigs in a suit, say at a wedding or restaurant, and then head out to clubs to hear other live music. A suit fits everywhere.
posted by nonmyopicdave at 12:11 AM on August 11, 2006

Even though it's against the mantra of most tech and creative people to wear a suit, it's amazing how much shit you can actually get done while wearing one. Walk into a Home Depot on a Saturday and a manager will tell someone to "go help that guy in the suit".

Now a three piece suit would take your pimpitude to a whole new level.
posted by DefendBrooklyn at 12:35 AM on August 11, 2006

Just wear it.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:27 AM on August 11, 2006

I wear mine dancing. Specifically, ska dancing. Nothing beats sitting at the counter looking sharp at The Grill at 3 in the morning with a Rudy at your side after skanking for hours at the 40 Watt.
posted by ewagoner at 6:37 AM on August 11, 2006

If you live near a college or university with a music department: call them up or check their web site, and look for their schedule of free concerts. If you're feeling dangerous, you could even try an art song concert. Some concerts aren't even free, but they'll be nice and inexpensive.

I live near Duke University, and they occasionally have touring artists visit, too -- very cool.
posted by amtho at 8:00 AM on August 11, 2006

with a Rudy at your side

Is *that* where Mark McGuinn got "Mrs Steven Rudy"?
posted by baylink at 9:46 AM on August 11, 2006

If you're single, wear it on dates. I guarantee, the woman will appreciate it. Or the man, whatever.

As a woman, I wish more guys wore suits. I wish I could convince my husband to wear his suit more often. And to wear a tie with it.

For inspiration, watch a few episodes of How I Met Your Mother. As Barney says, Suit Up!
posted by timepiece at 1:23 PM on August 11, 2006

Where I live, a day out at the races has become very cool because it's inexpensive and gives you an excuse to get dresssed up.

Just a word of advice, when you do get around to wearing said suit, make sure you tuck your shirt in and wear nice shoes. I work at a horse racing venue and you'd be suprised at how many guys go all out with the suit and tie, but then wear skate shoes or leave their shirts untucked. It just doesn't look right.
posted by cholly at 6:12 PM on August 11, 2006