The men's tweed suit is the perfect example of timeless classics. On the one hand, it is a symbol of elegance and respectability, on the other hand, it looks great in combination with modern stylish things such as colored shirts, bow ties, fashionable glasses, etc.
If you are in doubt about whether to buy a tweed suit, read this article! We will analyze the different types of this wardrobe item, as well as discuss what to wear it with and how to fit into your own style.
History of the tweed suit
Tweed is a diagonal woolen fabric originally from Great Britain. The story goes that this material was originally distributed in Scotland and was called 'twill', until in the 1830s a sample of it fell into the hands of a merchant in London. The enterprising merchant appreciated the high quality of the dense woolen fabric, but did not understand its name, thinking that the material was named after the Scottish river Tweed, and began to sell it under this name, which stuck to the textile novelty around the world.
Tweed suits were like this in the 19th – early 20th centuries
Men's tweed suits quickly became an integral part of British fashion: they looked elegant and at the same time better protected gentlemen from the piercing wind than suits made of fine wool. They were used for hunting trips, travel, golfing and other daily activities. Gradually, tweed gained popularity in other countries, and with the light hand of Coco Chanel in the 20th century it began to be used not only for men's suits, but also for women's ones.
Coats, caps, accessories are sewn from tweed, and, of course, suits that have not lost their relevance for many years, and are also warm, practical and extremely durable.
Features of a tweed suit
The modern men's tweed suit does not differ much from its classic version, except that some details of the finishing and fit are adjusted to fashion trends.
Traditional tweed suits fit perfectly with modern life
Material
The main element is, of course, the fabric. The material for a quality suit must be made in the UK, and different types of tweeds have their own regions and production secrets.
There are quite a few varieties of tweed fabric. Some of them are named after the breed of sheep whose wool forms the basis of the material:
Cheviot 
Shetland
Other types of this material are named after the areas of the UK where they are produced:
Donegal 
Saxony
A number of tweed fabrics have stuck with the name of the manufacturer, the most famous of which is Harris tweed:
Harris
Tweed fabrics are more and less dense, respectively, lightweight and pleasant to the touch materials are used for suits, while coarser ones are suitable for coats.
Colors
The coloring of tweed suits is a separate and very interesting topic. One repeating piece of material can contain up to 6 different colors that form cells, herringbone, crow's feet and other patterns. At the same time, all shades remain natural, muted. It is believed that the colors of tweed fabrics are taken from Scottish landscapes.
Scottish landscape: roughly the same shades can be found more often in the colors of tweed suits
Here are some popular color options for tweed suits:
Details
A tweed suit can consist of trousers and a jacket, or include a vest as well. Its fit varies depending on the model, but as a rule, the jacket has the following features:
- three buttons, often covered with leather,
- back slit
- there may be leather 'patches' on the elbows.
Where to buy a tweed suit
A tweed suit is a purchase for years. It is quite expensive, and this is inevitable, since the material itself is produced in a limited number of factories using special technologies and cannot be cheap in any way. On the other hand, tweed is a very durable material, so the product will last a long time, even if you wear it every day. And finally, a tweed suit is one of those things that has not gone out of fashion for almost two hundred years, which means it will probably look relevant even after several seasons.
A tweed suit will come in handy in various situations, but you need to choose it carefully
So, since the purchase is costly and presumably will last a long time, do not rush to buy. Tweed suits can be found in business clothing stores for men, but if you want more choice, look in your city for shops specializing in English style, for example, British Trend in Moscow or Pure Britannic in St. Petersburg.
The widest selection of tweed suits can be found in online stores that work directly with manufacturers. It makes sense to pay attention to large international stores: you may have to wait for delivery in this case, but there is a greater chance of getting a real English suit. An important point: choose only those sites that allow you to return the product if it does not fit!
Here are some of the tweed suits from the latest collections from different brands:
Moss London tweed suit
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Harris Tweed Check Suit A SOS
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Noose & Monkey Tweed Suit
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Brown Tweed Suit A SOS
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What to wear with a tweed suit
The tweed suit was born as an informal outfit: it was used for leisure, travel, sports, etc. Over time, its status has somewhat risen, but nevertheless, tweed products are still not considered business clothes. Remember: a tweed suit cannot be worn in situations that involve a formal dress code, in which case choose a classic suit.
Meanwhile, tweed will be an excellent solution for casual or smart casual looks. You can wear a complete suit or a separate jacket, combining it with colored trousers and jeans (but not with trousers from a classic suit!).
Perhaps the only case when a tweed suit can act as a business attire is if a solemn or business event takes place in nature
For a casual look, pair a tweed blazer with jeans and a turtleneck, or a contrasting shirt.
For a smart casual look, you can add a woolen vest or sleeveless jacket, as well as a tie, but better not a classic one, such as a knitted or bow tie.
Tweed suit goes well with colored vests, caps and other typically “English” wardrobe items 
As a rule, scarves go well with tweed jackets: a good option for the beginning of autumn
If your tweed suit is more or less uniform in color, you can choose shirts and accessories with a pattern for it, but if it already contains several colors, especially with a check pattern, it is safer to make the other items of the image monochromatic.
And one moment. A tweed jacket has a great life of its own, but tweed trousers are best worn with a set top. An alternative option is not to wear any jacket, but to choose a jumper or sweater to match your trousers. From shoes to tweed, models at the junction of classics and casual, for example, chukka boots, are well suited.
Conclusion
If you love comfort, but at the same time want to always keep the image of a true gentleman, a tweed suit will definitely find its place in your wardrobe. This is the kind of thing that is not always easy to find and pick up, but if such a suit fits you really well, it will undoubtedly decorate you and make you stand out from the crowd.
