That way, you get the chance to show your cuff links and the style of your choice of cuffs. You can make it look even better with the use of working buttons so that you can leave one or two buttons deliberately undone.

So check your sleeves. Make sure that when you are standing up, you can still see some of your cuff – about 1cm is perfect.

Unless you want to look like you borrowed your jacket of course.

But mostly these days we just use them for a flower. Well, in theory we do. But in reality: Rarely. If ever. When was the last time you wore a flower on your suit jacket?

“But,” you ask, “how do you keep the flower in place anyway?” And it was a problem so I’m glad you asked…

Some will debate whether they should be cut through at all or just left sitting there as a ‘design feature’ or something. But I like to use mine. Just like I like to have working cuff buttons. And to make it even more usable, I realized that I could put a little stitch of fabric just below the hole. That way, the flower will be held in place by its own weight!

You might be able to see the orange thread in the image above.

Now this little loop of fabric has to be stitched by hand – but it is the kind of detail that could really make a difference.

So it’s springtime and it’s so easy to do – I am updating all my suits now.

We can make them. They’re cheaper to produce… marginally as they just require a little less fabric. But the excuse for them given by some (that they’re to match the more fitted jacket styles) just doesn’t hold up.

They are a great marketing ploy by some high-end fashion labels to create a clear point of fashion differentiation, so that people can be identified as wearing a suit from “this year” and devaluing suits from “last season”. If you like a thinner lapel, go for it of course. Just include it in the special requests section.

I like working cuff buttons. All of my suits have this. I like the openness of the cuff that this offers.

I love ticket pockets. Catching the subway with a ticket pocket is so much more convenient for me.

Twin vents on a jacket tend to sit better for most of us. Though vent-free jackets also look great, I like the added range of movement that the double vents offers. Beware that if you’re wearing a suit that you didn’t buy from us, please make sure that you cut through the fabric holding the corners of the vents together!

The last suit that I had made was a one-button, peaked lapel with angled pockets. To me, this is about as cutting edge as I could find – and I love the effect… Especially as I have it made from a General Manager Collection, 14-2 black self herringbones, a gorgeous fabric!

We can make whatever fashions you can imagine, though I must encourage you: Please make sure that you’re doing it because you think it looks better, and not just because you want a suit that looks more expensive!

I have never been one for fanciness for its own sake, but rather for the sake of enhancing functionality or aesthetic quality. Having working buttons will not only make your suit something special and allow you to more easily adjust your cuffs – and give you something that you can talk about with others – but will also allow you to embody the unity of form and function.

Working sleeve buttons make you stand out.