Formal Wear for Men: A Global Standard

Style comes in many forms and shapes, with the definition of fashion widely differing from place to place. What’s considered fashionable in a certain region might be considered downright ridiculous in another. Yet one style that converges the world globally into a single standard is formal wear. How one dresses up for a formal occasion is more or less uniform throughout cultures and traditions all over the world, but that too specifically formal wear for men. When it comes to women, the sheer vastness of styles that might be considered formal wear is mind boggling, differing from one another in culture, region or even religion. Whereas when it comes to men, the standard set by the British has now become the global measuring stick.

Formal wear for men has evolved over the years, from long and bulky trench coats to more minimalist tapered pants and body-fit formal shirts and blazers, where time has tweaked the dressing category, it has failed to outright change it altogether. The basics of formal wear for men has remained the same throughout the ages, which is a pair of neatly pressed trousers, a properly tucked in formal shirt and the optional blazer to go with it. Of course accessories are somewhat of a category of their own when it comes to formal wear, with a leather belt, a formal tie and a pair of plain socks having been the long held essentials to complete any formal outfit for centuries.

As the world has moved into a more corporate realm with white-collar executives running the global function as opposed to the sweat and grit of blue-collared workhorses from a century ago that laid the foundation of what the world should look like, it has now become more essential than ever to be accustomed in the art of formal dressing. Formal wear for men has become more of a cultural symbol, an art form and moreover the measure of a man that would tell society how successful, educated or well-mannered he is. Fashion, when it comes to men’s wear is an ever dynamic phenomena, where short-lived fads might catch a feverish pitch but then fizzle out and give way to a new fifteen second wonder. As the quote goes, “Form is temporary, but class is forever” fashion might take many forms, yet class will always be defined by dress shirts, formal pants and a neatly tailored coat.

Formal wear has always been and will always stay the corporate go-to outfit without any substitute, and if a man is to gain respect of his peers, he despite his knowledge and manners, will always have to depend on his suit to talk for him before he ever has a chance of making that first impression. For in the truest of meanings, a man might be known by the company he keeps, but he will always be looked upon by the clothes he wears.