"Suit" comes from the french word "suivre", meaning "to follow". It essentially implies that in a suit, both the pants and the jacket should be the same. It does not stop at colour and extends to the materials used. The origin of the suit as we know it today can be traced back to 17th century Europe. Beau Brummell is said to have popularised an early version of the modern-day suit during the French revolution. Later on, some alterations were made to Brummell's version laying the necessary groundwork in the suit's evolution. The Victorian era saw a rise in men wearing frock coats. Nowadays, they are only worn on exceptional occasions or by people with a high status in society. There was also the lounge suit which was very popular in Scotland from about the 1850s. Contrary to today's perceptions, the lounge suit was considered to be casual back then. As the name suggests, it was meant to be something that felt pleasant and was not something to wear to formal occasions.
By the start of the 20th century, the suits pretty much started looking like the ones seen today. Nowadays, one has more options than needed, with many different kinds of jackets, pants, and shirts in a wide variety of stitches and fabrics. There are more choices for the apparel that goes with the suit, like men's bow ties, cufflinks, tie bars etc., Even though many factory-made options are cost-effective, suit elitists prefer handmade ones. Handmade suits can be of great value depending on the craftsmanship of the tailor.
Suits are more than just a piece of clothing. There is a certain etiquette that is to be followed when dealing with them. It is evident in how they are classified based on the event and the different ways in which one can wear it. It was more so in earlier times. Men’s bow ties were classified to be worn only to certain events. A simple change from a regular tie to a bow tie would have meant catastrophe if not at the proper occasion. But modern society has seen an increase in casual clothing being worn. It has gained momentum with the introduction of casual Fridays and the eventual dismissal of a workplace uniform. It influenced the modification of the suit by combining it with casual clothing. While elitists might disagree with tainting formal wear, these combinations opened a new door in fashion, enabling the person wearing it to be more comfortable while at the same time imbuing the wearer with confidence.
Apart from fashion, suits are used widely as office wear owing to their formal appearance. Other than areas like the Mediterranean, where it's too hot for a suit at the workplace to be practical, most of the world has adopted suits as white-collar uniforms. Even in places where the climate isn't suitable for suits, one can see the top executives sporting them.
With the increase in casual clothing being used, many consider suits to be unnecessary, siding with comfort and convenience. Even after the introduction of 'casual suits', actual casual wear is preferred by the consumers. Most fashion critics are very divided on the 'future of the suit'. Arguably, suits make the wearer look sharp and makes them feel confident. Some might also say it is the epitome of formal wear. All that is known for sure is that as long as people feel good wearing them, suits will be a part of anyone's wardrobe.
