The formal man

"The essence of formal wear is style with a subtle hint of charisma. Don't let mismatched shoes, socks, belt and tie ruin your suave look," says stylist Kapil Sharma.

~ Jackets

If you decide to wear a jacket without a tie, ensure your shirt collar is not of the button-down variety (where the collar is buttoned to the body of the shirt).

Jackets sans ties go better with covered button joints. This means the buttons should preferably be covered by an extra layer of cloth so they are not visible -- it gives a more sophisticated look.

~ Suits

Ideally you should have three single-breasted suits -- in blue, grey and stripes.

The striped one should be less conservative as opposed to the first two.

~ Shirts

A plain collared shirt works well with a double-breasted suit.

Button-down shirts look best with single-breasted jackets.

The standard collar that is not a pinned down is the most versatile; it can be worn with both sporty and formal suits.

~ Socks

Match your socks with the colour of your suit or trousers, not your shoes or shirt.

Socks in darker shades are always a good idea. If you are not planning to wear socks, stick to loafers; don't forget to dust your feet with foot powder.

~ A blazer -- a good buy?

Yes, indeed. A navy blue blazer is easy to coordinate. It complements blue, black and grey trousers and can dress up a variety of shirts.

It can also be worn over jeans, khakis or a pair of checked trousers.

~ Trousers

Your trousers should be long enough to cover your legs, loose enough to fit and stylised enough to cover the defects of your anatomy.

They should be long enough to break on your shoes and cover your socks.