Every man should own a great suit. Zero exceptions. Just listen to Jon Hamm, whose role in Mad Men pretty much single-handedly made suiting glamorous again. “You button up into one of those suits,” he told us once, “and it’s like, ‘Okay, there’s a certain way that I feel. I feel confident. I feel put together. I feel great-looking." And while a great suit will make you feel (and look) sharp, world-wise, and sophisticated, a bad one will make you look like a hack or some man-child who still gets dressed by his mommy. So it helps to know a thing or two about buying, wearing, and caring for the one you choose.

Every guy—even Ralph Lauren himself—started as a suit virgin, and we know that your first time standing in the suiting section can be overwhelming. Our suit guide is here to help you find a great suit, at whatever price you choose to pay, that’ll make you look smart, handsome, and like you’ve got the world by the nuts.

What Suits You?

Let's start with the basics. If you need a suit but don't know which kind of suit is right for you and your life. Buying a new suit doesn't start in the store; it starts in your head. Is the suit for work? Date night? A buddy's wedding? All three? Is this your first and only suit or your thirteenth suit, intended for a special occasion? Know that and you can make the right choices, starting with color. Your best bet is to opt for one in a solid true navy blue or charcoal gray. Both colors—a.k.a. menswear designers' go-to neutrals—work with every shirt-and-tie combo you can think of and a whole lot more (denim shirts, T-shirts, fine gauge knits). They're the standard. Un-fuck-up-able, if you will.

Suit by Giorgio Armani / Shirt by Hamilton Shirts / Tie bar by The Tie Bar / Watch by Longines / Folio by Louis Vuitton / Socks by Uniqlo / Shoes by Church's Suit by Z Zegna / Shirt by Ralph Lauren Purple Label / Pocket square by Eleventy / Tie bar by The Tie Bar / Watch by Montblanc / Socks by Etro / Shoes by J.Crew

There's also black, Not for daytime wear and not as foolproof as you think. You imagine The Strokes, but you might end up with security guard. If you decide to go for black, make everything as skinny as possible. You won’t look like a maitre d’ if the cut of the suit is aggressively cool.

If you want to go bolder than solid colors, your best option is going the plaid suit route. Wearing a plaid or check suit is going to get you noticed and remembered—that’s the point. Make sure you stay out of overkill territory by keeping yours to one of the trusty menswear neutrals we just talked about (that would be gray, navy, and black).