MEN’S FASHION
Introducing men’s jersey suits
Thursday 15 April 2021
By Paul Burden, Head of Design
With everybody working from home these days, corporate fashion has evolved. The idea of working on the couch in a three-piece business suit doesn’t really feel right. But neither does rocking up to your client Zoom meeting in sweats and a hoodie.
So here at POLITIX, we’ve developed the newest thing in men’s suiting: knit jersey suits. The comfort of loungewear, and the sharp lines of a suit jacket, in one stretchy package. It’s a cross between tailoring and trackpants. Professional and casual at the same time.
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What is a jersey suit?
Technically, our suits are what’s known as ‘Ponte’ knit. They’re made from a mix of Polyester, Viscose and Elastane, for extra stretch. You don’t often find this kind of blend in men’s suits—jersey fabric is usually trackpants and jumper territory—but we’ve used soft tailoring to create something sharp and versatile. Ponte is a thick, interlock, double-knit that moves and moulds to your body. It even packs well, so you don’t need to worry about creases on the road. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you pick it up: this stuff is softer than standard suit fabric.
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When is jersey appropriate?
The boom in sports luxe and athleisure trends, combined with enforced working from home, has really knocked the starch out of traditional suiting styles. People aren’t looking for stuffy, corporate suits these days. They want something soft, comfy and tailored. A jersey suit probably isn’t black tie appropriate, but you’re good pretty much anywhere else. Work functions. Zoom calls from home. Friday night drinks. Weekend at the winery. It’s a flexible fabric, so you can dress it up or down. It’s good for casual events and office meetings. The point is to celebrate the suit jacket as a choice. You might not have to wear one, but if you do, you shouldn’t have to sacrifice comfort.
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Think separates
Our new jersey suits are sold as separates, and we definitely encourage you to mix and match. You could pair the Bodhi windowpane jacket with some Modena suit pants, or get creative and use it as a sports coat (just throw it over some dark navy dress chinos, or slim-fit denim, and you’re good to go). We’ve even relaxed the classic suit pants—our Modena trousers, for example, come with a front pleat and an elasticated wasteband; our little nod to jogger styling. With something like the mélange-grey Fosco jacket, you could definitely rock this with an open-collar business shirt (don’t forget the Fields jersey suit pants), but it also looks good with a simple V-neck tee.
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Working from home style
Suit styles change over time. It’s been happening for hundreds of years. And working from home attire looks like the next natural evolution. You’re going to need a suit collection that looks good in the office and Zooming from the kitchen counter. For some guys, traditional wool blend suits aren’t going to work anymore, but we still recommend keeping a few different styles up your sleeve. Maybe find one or two go-to business suits, and then build a collection of jersey separates, which you can mix-and-match while working from home. After all, the boss just wants to see you looking sharp. How you feel during the day, how much movement you have, how much stretch—that’s all down to you.
shop suitsPaul Burden, Head of Design
Paul Burden has an infinite wealth of knowledge in men’s style, having worked 30 years in the fashion industry. He’s tuned in and turned up to all the latest trends in Australia and around the world. Paul is our Jedi of men’s fashion and the Head of Design at POLITIX. He draws inspiration from movies and pop culture, always paying homage to classic menswear styling, and believes great style is being confident with what you wear.
