Suit advice for Christmas party please...

[Humble Pi]

Being a non wearer of suits, I need some help please. I'm going to a Christmas party in 4 weeks, it is a dinner and disco at a fairly nice hotel.
When I asked the organiser what the dress code was he just said 'I'm telling everyone to dress up to the nines but not quite black tie' whatever that means?

I'm going to wear a suit. I'll use Slaters as they have a big choice and there is a big one in town I can go to this weekend. I'd like to be a stylish as possible as I've lost a lot of weight this year and I rarely get the chance to dress up like this and so I'd like to look as smart as I can.
Budget would be £300-400 + shirt, I have shoes belt etc.

Would I be correct to assume a 3 piece suit like below wouldn't be right for a dinner type affair?

https://www.slaters.co.uk/ted-baker-charcoal-luxur...


Please help!

[GT03ROB]

You won't go wrong with that. But don't over think it...….it's not to hard to look presentable & there will still be a load of scruffs there even in a suit.

Just make sure it fits well.

[craigjm]

two or three piece dark suit with a fench cuff shirt, matching shoes and a tie basically. Nothing hard.

[Humble Pi]

GT03ROB said:

You won't go wrong with that. But don't over think it...….it's not to hard to look presentable & there will still be a load of scruffs there even in a suit.

Just make sure it fits well.

Thanks. I'm just a bit concerned no tie at all isn't smart enough.

[GT03ROB]

Humble Pi said:

Thanks. I'm just a bit concerned no tie at all isn't smart enough.

After an hour or so, most ties will be off, or at least loosened to the extent they now look scruffy. Don't overthink.

[Sheetmaself]

At this kind of price range the way it fits will have far more of an effect on how it looks than quality of materials. I would even go as far as saying if struggling to find one, and you have the time, drop your budget and take it straight to a tailor to get it to fit correctly. A well fitted suit will almost feel like a second skin whilst giving you plenty of room to move and never feeling tight.

Well done on the weight loss, I have achieved similar this year and can’t believe just how good I feel for it.

[craigjm]

places like Slaters will do basic tailoring to make it fit decent anyway. The key with an off the peg suit is to try it for size and then try the size down before making a decision on tailoring alterations. So many people buy peg suits that are far too big for them because they don't actually know how it should fit.

[glenrobbo]

Bowtie and pink onesie is suitable for most office Christmas party occasions...

[g3org3y]

Humble Pi said:

I have shoes

What kind of shoes?

Sheetmaself said:

the way it fits will have far more of an effect on how it looks than quality of materials

Agreed.

Sheetmaself said:

Well done on the weight loss,

[Welshbeef]

£300-400 plus tie and shoes....

Just buy a £85 Next suit job done. You already know there will be “spills of drink on it” etc. £85 suit will look fine (I’ve a few of these - as well as much nicer/priced suits and they are perfectly fine).

[Humble Pi]

Thanks for the weight loss compliments, 5st down 2st to go!

These are similar to my shoes...

https://www.slaters.co.uk/steptronics-black-lace-u...

[The Mad Monk]

GT03ROB said:

After an hour or so, most ties will be off, or at least loosened to the extent they now look scruffy.

Oh! I do hope not.

[can't remember]

Cut and fit are the most important factor in looking good in a suit, but if it's something you don't normally wear in a casual environment then being comfortable and feeling relaxed go a long way.

[HTP99]

Is it just me who thinks spunking circa £400 on an outfit for just 1 night is utter madness?

[Fonzey]

The Mad Monk said:

GT03ROB said:

After an hour or so, most ties will be off, or at least loosened to the extent they now look scruffy.

Oh! I do hope not.

There's a guy who always went the extra mile back when I used to get invited to Christmas parties. Always full bow tie dinner suit, brilliantly coordinated and never the same one as a previous year. I'm great friends with him but it always made me a little sad on the inside when the bow was removed about 90minutes in.

<£100 at Next gets my vote.

[anonymous-user]

HTP99 said:

Is it just me who thinks spunking circa £400 on an outfit for just 1 night is utter madness?

If you get the right colour and you’re not a normal suit wearer, you can wear it to funerals, weddings and court for years.

[cossy400]

Congrats on the weight loss firstly.

but I have to agree with some of the others to the suit.

even more so if your planning on losing more weight.

I'd chuck £100 at one now then splash out when you 've got your weight goal.

[Kermit power]

Personally, I'd be going back to the organiser to ask him what the hell he was talking about!!!

Black tie is black tie. A suit is not "almost black tie", it's a suit. It's office wear. Surely that's not what he meant by "almost black tie", is it?

I quite like black tie, as it's an event in itself, and sets the whole scene for the evening, but a suit? Now that nobody ever wears them at work any more, I'm just keeping one in the wardrobe for funerals. The thought of having to brush it off so I can go and look like an Estate Agent at a Christmas party is too grim to contemplate!

If you're going to go formal, you can't go with standard black tie, and you're not really going to wear it any other time either, at least go for something memorable!

[Bussolini]

Dressing up to the nines doesn't mean a suit. I wouldn't wear a suit, particularly if you never wear one - you'll inevitably look uncomfortable, it probably won't end up fitting great. Chinos, dark brown shoes, shirt and blazer if you want. Will cost a lot less than 400 quid too. TK Maxx a good start.

[bristolbaron]

Personally, for this sort of occasion it’s all about the shirt.
I’d go plain grey M&S suit, tailored if necessary. £150ish.
Something like this:
https://www.greshamblake.com/mens/shirts/ophelia-s...
And a plain light pink tie, again M&S.

It’s not too much when you’re sat with a jacket on, but once everyone moves to the dance floor and takes jackets/ties off you’re the guy without the plain white shirt.