Online searches for men’s suits are up 124% year-on-year, with traditional styles seeing a significant rise and slim-fit suits seeing the biggest decline.
That’s according to online men’s tailoring retailer Dobell, with its latest data revealing that search interest in morning suits has risen 307%, while searches for linen suits are up 297%. Meanwhile, slim-fit suits have seen a sales revenue decline of 62.8% in just one year.
The resurgence in interest in suits overall follows the years impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, with men looking to refresh their wardrobes and bosses increasingly calling for employees to return to the office after years of remote working.
Dobell’s data also shows that formalwear is increasingly becoming a ‘head-to-toe’ purchase, rather than simply a suit sale. Multi-item bundles now account for 45.6% of accessory-related revenue, up from 42.8% last year.
Kevin Livesey, Chief Operating Officer at Dobell, said: “For us, this isn’t about chasing a trend after it has already happened. We spend a lot of time listening to what customers are actually searching for and buying.
“Men’s tailoring is back on top, and we want Dobell to have a genuine point of difference, whether that’s broader fits, affordable occasion wear, more complete looks or products that help customers dress properly from head to toe.
“Customers are moving away from a narrow idea of what a suit should look like, with some even enlisting personal stylists and colour experts. They want more choice, more comfort and more confidence in what they’re wearing.
“The decline in slim fit is a good example. We’re not mourning it; we’re responding to it. If customers are moving on, we have to move faster. Men’s formalwear continues to grow as customers look to smarten up their wardrobes ahead of special occasions such as proms, weddings and parties.”
Dobell was founded in 2003 by Mike Dobell after he struggled to find an affordable tuxedo while at university. The online-only retailer sells men’s and boys’ formalwear and occasion clothing, as well as a large selection of accessories, including dress shoes, ties, pocket squares, cufflinks, top hats, cummerbunds and braces.