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Business Suiting Style Guide

Business Suiting Style Guide

The Home of the New Standard of Modern Tailoring

Business Suiting Style Guide

We believe that at it’s core, business suiting revolves around well-fitting garments in classic and understated colours, with the occasional centrepiece accessories or stylistic choice adding a pop of character, without taking the attention from the task at hand.

The goal is to project professionalism and allow your skills and expertise to take centre stage, with your outfit being used to elevate and create a confident aura instead of distract.

At Zebel, we aim to help you dress to impress, whether it’s the boardroom or a new client meeting.  First appearances are everything, and with this style guide, you’ll be sure to make a great one.

THE SUIT

The cornerstone of many professional wardrobes, the suit speaks volumes about your attention to detail and respect for the occasion. 

With over 17,000 potential choices of suit cloth in our Made to Measure offering, we can create something that is truly unique to you and allows you to look and feel your best whatever hurdles are there to be overcome.

  • Colour Palette: For business suiting we will always recommend timeless colours such as navy, charcoal grey, and classic black. These provide a versatile foundation for your professional attire.  We have also seen people trending towards slightly bolder ensembles such as green, brown, and pinstripes, as well as a general trend to warmer toned suiting in 2025.  Your personal style shouldn’t be removed, but refined, by your work attire.
  • Fabric Choice: We recommend and supply woollen cloth or blended wool for all of our business suiting due to their superior drape, breathability, and longevity. Consider the texture – worsted wool offers a smooth, formal appearance, while flannel provides a warmer, slightly textured option.  Zebel also offers Linen/Wool Blended fabrics for those warmer summer months in their made to measure service; retaining the breathability of Linen but the traditional suiting aesthetic of wool.
  • The Importance of Fit: A perfectly fitting suit is a non-negotiable at Zebel. Shoulders should align precisely with your natural shoulder line, the jacket should gently contour your torso without any pulling or bunching, and trousers should hang cleanly with a subtle break at the top of your shoes. Investing in tailoring is highly recommended to achieve this ideal fit.  Zebel takes over 30 different measurements from all across your body to ensure precise cut, and we can tailor the fit to your personal preferences.
  • Jacket Style (Men): The single-breasted, two-button jacket stands as the most versatile and widely accepted style in business settings. Three-button jackets are also appropriate, while double-breasted styles often convey a more formal and assertive presence.  We are also seeing an increasing trend of ‘workwear suiting’ with tailored trousers paired with a slightly less structured, informal jacket, to create a striking but smart-casual silhouette.  Most styles of lapels and jacket finishing is acceptable but we’d always avoid Shawl collars for anything other than the most formal black-tie setting…
  • Jacket Style (Women): Options include tailored single-breasted jackets with various lapel styles, paired with either skirt suits or trouser suits, offering flexibility and professional polish.
  • Lining Quality: Choose breathable linings such as Bemberg or silk to enhance comfort and the overall feel of the garment.

THE SHIRT

The layer beneath your suit jacket is just as crucial in projecting a polished and professional image.

What to Wear:

  • Essential Colours: White, light blue and pink are traditionally the cornerstones of a professional shirt/blouse collection due to their versatility and crisp appearance.  Depending on your role, you might also opt for subtle patterns or a slightly more complimenting suit colour, depending on your overall outfit.  however, we would mention that this is definitely role specific and you should use your own judgement when dressing for a professional environment!
  • Fabric Quality: Opt for cotton or high-quality cotton blends that offer breathability and comfort throughout the workday. Consider wrinkle-resistant finishes for a consistently sharp look.  In summer, Linen and Silk shirts can also be comfortably worn under a suit jacket.
  • Proper Fit: Shirts and blouses should fit comfortably underneath your suit jacket without feeling restrictive or appearing too loose. For men, the collar should allow enough space to comfortably fit one finger when buttoned. For women, blouses should drape gracefully without any gapping at the buttons.
  • Collar Style (Men): Point, spread, and button-down collars are all suitable choices, depending on your personal preference and the type of tie knot you intend to wear.  All of these are available through our Made to Measure Shirt service, along with hundreds of fabrics and stylistic choices.

ACCESSORIES

We know that the suit is not the only garment that make the man. Accessories are key to any outfit and as long as you get them right, they can elevate even a business suit to extraordinary new heights of sophistication and chic.  

  • Belts: Choose leather belts in black or brown that coordinate with your shoes; we can create leather goods in all shapes and sizes through our made to measure service .
  • Socks (Men): Opt for dark socks that match either your trousers or your shoes.
  • Jewellery: Keep jewellery minimal and understated. For men, a classic watch and a wedding band (if applicable), or some small, understated jewellery in gold or silver. For women, subtle necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are acceptable.
  • Tie Material Choice: Silk and wool ties are classic choices that convey quality and sophistication.
  • Acceptable Tie Patterns: Solid colours, subtle stripes, and small, tasteful patterns are consistently appropriate for business settings.
  • A Proper Knot: Master tying a few classic knots, such as the four-in-hand or the half Windsor. The tip of your tie should ideally reach your belt buckle.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Business suiting can be a daunting process. 

The last thing we all want to do is not feel at our most confident best going into discussions with our superiors, teams, or new clients.  

Whilst we have put together this little guide, it is all about establishing how you feel most confident, what you feel comfortable wearing ,and how you want to present yourself to the people around you.  

There are definitely rules that can be bent a little when it comes to business suiting, with suit colour for example, but generally we say that a suit will always make you feel suave if it’s tailored well to your body.  The fit is everything.  Outside of that, whatever and however you feel most comfortable dressing is the best way to move forward, whether it’s the boardroom or the sales floor. 

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