Pinstripe Suits

The business pattern

Pinstripe is the most recognizable pattern in tailoring and the one most loaded with association. Thin vertical lines running the length of the cloth, evenly spaced, traditionally on a dark ground. It reads as business, seniority and intent, which is either exactly what you want or exactly what you should avoid depending on the room.

Varrison pinstripe suits are cut in a tailored fit and arrive ready to wear, made from high quality fabric.

Why it works

Vertical lines lengthen the frame. A pinstripe suit makes the wearer look slightly taller and slimmer than the same suit in a solid cloth, which is a genuine optical effect rather than a marketing claim. The narrower and more closely spaced the stripes, the subtler the suit. Wider spacing and bolder stripes push it toward statement territory.

Pinstripe or chalk stripe?

Pinstripes are fine, sharp and clearly defined. Chalk stripes are broader and softer edged, as though drawn with chalk, and they read as considerably bolder. If you want one striped suit that works in a conservative office, choose a narrow pinstripe on navy or charcoal.

Wearing it

Keep everything else quiet. A plain white or light blue shirt is the safest pairing, and a solid or very subtly patterned tie. Avoid a striped shirt with a striped suit unless the scales are obviously different, because two similar stripe widths near each other create a visual flicker that reads as a mistake. Black or dark brown leather shoes.