The case for... Shiny suits

In suits, “shiny” identifies polyester and artificial fibres, the hallmarks of cheapness. When something is shiny but expensive, they call it lustre. Think about silk or certain wools. Sharkskin is shiny, not cheap, nor made of sharks. What we’re talking about is a mindset.

If the coded statement of an expensive suit is “I am the power behind the power”, a shiny suit screams: “I’m the main event.” Quiet luxury has had its moment and it was boring. Let’s talk confidence, charisma, colour. Menswear shouldn’t always be sober and muted. Why not experiment with lightly worn joy? It’s OK to tell your wife you love her!

There are occasions when a shiny (and yes, more affordable) suit is preferable. Any location where there’ll be coloured lights, for example. You don’t want an evening of constant anxiety about a happy stranger spilling Rekorderlig over your cashmere-blend.

But you might want the snap of a suit, one that reflects the light. You could want a pop of colour that works with the atmospheric glitz, rather than against. Think of your jacket as a thousand flashbulbs, red-carpeting your body.

David Bowie loved a shiny suit. Mick Jagger isn’t wearing grey flannel in front of the mic. Classiness is about cut. Get a fun suit – metallic maroon or electric sage – with just a little sheen, tailored to your body. You will be the belle of the ball, bingo or carwash disco.

Let the normcores call it gaudy. Shiny suits don’t diffuse the light; don’t let anyone diffuse yours.

Photograph by Shaw & Shaw