Formal Wear 6 min read
How to Tuck a Shirt So It Stays Tucked
The untuck problem is usually a shirt cut too short or too full, not a tucking technique problem. Length and body width solve it permanently.
Archive
Every published article
20 articles published so far, newest first. Use the search on the Journal home page to find a specific topic.
Articles
Blazers 4 min read
How to Check Blazer Fit in 60 Seconds in Front of a Mirror
Six checks in order: shoulder seam, collar, chest button, sleeve, hem, and a raised-arm test. Any two failures and it is the wrong jacket.
Formal Wear 6 min read
The Difference Between Looking Smart and Looking Overdressed
Overdressed is not about formality level; it is about being visibly more considered than the occasion warranted. One level above the room is confident…
Blazers 6 min read
How Tight Should a Blazer Be Across the Chest?
Button it: you should fit a flat hand between chest and cloth with no X-shaped pull lines radiating from the button.
Blazers 6 min read
Single-Breasted vs Double-Breasted Blazer
Single-breasted is the default and works unbuttoned. Double-breasted is more formal, more flattering on tall builds, and must stay fastened to look right.
Blazers 6 min read
Can a Blazer Be Altered? What Tailors Can and Cannot Change
Waist, sleeve length and hem are routine. Shoulders, chest width and lapel shape are structural — possible in theory, rarely worth it in practice.
Blazers 6 min read
Slim Fit vs Regular Fit Blazer: Which Should You Buy?
Slim fit narrows the waist and armhole; regular fit keeps a straighter line. Choose by your build and how you sit, not by which sounds younger.
Formal Wear 6 min read
Ten Formal Wear Mistakes That Are Easy to Fix
Trouser length, sleeve length, over-sized shoulders, black shoes with navy trousers, and a shirt collar that will not stand up account for most of them.
Formal Wear 4 min read
What Every Man Should Own Before Buying Anything Fashionable
Two white shirts, one pale blue, two pairs of dark trousers, one navy blazer, one brown and one black shoe. That is a complete formal wardrobe.
Blazers 6 min read
9 Blazer Fit Mistakes Men Make (and How to Fix Each One)
Most blazer problems come down to shoulders that are too wide, sleeves that are too long, and a jacket bought one size up "for comfort".
Formal Wear 6 min read
Formal vs Semi-Formal vs Business Casual
Business casual drops the tie and softens the jacket. Semi-formal keeps the tie and adds a darker palette. Formal fixes both and adds a dress code.
Blazers 6 min read
Blazer Sleeve Length: How Much Shirt Cuff Should Show?
Show roughly a centimetre of shirt cuff. The blazer sleeve should end where your wrist meets your hand, not on the knuckle.
Formal Wear 6 min read
Why Fit Matters More Than Brand, Price or Fabric
An inexpensive garment that fits reads better than an expensive one that does not. Fit is the only variable a viewer registers within the first second.
Formal Wear 6 min read
The Six Levels of Men’s Formality, Explained
Casual, smart casual, business casual, business formal, semi-formal, formal. Knowing which level an invitation means solves most dressing questions…
Blazers 6 min read
Sports Jacket vs Blazer vs Suit Jacket
A suit jacket has matching trousers, a blazer is a standalone formal jacket, and a sports jacket is a textured, more casual version of a blazer.
Blazers 6 min read
Blazer Shoulder Fit: The One Thing a Tailor Cannot Fix
The shoulder seam should sit exactly where your shoulder bone stops. Too wide collapses into a divot; too narrow drags the sleeve head — and neither can…
Formal Wear 9 min read
Men's Formal Wear: What Actually Counts as Formal?
Formal wear is a spectrum, not a category. It runs from a tucked shirt and trousers up to a dinner suit, and most workplaces sit in the middle three…
Blazers 9 min read
Types of Men’s Blazers: A Practical Guide
Blazers vary along four axes: breast (single or double), construction (structured or soft), lapel and length. Everything else is detailing.
Blazers 9 min read
Blazer Length: Where Should a Blazer End?
A blazer should cover your seat and end around the point where your fingers curl. Shorter reads fashion-led; longer reads dated.
Blazers 9 min read
How Should a Men's Blazer Fit? The Complete Fit Guide
A blazer fits when the shoulder seam ends where your shoulder ends, the chest closes without pulling, and the hem covers your seat — everything else is…