Among the patterns conventionally used for men’s suits, pinstripe is the most common. The pattern has thin vertical lines woven into the fabric running parallel to each other.
Pinstriped suits are associated with formal or business wear, largely from their association with bankers, but pinstriped men’s suits have also become a staple of men’s fashion. As pinstripes lose their formal-wear-only connotations, men’s suits with this pattern have become perfectly acceptable for working in the office – though pinstripes do still suggest an air of authority if not formality. And it’s not appropriate for casual occasions, or indeed for ultra-formal black-tie events.
A striped pattern creates an elongated look, which is perfect for short and stocky men; the taller man may have to look elsewhere – though a pinstriped double-breasted men’s suit can look good on a tall man, especially if he is slight or skinny as well.
When it comes to coordinating the overall look between a pinstripe man’s suit, a shirt and tie, the basic rule is “take two from three” – meaning that one of the three should be unpatterned. Since your suit has the pinstripe, that means either your tie or your shirt should be a plain, solid colour. If in doubt, err on the side of caution and go for a plain shirt and a plain tie.