How can I look more mature in a suit

[Jonas Ethan]

I'm turning 18 in a few months, which means I will be legally an adult man in my country, so I decided to start dressing like one. I hate being a teenager and I've always been excited about manhood and how grown-up men can dress nice. I never felt confortable in jeans, t-shirts, flannels and other clothes that teenagers are always wearing, I always wanted to be dressed in my dad's suits and ties since I was 12. Now that I have a job and my own money I want to change my style to look more like a grown-up man and I need some advice.

I love suits, especially the double breasted ones, and I always wanted to be the type of guy who wears suits even at home (I know I'll be overdressed like everytime), but I fear that I'm going to look a child in a costume. What can I do to look more mature and less out of place? I'm thinking about changing my hairstyle and growing my beard, but I don't know what else I can do.

 

[Adam Federico]

Same here.
I'm also a teenager who loves suits and feels out of place while wearing one. I started wearing them last year and it was kind of weird for everyone around me when I suddenly started wearing my dad's old suits and left my hoodies and t-shirts behind. But then I realized that I was looking like a weird kid in classroom so I decided to change my style. I stopped using backpacks and got a handbag, change my haircut, got some pocket squares and growed some beard and it really worked. Now I can't wait to become a man and get more suits, and wear them without feeling out of place.

 

[mintchox]

Here are a couple of suggestions:

(1) Consider your purpose and audience. While I appreciate you're eager to dress "up", how others around you dress and the formality of the situation are important factors.

See: https://www.permanentstyle.com/2016/02/which-office-are-you-or-a-sliding-scale-of-formality.html​

(2) Question 1 and your personal style will affect whether you wear a suit, something in between, or another outfit. Don't assume that the suit is the only way to go. Even with a suit, there are many nuances. Fabric type, colour cut, shirting, accessories etc. all matter. As a general principle, start simple (e.g. 2 button single breast, blue / white shirt, don't over-accessorise). Build a personal style. This will take experience.

See: https://putthison.com/a-practical-guide-to-getting-started/​

(3) Don't wear a suit at home. Be comfortable in your own body and whatever you're wearing!

 

[caschta]

Why start with a full suit? Of course that's gonna irritate your peers, especially if you're around 18 years old. Maybe start with some nicer button downs and slowly evolve. Or just wear a double breasted suit and don't give a damn that you are looking comically out of place.

 

[Jonas Ethan]

Same here.
I'm also a teenager who loves suits and feels out of place while wearing one. I started wearing them last year and it was kind of weird for everyone around me when I suddenly started wearing my dad's old suits and left my hoodies and t-shirts behind. But then I realized that I was looking like a weird kid in classroom so I decided to change my style. I stopped using backpacks and got a handbag, change my haircut, got some pocket squares and growed some beard and it really worked. Now I can't wait to become a man and get more suits, and wear them without feeling out of place.

You wear suits in school? Interesting. What did the people around you think about it? I always wanted to wear better clothes in school but I thought it would be embarrassing.

 

[Jonas Ethan]

Why start with a full suit? Of course that's gonna irritate your peers, especially if you're around 18 years old. Maybe start with some nicer button downs and slowly evolve. Or just wear a double breasted suit and don't give a damn that you are looking comically out of place.

I wanna start with a full suit because I can't see myself wearing other things. I don't want to wear a double breasted suit everywhere I go, specially when it's not a good occasion, I want to try different styles and combinations.

 

[Adam Federico]

You wear suits in school? Interesting. What did the people around you think about it? I always wanted to wear better clothes in school but I thought it would be embarrassing.

It was kind of shocking even for me. My father used to wear suits for his job, but when he found another one he left all of his dress clothes behind. One day I decided to start dressing up in them. When I showed up wearing a suit in school, at first everyone was surprised but they "got used to it" a few days later. The only person who actually cared about it was my mother, because of the money spent in my old clothes.

 

[Jonas Ethan]

It was kind of shocking even for me. My father used to wear suits for his job, but when he found another one he left all of his dress clothes behind. One day I decided to start dressing up in them. When I showed up wearing a suit in school, at first everyone was surprised but they "got used to it" a few days later. The only person who actually cared about it was my mother, because of the money spent in my old clothes.

I wish I could've done this during high school, but the teachers probably wouldn't let me get to class dressed like this. I'm glad I'm not the only teenager who enjoys dressing up

 

[Jonas Ethan]

Here are a couple of suggestions:

(1) Consider your purpose and audience. While I appreciate you're eager to dress "up", how others around you dress and the formality of the situation are important factors.

See: https://www.permanentstyle.com/2016/02/which-office-are-you-or-a-sliding-scale-of-formality.html​

(2) Question 1 and your personal style will affect whether you wear a suit, something in between, or another outfit. Don't assume that the suit is the only way to go. Even with a suit, there are many nuances. Fabric type, colour cut, shirting, accessories etc. all matter. As a general principle, start simple (e.g. 2 button single breast, blue / white shirt, don't over-accessorise). Build a personal style. This will take experience.

See: https://putthison.com/a-practical-guide-to-getting-started/​

(3) Don't wear a suit at home. Be comfortable in your own body and whatever you're wearing!

Thank you for the advices
I'm still not sure about what kind of suit makes me feel more confortable, so I want to try all the possibilities I can until I find my style (maybe I'll end up hating suits or just wearing one only when I actually need).

 

[Adam Federico]

I wish I could've done this during high school, but the teachers probably wouldn't let me get to class dressed like this. I'm glad I'm not the only teenager who enjoys dressing up

I'm also glad that I'm not the only one