Patterned suits are worth experimenting with, but if you don’t want to wind up looking like David S. Pumpkins at your place of business, it’s wise to stick with traditional motifs. Glen plaid is an especially savvy choice because it looks tame from a distance, then gets all kind of freaky up close. Even though the pattern dates back centuries, it was a bit of a trend this fall, appearing on the runway at Calvin Klein, Dries Van Noten, Marni, and Versace, among other shows. Whether you go big and bold like James Marsden here, or opt for a slightly more subtle spin on the pattern is up to you. Just make sure to spend some QT with your tailor on this one. A plaid suit that fits like a glove (but not a sausage casing) is the only plaid suit worth wearing.
This check has just enough flash for a traditional office job.
This suit will lighten the mood without emptying your bank account.
A slightly swaggy twist on your favorite navy blue suit.
This darker twist on glen plaid was made for night owls and artists.
A nod to the Calvin Klein look, for way less coin.
Big check, dark colors, Italian fabric, can’t lose.
This slick spin on Dsquared2’s best-selling suit will get you the job you want.
This Topman rig goes way beyond the standard gray suit.
We dig the gray-brown color and nubby texture of this one.
This subtle glen plaid pattern will make ’em lean in closer.