How many business suits do you actually need?

Ideally you rotate business suits daily, which is why we suggest at least three or four. A suit worn on consecutive days creases and wears far faster than one given a day to recover.

Always order two pairs of trousers

Trousers wear out long before the jacket. Order the second pair at the same time as the suit rather than later: cloth batches vary slightly, so a pair ordered months afterwards may not match exactly.

The everyday navy

Navy is the most versatile colour there is, and it takes you from work to a wedding and everything in between. It also mixes well as separates. Cut properly, a navy suit is anything but safe.

The grey essential

Grey behaves like a uniform: it works with a white, pale blue or lilac shirt, and with brown or black shoes. If plain grey feels dull, a check, a stripe or a birdseye lifts it — or a herringbone for texture without pattern.

One to seal the deal

A power suit should make you feel two inches taller. That might be a chalk stripe or a windowpane check, a three-piece if you do not usually wear one, or a double-breasted cut. Whatever it is, it has to fit like a glove.

The contemporary one

The fourth suit is where you take a considered risk — a forest green, a bolder pattern, or a double-breasted waistcoat that changes the character of the whole outfit. It should still read as professional, and it often doubles as a wedding suit.