How Suits Have Evolved Over Time?

An expertly-tailored suit is an integral component of men’s formal wear. It is traditional for men to dress in a custom-fit suit to significant events such as business meetings, weddings, a job interview, and other formal events. A suit is an ensemble that most often has at least one pair of trousers that matches a jacket, coupled with a necktie. This standard for a suit has seen updates throughout different eras and for different reasons.

The 19th Century Suit

Historians assert that the conception of a suit occurred in the United Kingdom (UK) around the 17th century, but the basis of the modern-day suit did not come about until the 19th century. A many by the name of George "Beau" Brummel, a consort of King George IV, came up with the idea of a suit for lounging which was the inception of the modern suit. This began a trend among men beyond just the borders of the UK who started to wear "lounge suits" tailored from only the finest fabrics of the time coupled with coordinating neckties. The suits were form-fitting and usually had a darker frock coat with a light trouser in contrast to today’s matching suit ensembles.

The 20th Century Suit

With the new century came the phasing out of the frock coat as part of the suit. It was replaced with what was now being called a morning coat as part of a suit. It was still a formal coat, but it had a pronounced element in the back that split each side of the coat and displayed both sides of the fabric separately. This new style was worn during the 20th century eventually by more men than the frock coat which, at some point, vanished completely as a fashion staple of the suit.

The Short-Coated Suit

By the end of World War I, the style of suit had changed once again. The latest design change was brought about by the male fascination with short jackets to be worn with suits. Suits with this style were referred to as the short-coated lounge suit. It took up its newfound fame beginning in the 1920s and is still considered a popular style for suits.

How Suits Became Modernised

Starting in the 1940s, the suit began its greatest evolution right through the 1950s. This was when the modern suit style became a part of most men’s closets. Lapel sizes decreased, and the single-breasted jacket emerged as the standard for most suits. Jackets were tailored in a straight cut for purposes of slimming a man’s waist. World War II had a great influence on the paring down of suit styles since most fabric was now being used to make military uniforms and other wartime resources.

Suits in Today’s World

Styles of suits have taken an evolutionary journey through time along with the kinds of fabrics commonly used to make them. For many years, suits were usually made from either cotton, linen, or wool. Even though today’s suits are still manufactured from these common fabrics, there are a greater variety of materials to choose from today such as polyester, velvet, leather, tweed, and corduroy.

Gone also are the days when suits came in only two colors-black or brown. Now, suits come in nearly every color scheme imaginable and are sometimes even mixed with one shade for the jacket and another for the trousers for a customized and unique suit ensemble.

Bespoke Tailored and Made to Measure Suits

Throughout the changing styles, Pascalis Bespoke Tailoring is still committed to offering a traditional suit style to every customer that will always stand the test of any era.