Why should you invest in a plain black suit?

Michael Pascalis • September 15, 2022

Investing in a plain black suit is a must for every man, or woman. Not only are they versatile, but they also add an extra layer of class to your look. At Pascalis Bespoke Tailoring, although we curate a range of suits in various colours, fabrics, and styles, the classic black suit is one that has stood the test of time, and this is because they are appropriate for many different occasions.

When made with the expert knowledge of a bespoke tailor using high-quality materials, and correctly cared for, your black suit can last for many years. Here are a few pointers to consider when investing in a black suit:

Invest properly

A black suit is something you’ll wear time and time again, so you will want something that will stand the test of time. Pay attention to the quality of the fabric, the construction and the fit. You may find a ready-to-wear black suit that fits perfectly, however, made-to-measure suits are usually the best option, especially for those that find it hard to find that perfect fit.

Don’t experiment with trends

Keep your suit classic, and you will not go wrong. Avoid adding embellishments like coloured stitching or lapel holes (unless you already have a simple black suit), pleats, cuffed trousers, or other trends.

Pair with a French Cuff shirt

It is not often that you get the chance to wear a French Cuff shirt, so if you are dressing up your black suit, we highly recommend it. It will also allow give you the opportunity to wear your cufflinks! Even if you aren’t going with a French Cuff, we recommend sticking with a white dress shirt.

As mentioned, plain black suits are extremely versatile. So, where can you where a black suit? Here is your answer:

In the office

Although some offices have recently become lenient in workplace attire, black suits are still considered professional, and should be a staple in every businessman’s wardrobe. They are ideal for formal meetings and work events where you need to look put-together, and professional.

Black-Tie Events

If you have ever been invited to a black-tie event, such as a wedding, or gala, you will know that typically means that you should wear a black suit. This is your opportunity to pair your suit with a playful pocket square, a bowtie and dress shoes.

Funerals

Funeral attire is typically classic in style and dark in colour. A black suit coupled with a white collared shirt, and a subtle tie is ideal for funeral wear.

At Pascalis Bespoke Tailoring, we can design, and make the perfect black made-to-measure suit. Our attention to size and detail is the reason we have gained the reputation for creating the highest quality made to measure suits Sydney locals expect.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Why Good Tailoring Beats Shorts In The Summer Heat

By Michael Pascalis • October 24, 2025

Smarter tailoring, breathable fabrics, and better cuts keep you cool and professional—without resorting to shorts at work.

Eight Things to Consider for Your Summer Suit

October 22, 2025

The conversation about summer dressing too often circles back to gimmicks. Shorts in the office, polo shirts in the boardroom, but these are symptoms of a deeper problem: we have forgotten how to make and wear proper clothing for the climate we live in. A summer suit, chosen with care, remains the most elegant answer. But not all suits are created equal. If the heat leaves you dreaming of linen drawstrings, it’s not the suit’s fault. It’s the wrong suit. Here are eight considerations that turn summer tailoring from punishment into pleasure. 1. Fabric First The single most important decision is fabric. Natural fibres are non-negotiable. Polyester and other synthetics trap heat and suffocate the skin; they are cheap in every sense of the word. Tropical wool, with its fine yarn and open weave, has been the quiet hero of summer tailoring for decades. Linen, either pure or in a wool blend, brings unmatched breathability and texture. Cotton offers a crisp alternative for the more casual office. The principle is simple: fabric should breathe. 2. Lightness of Weave Weight is not enough; weave matters too. A dense cloth, no matter how fine, will feel like armour in January. Fresco, hopsack, and other open-weave constructions let air circulate without sacrificing drape. They prove that you don’t need to bare skin to keep cool. 3. The Case for Unlined Jackets Every layer in a suit traps heat. A fully lined jacket in the peak of summer is as unnecessary as it is uncomfortable. Half-lined or unlined jackets offer structure without insulation. Stripped back to its essentials, the jacket still frames the shoulders, flatters the waist, and gives shape, only now it does so without suffocating the wearer. 4. Rethinking Fit The tyranny of the skinny suit has done more to ruin summer dressing than the thermometer ever could. Narrow lapels, shrunken jackets, and trousers cut like leggings may look sharp in shop windows, but in the real world they cling, sweat, and stifle. A summer suit demands room to breathe: a touch more fullness in the chest, pleats in the trousers, a slightly longer rise. These small concessions to airflow make all the difference. 5. Freedom of Movement Tailoring was never meant to be restrictive. The best summer suits allow ease: side vents that open as you walk, trousers that fall cleanly without gripping the thigh, shoulders that move without resistance. Comfort is not the enemy of style, but rather it is its foundation. 6. The Role of Colour Summer is no time for charcoal and midnight navy. Dark cloth absorbs heat and looks heavy against the season’s light. Pale grey, beige, sky blue are shades that reflect the sun and signal ease. Seersucker, with its puckered surface, even lifts the fabric off the skin to create tiny channels of air. If ever there was a fabric designed for August, this is it. 7. Care and Longevity Summer is unforgiving. Suits face sweat, humidity, and relentless sun. The careless solution is cheap rotation: buy more, wear them out, throw them away. The wiser approach is investment. A well-made summer suit, rested between wears and hung to air, will last for years. Quality not only looks better, it endures. 8. Dressing with Intent The final consideration is not technical but philosophical. A summer suit is more than cloth and cut. It is a statement that professionalism need not wilt in the heat, that respect for the occasion is not seasonal. To wear one well is to prove that elegance adapts. Shorts may make headlines; tailoring makes an impression. There is nothing radical about suggesting that a summer suit can be cool, comfortable, and dignified. It has always been possible. The knowledge is there, in the choice of fabric, the looseness of cut, the restraint of lining, the play of colour. What is required is not reinvention but remembrance: a return to tailoring that understands climate rather than fights it. Eight considerations for made to measure suits for summer, then, but really one principle: good clothes work with the body, not against it. And in the heart of summer, a well-made suit is not a contradiction. It is liberation.