How to Wear a Prince of Wales Suit

A Prince of Wales suit refers to a suit that has the signature Prince of Wales check pattern and is derived from a Scottish clan's plaid pattern. It's called the Prince of Wales check because it became very fashionable after Edward Albert,...

Choosing a Well-Fitting Suit

Put on the jacket and button the top button to see how it fits. The fit of the jacket is super important, so try it on and see how it feels. Most Prince of Wales suit jackets will have either 2 or 3 buttons. Button the topmost button and see how the suit feels as you move around.^{[1] X Research source}
1. Prince of Wales suits should fit comfortably but snugly so there shouldn't be any extra bagginess around your chest and waist.
Suit Tip: When it comes to buttons on suit jackets, never button them all up. The general rule for jackets with 3 buttons is you sometimes button the top button, always the middle button, and never the bottom button. For jackets with 2 buttons, always button the top button and never the bottom.
See if the shoulders of the jacket line up with your shoulders. Checking the shoulders is an easy way to see how well the jacket fits because shoulders are measured broadly and are difficult to adjust. The end of the shoulders of the jacket need to line up exactly with your shoulders for a great fit.^{[2] X Research source}
1. If the shoulders don't fit, choose another jacket and don't bother with trying to get the jacket tailored. It's an expensive and difficult process to adjust the shoulders of a suit jacket.
Make sure the sleeves sit at the top of your wrists. While you're wearing the suit jacket, allow your arm to hang loosely at your side and check the length of the sleeves. The sleeves should end right where the base of your thumb meets the top of your wrist to allow for a little bit of extra room for your dress shirt to stick out from beneath it.^{[3] X Research source}
1. There should be about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) of the cuff of your dress shirt showing from beneath the sleeve of your jacket.
2. A tailor can make minor alterations to adjust the sleeve length if it doesn't fit quite right.
Check to see if the suit pants crease on top of your shoes. Prince of Wales suit pants should have a slight 'break' or crease that forms about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from where the bottom of the pants meet the tops of your shoes. Put on the suit pants and check to see if there's a crease just above your shoes for the best fit.^{[4] X Research source}
1. You could also choose pants that don't have a break but make sure they're long enough to cover your ankles.

Matching the Suit to the Occasion

Go with a dark grey Prince of Wales suit for professional settings. For business meetings or at the office, choose the classic dark grey Prince of Wales suit to assert a powerful, but subtle style. Prince of Wales suits look great in any season, so a dark grey classic style will fit any professional occasion you need it for.^{[5] X Research source}
1. Choose the classic dark grey pattern for business deals,
Choose a navy blue or light grey colored suit to stand out at formal events. The Prince of Wales check pattern is highly adaptable, but always classy, so an alternate color such as dark blue or light grey works to enhance your style for almost any formal event. Choose a different color pattern for weddings, formal dinners, galas, or any other events where formal attire is called for.^{[6] X Research source}
1. There are even some light pastel-colored Prince of Wales suits that would work great at a garden party or an outdoor formal event.
Pick a white dress shirt for a classic style. A simple white dress shirt won't clash with the pattern of a Prince of Wales suit, so it's always a safe bet. Choose a button-down white dress shirt that fits well and sticks out about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) from the sleeve of your suit jacket.^{[7] X Research source}

Suit Tip: Always button the shirt all of the way up and tuck it in so your shirttail isn't sticking out.
Pair a Prince of Wales blazer with a T-shirt and dark pants for a casual event. For a dressed-down version of a Prince of Wales suit, wear a blazer with the classic pattern and a solid-colored t-shirt. Go with a dark pair of well-fitting slacks, khakis, or chinos to complete your laid-back, casual look.^{[8] X Research source}
1. Go with a casual look for office parties, a night out, or a fancy dinner.
Wear a Prince of Wales overcoat to complement a variety of looks. A large overcoat with a Prince of Wales check pattern can complete a suit, but it also works to complement many other styles. You could wear jeans with a graphic tee and use a Prince of Wales to add an interesting element to your look. The possibilities are endless!^{[9] X Research source}
1. Large overcoats with a Prince of Wales pattern are great winter jackets that you can wear over pretty much anything.
Use solid-colored shoes to correspond with the pattern. The Prince of Wales check pattern can easily clash and throw off your look, so choosing solid-colored shoes will better complement it. Go with classic Oxford shoes if you're wearing a full suit or solid sneakers if you're going for a casual look.^{[10] X Research source}

Using Accessories

Go with a dark-colored tie to complement your suit. A dark-colored solid or patterned tie that complements your Prince of Wales check really works to tie your whole outfit together. If you're wearing a full suit for a formal or professional setting, choose a tie that fits you well to add to your look.^{[11] X Research source}

Suit Tip: The way you tie your tie can also add to your look. You could use a simple four-in-hand knot or a fancy Half Windsor knot, for example.
Wear a colorful tie to liven up your look. A brightly-colored tie will add an interesting contrast to the check pattern of your Prince of Wales suit, especially if you're wearing a dark grey or navy blue suit. If you want to add some life to your suit for an event, choose a tie that's a bright color like yellow, red, or even pink.^{[12] X Research source}
1. A pastel tie such as pink or baby blue would be great for a garden party or a springtime event.
Use a pocket square a shade darker than your shirt to add contrast. Pocket squares are small squares of fabric that are folded and inserted into the front pocket of your Prince of Wales suit. Choose a square that's the same color as your shirt, but slightly darker so it adds an accent but doesn't distract from your suit.^{[13] X Research source}
1. For instance, if you're wearing a plain white dress shirt, choose a light grey pocket square.
Choose silver tie clips, lapel pins, and cufflinks. Silver looks great with the Prince of Wales suit pattern, whereas gold or any other colors will distract and look out of place. When you're choosing tie clips and cufflinks, look for silver or white gold accessories to complement your suit.^{[14] X Research source}