Help > Colony's Fashion Facts

• The width of the tie should be proportionate to the width of the lapel of the suit jacket (older suits, narrow lapel-narrow tie)
   
• Single pleated pants have replaced multi-pleated pants, with a high percentage of flat front styles being shown.
   
• The majority of new suits, blazers and sports jackets now feature a convertible flap pocket for a more casual look. It is perfectly acceptable to wear the flaps tucked into the pockets for a more casual look, when wearing an open collar shirt. When wearing a shirt and tie, one should always wear the pocket flaps out, giving a more formal, traditional appearance.
   
• Even the classic blazer-pant combo has had a makeover. Beige or tan or camel slacks are outselling the old standby, grey flannels when coordinating a black or navy blazer.
   
• The full-length or 3/4th length dress top coat has been replaced by the stroller coat or car coat length-long enough to cover a suit jacket by 3 to 4 inches, but not so long that it cannot be worn with a dress sweater and cord pants.
   
• When buttoning a 2 or 3 button suit or blazer jacket, the bottom button is always left undone.
   
• Side vents are very popular on both 2 and 3 button suits, blazers and sports jackets.
   
• Button down collar shirts in both dress shirts and sport shirts are acceptable as business casual but never as formal attire. There is however, a very strong demand for French cuff shirts and of course cufflinks. White are 60% of sales but there is a high percentage of powder, beige and subtle stripe patterns being sold in French cuff dress shirts.
   
• According to Statistics Canada, the price of a new suit should be equal to at least one week's wages.
   
• The life of a dress shirt? 52 washes (or approximately one year). The average person would wear one shirt once a week.