BLACK AND WHITE PINSTRIPE SUIT
The clothes that you wear says a lot about your personality and thus in today's world it is important that we spend some time on perfecting our style. Whether be it a work wear or a leisure wear you will have to consider the trends of recent times and how you can incorporate it in your outfit. Suits are often a safe choice for men since in formal wear there may not be a big room for innovative styling as in casual wear. But that does not mean that you will have to always stick with the classic black suit and navy suit. In this article we discuss the black and white pinstripe suit and some of the best ways in which you can style the garment.
Black and white pinstripe suit is a statement look that you can sometimes alternate with your usual office wear. The black and white pinstripe suits have been in mens fashion for a long time now. These black and white pinstripe suits or the pinstripe suits in general was the unofficial uniform of the British bankers in the 19th century. The banks even had their own design of pinstripes which varied in terms of distance between the stripes and the thickness of the stripes thus creating a easy recognition for the staffs working in different banks.
After this in the 20th century the pinstripes started to become popular among the public. At first the British wore pinstripes only on trousers but when the style reached United States it gained the importance of being on a whole suit. But the idea of pinstripes was not as we have it now. Today the black and white pinstripe suits are considered to be a formal look but in 20th century when the pinstripe suits reached the silver screen it was portrayed more as a symbol of rebellion. Soon the pinstripe suits were worn by gangsters and the people who considered themselves to be outlaws.
This popularity of the black and white pinstripe suits continued till 2008 when the banking sector saw a huge fall. Pinstripes till then were the sign of the bankers but after the economy crash people hesitated to be seen in the black and white pinstripe suits since they touched a nerve. Soon the sale of the pinstripe suits plummeted and this was the time when the pinstripes went through a major change. Designers opted to reinvent the pinstripe style and instead of incorporating it in traditional tailoring like the suits and blazers as it was the case until then they decided to introduce the pinstripe suits in casual clothing too. Thus the pinstripes started appearing in all mens clothing starting from the overcoats to the casual t-shirts. Even today the pinstripes continue to be one of the most sought after patterns in both menswear and womenswear.
Now with the moods shifted we do not have to tiptoe while wearing the mens black and white pinstripe suits. They are now seen as a classic wear that is a part of a sartorially elite person. Also the black and white pinstripe suits of these days have taken a modern take and thus is a hybrid of the classic design with the modern practicality. The underlying essence of the black and white pinstripe suits is still maintained with only some minor detail changes like the cut of the suit and the color combinations. Also in the early times of its fame the black and white pinstripe suits were worn as a full suit complete with formal shoes but today you have the option of breaking it up and styling it with casual garments to get a stylish look.
The look of the black and white pinstripe suit depends on the structure of the suit you are purchasing. The formal black and white suits are mostly if strong shoulders with padding and a tapered waist. So when you need a formal look then you can simply go with the full suit styling of the black and white pinstripe suits pairing it with a white dress shirt and a standard colored tie. But if you want it to be a little more relaxed style then you can dress down the black and white pinstripe suits. For example you can go with the unstructured black and white pinstripe suits that comes with a soft shoulder and less padding. You can style this casual black and white pinstripe suit with a crew neck tshirt and a pair of white trainers. Thus the structure is an important thing to note and you should make the right pick considering the purpose for which you are getting the suit.
The details of the pinstripes on the black and white pinstripe suit is also another factor that influences the look of the suit. The pinstripes are narrow and thus can make the man look taller and leaner than he is originally. Thus the black and white pinstripe suits are most recommended for short and bulky men than it is for tall and lean men. Also if you are a lean person who wants to look a little more bulky then you can go with the black and white pinstripe suits that come with more space between the stripes.
As for the combining garments to pair with the black and white pinstripe suits you can go with the dress shirt for the formal look and then the t-shirts for a casual look. As for the color it is most recommended that you try to match the color of the combining garments with the color of the pinstripes on the suit. For example when it comes to black and white pinstripe suits the pinstripes on the suit will be of white color. In that case you can pair the black and white pinstripe suits with a white dress shirt and a black tie for a formal look and for a casual style pair if with a white crew neck tshirt. This way you can introduce a balance between the look of the outfit. While the black and white pinstripe suit is a classic style there are a lot of styles available in the market nowadays. Dark colored suits with still darker pinstripes are also a recent trend which gives the wearer a formal look that he can wear to the office. Some subtle pinstripe suits have dark and narrow pinstripes which will not be even visible unless looked closely. Thus there is a style for all regardless of the taste and all you have to do is to find the right one that will fit your need.
As for styling the black and white pinstripe suits there are some details that you will have to note. Versatility is one of the major aspects that men look for when purchasing any garment whether be it formal or casual. Thus make sure you go through the style and then choose the one that will fit your need. When you want to go with the classic pinstripe suit look then we would recommend you to go with the 3 piece suits. This vested black and white pinstripe suits might mirror the 19th century banker look but if you don't mind that then it is a great formal look. The three piece black and white pinstripe suit is also a great pick when you are a person who likes to wear the suit as separates. You can style the vest with any other combining garments or you can lose the vest and simply go with the 2 piece black and white pinstripe suit look.
When the black and white pinstripe suit is paired with a contrast collar shirt the look becomes neat but it is also an age old style that you should avoid when you want a modern take on the black and white pinstripe suits. You can go with other colored dress shirts other than the white dress shirt but it is best to stick with the light colored ones. Pale pink dress shirts and light blue dress shirts are the usual recommendations.
For the semi formal look you can lose the tie and go with the relaxed look. You can replace the plain dress shirt with a patterned one so that the outfit becomes interesting. But when you add another pattern with the black and white pinstripe suit you will have to careful to style the garment in such a way that the garments complement each other. The patterns of the suit and the shirt should not clash with each other which will give out the feel of a loud outfit which is undesirable. A subtle printed dress shirt might be a great pick to pair with the black and white pinstripe suits to get a balanced look.
Other than this you can also opt to go with using the bold black and white pinstripe suit as separates. As we have mentioned before the pinstripes were first used on the trousers and you can take inspiration from this early style. You can style the black and white pinstripe suit trousers with a standard colored dress shirt and a block colored blazer. This look is more on the relaxed side than on the formal and when you want to make it work as a formal garment then you will have to focus more on the details while styling the outfit. The reverse which is black and white pinstripe suit jacket with block colored trousers is relatively hard to pull off since most would think that you are wearing the suit jacket without the matching trousers. Thus start out slow with the style that you feel comfortable with and then progress on to the next stage.
When you need a smart casual look you can style the single breasted black and white pinstripe suit with a black turtleneck. To add a little more style to the outfit you can pair it with brown leather derby shoes. For a winter look you can style the black and white pinstripe suit with a white dress shirt, navy and white polka dot tie and a black v neck sweater. To complete the look you can add with it a pair of dark brown leather oxford shoes.
As for styling the black and white pinstripe suits here are some ideas that we think might help you when you decide to add one if these to your wardrobe collection. For a formal yet stylish look you can style the peak lapel suit with a light blue dress shirt, grey plaid wool vest and a black tie. To complete the look you can add a dark brown wool hat and a pair of black leather cap toe shoes to the outfit. For a nicely coordinated outfit you can style the double breasted suit with a white dress shirt and a black long tie. To shake up the serious look a little you can add with it a pair of white canvas low top sneakers.
The styling of the black and white pinstripe suits can be decided depending on the type of event you are attending. When you want a formal style like a black and white wedding pinstripe suit then it is best to go with wool suits or tweed suits. On the contrary when you need a little more casual style like the black and white gangster pinstripe suit or the black and white pinstripe zoot suit then we would recommend you to try the cotton suits or the linen suits.
As for the fit make sure you go with the right one that will complement your body type. Slim fit suits are the best for tall men while you can go with the classic fit suits when you need a comfortable fit.