Men's suits are available in a near-infinite number of styles. Few, offer, offer the versatile of pinstripe suits. Pinstripe suits have been around for over a century, and during that time, they've become synonymous with men's formalwear. Whether you're getting dressed for work, a wedding, a black-tie dinner or any other formal event, you can't go wrong with a pinstripe suit.
What Is a Pinstripe Suit?
The term "pinstripe" refers to a textile design pattern consisting of many evenly spaced and thin parallel lines. Although there are exceptions, most pinstripe suits consist of vertical lines. It's called "pinstripe" because the lines are incredibly thin -- almost as thin as a pin. Pinstripe isn't the same pattern as traditional stripes. Only pinstripe suits feature an array of thin lines. In comparison, traditional striped suits have thicker lines.
Benefits of Pinstripe Suits
Wearing a pinstripe suit offers several benefits, one of which is a formal appearance. Pinstripe is widely recognized as a formal pattern. It's a classic pattern that's been used in men's formalwear for over a century. As a result, you can rest assured knowing that it will help you create a formal appearance.
The benefits of wearing a pinstripe suit don't end there. Not only will it allow you to create a formal appearance, but a pinstripe suit will also make you look slimmer. Granted, neither a pinstripe suit nor any other garment will affect your body weight or size. Nonetheless, wearing a pinstripe suit will create the illusion of a slimmer figure. Because the lines in a pinstripe suit run vertically -- as opposed to horizontally -- they'll make you look both taller and slimmer. You won't find this slimming effect in other suit patterns, which is one more reason to invest in a high-quality pinstripe suit.
Pinstripe suits are also to match with other clothes and fashion accessories. At a minimum, you'll need to wear a dress shirt and dress shoes with a suit. Thanks to the simple and classic appearance of pinstripe suits, they will match with most dress shirts and dress shoes. Of course, you may also want to wear a belt, necktie or other accessories with your suit. If you choose a pinstripe suit, you shouldn't have trouble finding the right fashion accessories. Just remember to choose colors that flow cohesively with your pinstripe suit.
When wearing a pinstripe suit, you'll project a fashion-forward appearance. As previously mentioned, pinstripe suits have been around for over a century. It's not uncommon for fashion patterns to come and go from year to year. Pinstripe, however, has only become more popular since being introduced.
Pinstripe vs Plaid: Which Is Best?
In addition to pinstripe, men's suits are also available in plaid. Plaid, of course, features an entirely different design. With plaid, multiple colors are used to create the outline of square boxes. The end result is a checkered pattern that's both classic and easy on the eyes.
You can choose either a pinstripe or a plaid suit. Alternatively, you can choose a solid-color suit. Both pinstripe and plaid suits have multiple colors. A typical pinstripe suit has two colors, whereas plaid suits may contain two or three colors. Therefore, pinstripe and plaid suits will allow you to capitalize on the use of multiple colors.
Choose a High-Quality Fabric
If you're going to wear a pinstripe suit, consider the quality of the fabric. Not all pinstripe suits are made of high-quality fabric. Some are made with cheaper, lower-quality fabric. While you can probably save a couple of bucks by purchasing a pinstripe suit made of a low-quality fabric, this is a case in which the phrase "You get what you pay for" holds true. Low-quality suits tend to wear and degrade more than their higher-quality counterparts. After wearing a low-quality pinstripe suit for just a few months, you may discover damage such as torn seams, loose threading and missing buttons.
For the best value, choose a pinstripe suit made of a high-quality fabric. The
Napolean Stripo Royal Blue Wool Suit, for example, is a high-quality pinstripe suit made of a unique blend of wool and micro rayon. With 90% wool and 10% micro rayon, it's both soft and elastic.
With that said, you can find pinstripe suits available in many other fabrics. Linen, for instance, is a popular choice for spring and summer apparel. If you're planning to wear a suit during the warmer months of the year, you may want to choose a pinstripe suit made of linen. It's lighter, and therefore cooler, than wool. During the winter months, on the other hand, there's no substitution for wool. A wool pinstripe suit will insulate your body to keep you warm and comfortable, even during the cold winter months.
Get the Right Size
Perhaps the most important tip to follow when shopping for a pinstripe suit is to get the right size. If it's too big or too small for your body, it won't look right when worn. Countless men are guilty of wearing suits in the wrong size.
To ensure your pinstripe suit fits just right, order it from StudioSuits. Here at StudioSuits, we offer custom sizing on all suits, including pinstripe suits, at no additional charge. When you order a pinstripe suit, you'll have the option of specifying your body measurements. Once we receive these measurements, we'll use them to create a custom-sized pinstripe suit that's designed specifically for your body. There's no easier or better way to get the perfect fit. As long as you give the correct measurements, your pinstripe suit will fit perfectly.
The Bottom Line on Pinstripe Suits
A pinstripe suit is a type of men's suit featuring a pattern of narrow, vertical lines. As shown in the photos above, they offer a naturally attractive and formal style that's perfect for men's formalwear. Just remember to choose a pinstripe suit in a high-quality fabric as well as the right size.
