How to Wear a Prince of Wales Suit

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: May 15, 2020 References

A Prince of Wales suit features the signature Prince of Wales check pattern. It’s called the Prince of Wales check because it became very fashionable after Edward Albert, Prince of Wales from 1910-1936, used the pattern for his tailored suits. Today, the Prince of Wales suit is a classic look that is suitable for a variety of events. Wearing one is easy if you’ve got the right fit and accessories to suit the occasion.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Putting Together Your Outfit

1
Wear a white dress shirt with your suit. A simple white dress shirt won’t clash with the pattern of a Prince of Wales suit, so it’s always a safe bet. Choose a button-down white dress shirt that fits well and sticks out about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) from the sleeve of your suit jacket.^{[1]
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- Always button the shirt all of the way up and tuck it in so your shirttail isn’t sticking out.
- You could also choose a light grey shirt that complements the check pattern of your suit.
2
Go with a dark-colored tie to complement your suit. A dark-colored solid or patterned tie will bring your whole outfit together. Try a dark red, green, navy, or gray tie with your suit.^{[2]
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- A pastel tie like pink or baby blue could also work if you're attending a garden party or springtime event.
Suit Tip: The way you tie your tie can also add to your look. You could use a simple four-in-hand knot or a fancy Half Windsor knot, for example.

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3
Wear solid-colored shoes so they don't clash. The Prince of Wales check pattern can easily clash with complex accessories and other clothing items, throwing off your look. Choosing solid-colored shoes will better complement it. Go with classic Oxford shoes if you’re wearing a full suit for a cohesive, classic style. If you’re wearing a Prince of Wales blazer in a more casual look, go with solid-colored sneakers.^{[3]
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4
Use a pocket square a shade darker than your shirt to add contrast. Pocket squares are small squares of fabric that are folded and inserted into the front pocket of your Prince of Wales suit. Choose a square that’s similar to your shirt, but slightly darker so it adds an accent without distracting from your suit.^{[4]
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- For instance, if you’re wearing a plain white dress shirt, choose a light grey pocket square.
5
Put on silver tie clips, lapel pins, and cufflinks as accessories. Silver looks great with the Prince of Wales suit pattern, whereas gold or any other colors will distract and look out of place. When you’re choosing tie clips and cufflinks, look for silver or white gold accessories to complement your suit.^{[5]
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- Go with a silver watch as well, if you decide to wear one.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Matching Your Suit to the Occasion

1
Wear a dark grey Prince of Wales suit for professional settings. For business meetings or at the office, choose the classic dark grey Prince of Wales suit to assert a powerful, but subtle style. Prince of Wales suits look great in any season, so a dark grey classic style will fit any professional occasion you need it for.^{[6]
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Go with a color besides gray to make a statement at formal events. The Prince of Wales check pattern is highly adaptable, but always classy, so choosing a checked pattern that includes colors such as red or baby blue works to enhance your style for almost any formal event. Choose a different color pattern for weddings, formal dinners, galas, or any other events where formal attire is called for.^{[7]
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Suit Tip: There are even some light pastel-colored Prince of Wales suits that would work great at a garden party or an outdoor formal event.
3
Pair a Prince of Wales jacket with a T-shirt for casual events. For a dressed-down version of a Prince of Wales suit, wear the jacket with a solid-colored t-shirt. Go with a dark pair of well-fitting slacks, khakis, or chinos to complete your laid-back, casual look.^{[8]
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- A casual look works great for office parties, night outs, and fancy dinners.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing a Well-Fitting Suit

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Put on the jacket and button the top button to see how it fits. The fit of the jacket is super important, so try it on and see how it feels. Most Prince of Wales suit jackets will have either 2 or 3 buttons. Button the topmost button and see how the suit feels as you move around.^{[9]
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- Prince of Wales suits should fit comfortably but snugly so there shouldn’t be any extra bagginess around your chest and waist.
Suit Tip: When it comes to buttons on suit jackets, never button them all up. The general rule for jackets with 3 buttons is you sometimes button the top button, always the middle button, and never the bottom button. For jackets with 2 buttons, always button the top button and never the bottom.
2
See if the shoulders of the jacket line up with your shoulders. Checking the shoulders is an easy way to see how well the jacket fits because shoulders are measured broadly and are difficult to adjust. The end of the shoulders of the jacket need to line up exactly with your shoulders for a great fit.^{[10]
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- If the shoulders don’t fit, choose another jacket since getting the shoulders tailored can be expensive and time-consuming.
3
Make sure the sleeves sit at the top of your wrists. While you’re wearing the suit jacket, allow your arm to hang loosely at your side and check the length of the sleeves. The sleeves should end right where the base of your thumb meets the top of your wrist to allow for a little bit of extra room for your dress shirt to stick out from beneath it.^{[11]
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- There should be about ¹⁄₂ inch (1.3 cm) of the cuff of your dress shirt showing from beneath the sleeve of your jacket.
- A tailor can make minor alterations to adjust the sleeve length if it doesn’t fit quite right.
4
Check to see if the suit pants crease on top of your shoes. Prince of Wales suit pants should have a slight “break” or crease that forms about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from where the bottom of the pants meet the tops of your shoes. Put on the suit pants and check to see if there’s a crease just above your shoes for the best fit.^{[12]
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- You could also choose pants that don’t have a break but make sure they’re long enough to cover your ankles.