Minimum Suit Requirement for a Gentleman

[avedwards]

Most people agree that a gentleman needs at least two hats: a grey and a brown one (though I will disagree and say just one grey one is enough). In a similar line of thinking, how many suits does a gentleman need as a bare minimum?

I read an article in a local magazine about clothes a gentleman should have; it said a gentleman needs a navy SB suit, a charcoal suit, a tweed suit and a linen suit (excluding sports coats and blazers). I would personally agree that blue and grey are required, but tweed, pinstriped, linen or chequed are optional. But then of course there is the question of whether a few DB suits are also needed.

At the moment I have only four proper suits (excluding my three sports coats and two blazers or my dinner jacket). I have a SB navy suit, a black three piece SB pinstriped suit, a light blue two piece DB suit and a handed down brown suit which I have never worn yet. My instinct would suggest grey is needed in my case.

So how many suits are needed at a minimum for a reputable gentleman?

 

[Dinerman]

None.

Being a gentleman and being well dressed are two things entirely, but you don't have to wear suits to be well dressed.

 

[avedwards]

None.

Being a gentleman and being well dressed are two things entirely, but you don't have to wear suits to be well dressed.

Well if you put it that way, yes you have a point. I should have phrased it, if you are a gentleman of the sort who likes to or has to wear suits.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

I've heard that every well dressed man should have a gray suit and a navy suit. I hate navy, though, so I'm a bad boy.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

So, how many suits are needed at a minimum ...?

Four suits are needed. All of them can be single-breasted. They can be solid, striped, a very subtle glen plaid, or a mini houndstooth check.


For Fall/Winter:

Dark grey suit.

Dark blue suit.


For Spring/Summer:

Medium grey suit.

Tan suit.


.

 

[avedwards]

Four suits are needed. All of them can be single-breasted. They can be solid, striped, a very subtle glen plaid, or a mini houndstooth check.


For Fall/Winter:

Dark grey suit.

Dark blue suit.


For Spring/Summer:

Medium grey suit.

Tan suit.


.

Thank you. By that reasoning I need two grey suits and maybe a tan suit (though I have a beige sports coat with suitably trousers I can use in place of). Although I'm considering just a medium grey suit to be used for both winter and summer to minimise costs. Besides, this side of the Atlantic I can often get away wearing a winter suit in summer when it's cloudy which is a frequent occurance.