Stand-out party suits

Fusing traditional British tailoring with colour and designs from his Ghanaian heritage is what earned Ozwald Boateng his reputation. In 1995, he became the youngest tailor to set up shop on Savile Row. Decades later and his flair for the unexpected is still in everything he creates. Each patterned suit and jewel-toned shirt is classic enough to wear with a more subdued dress code and still turn heads. Lucky you.

Designer Tom Ford describes suits as the most flattering thing a man can wear. Sounds good to us. This classic black suit is made for those with an endless roster of black-tie events, winter weddings and particularly fancy dinner parties to attend this festive season. For extra finesse, you can have yours tailored to fit you perfectly with our made-to-order tailoring services. 

Usually, a suit wouldn’t be the first choice for an outfit you can wear at dinner and still be comfy in come the after-party. But over the past few seasons, lockdown loungewear has steadily evolved into laidback tailoring on the runways. A mix of Scandi minimalism and contrasting lapels and buttons, this roomy Acne Studios suit is relaxed, has personality but still passes as formal.

If you’re looking to test the outer limits of your personal style, experimenting with colour is a perfect way to push the boundaries. Jacquemus has made a habit of being bold with its menswear, and this lime-green blazer is about as bright as it gets. It’s also part of our Selfridges Rental edit, so commitment isn’t strictly necessary.

When it comes to relaxed tailoring, Armani is the originator of the form. Harking back to the look the fashion house popularised in the 90s, but upgraded with delicate embroidery, this unstructured blazer is an understated way to do festive velvet. Keep your suit trousers plain and simple and accessories minimal.

No disco ball? No problem – stand in for it instead. Known for punchy prints and embellishments, Dries Van Noten drenches this shirt in sequins from collar to hem. Wear it to the Christmas work do to make everyone forget how drunk you were at the last one. Or get ready to out-shine the turkey at your family’s Christmas lunch.

This season, designers have leant into the vintage look for tailoring, with oversized silhouettes at the forefront. Having earned rave reviews for her unique take on modern masculinity, Bianca Saunders is the designer to turn to for such suits. This loose-cut, slightly askew style has that deliberately undone quality. Pair yours with a patterned knit.

Valentino's fabric choices and impeccable tailoring make this the perfect formal foundation for getting creative with your styling. Experiment with textures, such as chunky knits or pearl jewellery, to play up to the preppy checks. Or, for something more understated, a pristine T-shirt will keep all eyes on the suit.

As a long-standing titan in the world of British tailoring, Paul Smith mastered the expressive suit decades ago. They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, so for those of you looking for masterful tailoring with a little added extra, a Paul Smith two-piece ticks all the right boxes. The cut and festive fabric of his velvet suits are classics, but the colours? Less so.

If this season has shown us one thing, it’s that suits don’t have to be rigid or stuffy. Enter, the Labrum London suit. Tie-dye from head to toe, it’s just one example of what designer Foday Dumbuya does best: combining the fun and beauty of his West African heritage with expert tailoring. Don’t worry about taking a plus-one with you anywhere this season, crowds will flock with this conversation starter.