Picking a Business Suit

In the excellent book The Accidental Tourist, the main character advises his traveling clients to wear a neutral gray suit because it is suitable for all occasions, "even funerals." That may work in some areas but most of us seem to have better presence in a navy or black pinstripe. Tip: if you are shopping for pinstripes pick the thinner stripes. Fat stripes can give you the Goodfellas look and you'll give the opposite impression from what you desire. Another tip: a good quality check on pinstripes is to see how the stripes run from the broad fabric through the pockets. On a great suit the stripes run unbroken. On a cheaper model they are out of alignment. Always pick quality!