Making the Case for the Three-Piece Suit

Much less common than the two-piece but never quite out of style, the three-piece suit is an excellent option for your first suit, your wedding suit—or both. We’ll be making the case below. 

The Origins of the Three-Piece Suit
Before what we now recognize as the suit was established in Britain the early 19th century, gentlemen wore breeches, a long jacket and a waistcoat. There was a practical purpose for doing so: with indoor heating limited to fireplaces, you were much more likely to catch a chill, and needed all the insulation you could get. 

With the genesis of the suit, breeches were swapped out for trousers, jackets lost their tails, and waistcoats became vests, worn for much the same reason. Vests were a common sight up until WWII, where they received their first blow in the form of fabric rationing. And in the decades that followed, the increasing sophistication of indoor heating eliminated their practical reason for wear. As went the vest, so went the three-piece suit.

Why Wear a Three Piece Suit?
And yet, the three-piece suit hasn’t vanished entirely. The first reason may have to do with aesthetics: it simply looks more formal than a commonplace two-piece suit, while at the same time allowing the wearer to stand out from the pack. Ironically, three-piece suits are great for warm weather wear: when you take your jacket off, the vest worn underneath will prevent you from looking too informal. 

But the three-piece suit has practical benefits, too: the vest adds another two pockets for storage. And by adding that third piece to the mix, you now have the option to wear the vest with other clothing, like chinos and a button down. And of course, you can always choose to wear a three-piece suit as a two-piece, depending on the mood and moment. 

Oskana Miro

Where to Wear a Three Piece Suit 
As we’d mentioned, vests make for a more formal appearance: for that reason, a three-piece suit in a classic shade like navy or gray can become your go-to for the most important social or professional occasions. Wearing a three-piece suit is also a popular option for weddings: the third piece allows it to stand out from and appear more formal than a two-piece, while remaining more practical and re-wearable in the future than a tuxedo. 

Top image photo credit: Justen Clay Photography