A man's suit is a combination of formal jacket and trousers, sometimes incorporating a waistcoat, where the component parts are all made from the same matching material.
Even though it may be easy to define a suit, there are lots of variations available and finding the right one for you can be time consuming. Available throughout the UK from exclusive tailors to high street superstores, the price and quality of men's suits can vary widely.
At the top end of the market is the hand-crafted, made-to-measure suit, typically from a London-based Savile Row tailor. Indeed, the term bespoke used to describe custom-crafted goods made exclusively for an individual customer derives from Savile Row tailoring, when cloth put aside for a customer's suit was said to 'be spoken for'.
However, unless you have about £3,500 to spare for a single suit, you may wish to look elsewhere! Savile Row tailors say that a suit at that price will last ten years, equalling an outlay of £350 per year. In the high street it is possible to get a value two-piece suit from under £50, meaning that you could buy seven suits per year for an entire decade instead of opting for one made-to-measure ensemble. Obviously, there will be no comparison when it comes to the quality and fit of a Savile Row suit, but realistically unless you are a high-flyer you be happy with much cheaper options.
Whatever price range you settle for, make sure your suit fits. There are plenty of reasonably priced mens suits that can be bought on the high street so don't settle for anything less than a well-fitted suit, regardless of the price. Because most shops sell suit jackets and trousers as separates you can easily assemble a suit to match your body type, and many stores also allow the addition of a waistcoat as an extra garment.
However, if you buy a suit that needs adjustment either ask in-store if they can make the necessary changes, or don't be afraid to take it to a tailor if there is no-one in your family who is handy with a sewing machine!
Another golden rule is to not try and construct your own suit from similarly coloured materials from your existing wardrobe. However good you think it will look, it will not match properly. Besides, with suits available on the high street at under £50, there's no excuse to not get the co-ordinated look!