Men's 3 Piece Suits

A three-piece suit is a suit style that consists of a matching jacket, trousers and waistcoat. It’s usually considered a more formal and traditional style than a two-piece suit, but the rules around when and what to wear are changing. The waistcoat in a three-piece suit is worn over a dress shirt and under the suit jacket, giving a tailored look that opens up your options for styling and layering.

When it comes to wearing a three-piece suit, you usually coordinate the jacket, trousers and waistcoat for a matching look, though you can definitely wear a contrasting waistcoat. Just choose something that works with the rest of the suit. Start with a well-fitted dress shirt and make sure it’s tucked in properly. Your waistcoat should fit snugly but comfortably with a bottom button usually left undone for a smooth line when you’re sat down.  

Depending on the fit of your suit, your suit jacket should be tailored to fit well too, with sleeves showing slightly out of the cuffs. Then it’s time to choose your accessories. Go for a tie that complements the style and colour of your suit, a pocket square if you want to add a little extra and some smart shoes to bring the overall look together. Choose your fabric and colour combinations accordingly. 

A three-piece suit can work for all types of events, but especially ones where the dress code is on the smarter side. Think formal weddings, business meetings and smarter social gatherings like galas and balls. Basically, any even where you want to make a strong, polished impression. Three-piece suits also work well for winter events as you can layer your look for a little extra warmth.

Properly folding a three-piece suit is important for maintaining its shape and avoiding wrinkles. In our opinion, you’re probably better off keeping them flat and using a garment bag to avoid having to fold your suit at all. This can reduce any creases or damage to the fabric.

If you have to fold, turn your jacket inside out and fold the shoulders together with the lining facing out, then fold in half vertically. For the trousers, fold them in half lengthwise, aligning the legs, and then fold them horizontally. The waistcoat should be buttoned and laid flat, then folded vertically. A suit carrier or garment bag is a better option than a full suitcase if you have to take it somewhere.

There are mixed ideas on whether a four-piece suit exists or not. It’s generally mentioned as a suit that contains the traditional elements of a three-piece suit - jacket, trousers and waistcoat - along with something extra. There’s debate on whether this extra something is another pair of trousers, a shirt, pocket square or a tie. It’s essentially the same as wearing a three-piece suit with your favourite accessory, but it isn’t a term that’s used that widely.

A three-piece suit is considered a more formal style of suit, more so than a two-piece suit but less than a tuxedo. The addition of the waistcoat elevates the outfit, making it suitable for formal occasions and settings where the dress code is on the smarter side. However, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a three-piece suit for more relaxed occasions either.

As long as it fits with the dress code of your occasion or event, you can wear a three-piece suit without a tie for a more relaxed, modern look. Let’s face it, most of us end the night without our tie on anyway. It makes it more suitable for semi-formal occasions where you want to make the effort on style but not look too dressed up.