Double breasted suit

In contrast to the single-breasted type of men’s suit, the double-breasted suit includes additional buttons on either side of the jacket for aesthetic purposes. The total number of buttons ranges from four to eight and typically lands at six. As a result of the extra buttons, the focal point drifts from the seam toward the sides to create the illusion of a wider frame. Whether such optical trickery is beneficial usually boils down to body type, whereas stockier men are probably better off sticking with a single-breasted suit.

While previously relegated to formal events, the double-breasted suit is catching on among fashion-forward men. The modernized suit works great with a variety of colours and most common features peak lapels on the jacket. As for the rules of buttoning a double-breasted men’s jacket, they’re quite simple: no matter how many buttons there are, always leave the bottom button unfastened and the top button(s) fastened whether sitting or standing.

Buttons: 4, 6 or 8 buttons max, 6 being the most common.
Lapels: Peak or shawl lapels, the peak being the most common.