Can I Just Say... How to judge a man by his suit

By Ali Sami and Jamie Kan

Wedding season is upon us, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the abundance of well-dressed men. But what can you tell about a man by his suit? We asked Will Yoshikawa Chen from BRAVOecho Custom Suited in Gastown to tell us what perceptions he strives to break his custom suit clients out of. Based on that intel, here's the four types we've come up with to share with you.

THE CONTROLLER

His suit:
Branded luxury Italian textiles, with an impeccable fit. He prefers a formal midnight blue or a power pinstripe. He's the guy with perfect tie bar/pocket square/shirt cuff spacing. He'll most likely outshine the groom but he doesn't give a shit because he’s the boss.

His Personality:
He is efficient and effective. This guy sees his suit as a necessary weapon for success. He doesn't admit to being too into fashion because he likes to be taken seriously. Although he's the guy that will spend the most money on his suit, he's also the one who’s always looking for a discount, just to see if he can get his way again.

What he’s drinking:
Same rule applies for scotch as it does his women, nothing younger than 18 years.

Toward the end of the night:
He’s still looking sharp and pristine, probably made a few valuable contacts from networking and is likely taking a drunk bridesmaid home.

Date Factor:
He'll wine and dine you, but only if you're on time, ambitious, and own he room like he does.

THE ANALYST

His suit:
Charcoal grey is his historically safe bet, but he will sometimes even venture into the other 50 shades of grey when he's feeling adventurous.  He values versatility, so any accessories he carries must serve a purpose, like the leather belt case for his oversized Android phone. To look more edgy he’ll forgo the tie and unbutton the top button of his shirt. If a tie is a must, it’s likely a grey that’s two shades blander than his jacket.

His Personality:
He's the strong and silent type. This guy is well-organized, dependable, punctual, and does a lot of research. He usually takes his sweet ass time to make decisions because he wants to prevent any errors. Every decision is based on logic and predictability, which makes him easy to read despite the lack of visible emotion.

What he’s drinking:
198mL of the complimentary table wine, while silently criticizing the newlyweds’ choices.

Toward the end of the night:
He's making passive-aggressive jokes about the wine list and has calculated how much the wedding cost, down to the electricity expenditure. He is also enviously cheering on the guy in the middle of the dance circle… From his table.

Date Factor:
This is a great guy to introduce to your parents, balance your budget, and then have really safe missionary sex with for the rest of your life.

THE PROMOTER

His suit:
He loves loud, bright colours like cobalt blue with pink windowpane checks, and dares to wear patterns and accessories that nobody else has. He might look as impeccable as the Controller, but a colourful pocket square or bow tie will give him away. When he’s not rocking a neon tie, he’s got at least two shirt buttons undone… Three to show off his chest cleavage. After all, “no pecs no sex!”

His Personality:
In business he's a non-conformist and a visionary. In groups he’s a bit of a joker and loves to entertain. He makes great connections with people and always has something to say first. He starts a lot of things but doesn’t usually finish them.

What he’s drinking:
Usually shots of hard liquor but realistically, any mind-altering substance will do. It was a mistake to mention the words “Open Bar” to him.

Toward the end of the night:
There’s a bunch of people around him laughing and he’s the only one talking, still enforcing shots. His tie has gone missing, and he's tucking his shirt back in while making calls for the afterparty.

Date Factor:
You've got to radiate a lot of energy to keep up with this party monster.

THE SUPPORTER

His suit:
He can usually be found wearing a looser fit because he likes to be comfortable. He's not too fussy and if he shows up wearing a jacket; it’s usually from the same black suit his mom bought him for graduation. His shirt is semi-wrinkled but he couldn’t care less because he's more about the experience and connecting with others than the finer things in life.

His Personality:
He's loyal, caring, and loves animals and children. He's the one who says nice things about the dude that everyone is talking shit about. He focuses on others first and always considers opinions. Even though he is sort of dorky, he usually has really good dance moves because of his lack of inhibitions.

What he’s drinking:
Probably water because he is perpetually the designated driver.

Toward the end of the night:
He is the only one making sure the ring-bearing dog gets fed. He can also be found dancing with the kids and pulling shy people into the dance circle. His tie is off, his sleeves are rolled, and his jacket is keeping a lucky lady warm.

Date Factor:
He’s a giver in bed and a magician in the kitchen. Date him!