Men’s business attire is built around five essentials. These are a navy or grey suit, a shirt in understated shades, simple, well-polished shoes, discreet accessories and a cut that faithfully follows the line of the body. At ZAVATE, we cut business suits to each client’s measurements, because we know the difference between a man who looks fine and one who truly commands respect lies in the details. The kind of details no off-the-peg piece can offer.

1. Which pieces are essential in a business wardrobe?

The navy suit and the grey suit. No urban man’s wardrobe should be without them. A man with no need for full suits should at least invest in sport jackets.

The white shirt, the classic foundation. Pale blue, pink or lilac shirts also work, along with other pale colours. The point is to avoid too sharp a contrast between the colour of the suit and that of the shirt.

Shoes? As plain as possible. Oxfords or Derbies, in black or shades of brown. One condition only: they must be well polished.

Accessories give any outfit its individuality, though colour calls for restraint. That is best left to the ladies. Plain ties in navy, burgundy or brown are the natural choice. Nor should the white pocket square be forgotten.

2. What does it mean to look impeccable at the office?

In business attire, every man should look impeccable. By impeccable, we mean flawless: an outfit capable of concealing every imperfection. The perfect outfit follows the line of the body faithfully. It has to be premium, and feel premium.

3. Why does the cut matter more than the label?

We know that no two people are built alike. So, once we understand the client’s needs, we pay close attention to measurements, asymmetries, volumes and other individual traits. All so that the suit is cut to his measurements and comes out 100% handsome and comfortable.

4. Do a man’s clothes really say who he is?

Would any man wear something that does not represent him? Would he feel at ease in clothes cut to someone else’s measurements? Unlikely. The answer is a design and a cut that speak for the man who wears them. Something that lets him shine in the world. From here, there are two options.

5. Off-the-peg or made-to-measure: which is better?

The first is a tour of dozens of shops and endless fitting rooms, in the hope that something will sit well. With luck, the search ends in a compromise of sorts. That familiar moment when the jacket fits, but the trousers are too long, or the other way round. The second is made-to-measure. Time saved, value worn, respect commanded. The choice, we suspect, makes itself.