After a year like 2016, everyone has resolved to make 2017 a standout year. It’s time to suit up and turn things around for yourself; take control of the year and stand out from the crowd. A great way to do this is to start with your wardrobe. As you get dressed each morning, this will be the perfect reminder to take this year by the horns and go for whatever your goals are.

The casual look has had its run, but the fashion forecasts for the year are flooded with unique, custom made suits that scream personal style. There’s no reason to rock an off-rack suit, complete with the styling that was on the mannequin at the front of the men’s department. From Milan to Paris to London, countless name brand designers have set the tone for spring and summer 2017; trends like 3 piece suits, gradient colors, and plenty of layers are to be expected this year.

Colors & Prints

Daring and unique emerald green suits and blazers will make a noticeable cameo at the top of the year; We’ll also see a continuation in the popularity of grey men’s suits and blue men’s suits ( from turquoise to deep sapphire tones.) We also see a resurgence of the white suit, making a bold, refreshing statement. Bold plaid is also making a comeback in the world of bespoke tailored men’s suits.

Blazers and Overcoats

We mentioned layers, right? The catwalks were all about this. There’s no doubt that the number one trend for 2017 will be layers - and what better way to achieve this look than to rock a 3 piece-suit and an overcoat? Some of the variations we’ve seen on the runways have been made-to-measure 3 piece suits, suits with classic camel overcoats or classic grey overcoats, turtleneck sweaters under a tailored blazer, double-breasted suit jackets and more.

Start revamping your 2017 style by making sure your initial acquisitions include the following must-haves:

• Suits with hues of grey or blue
• Tailored 3 piece suits and blazers
• Quality Fabrics
• Overcoats with versatile color

Owning a variety of suits for every single event you ever attend or every occasion that requires one is really only realistic for celebrities and the super wealthy. If you focus on getting just 4 key suits, you’ve got the basics down, you’ll be good to go without breaking the bank:

Classic, Tailored Black Suit

This is a standard color, but it will never go out of style. It slims you down, dresses you up and gives you a flair of elegance and mystery. It’s perfect for everything from a red carpet event, to weddings, to funerals, to business meetings and so much more. If you’re looking to add a personal touch, this neutral lends itself to any combinations of color pops, whether it be in the bowtie, tie, handkerchief or in the under layers - the custom dress shirt or the bespoke vest. You can always rock the all black or white underlayers for a more formal feel, or downplay it. Every guy looks good in black, it’s an easy look that you just can’t go wrong with.

Slate or Charcoal Grey Suit

You might not need 50 shades of grey, perse, but a few different hues will do wonders. A crisp, charcoal gray suit still has you looking sharp, but offers a refreshing departure from the formal and slightly harsher black. A lighter shade of grey shows off a more approachable side, implying that you’re not too formal and adonis-like to talk to, but are still a classic man with impeccable taste.

Grey is seasonless, which offers a neutral background for any pop of color (handkerchief in the breast pocket, underlayers, tie or bow-tie, etc.) that will be more specific and relevant to the particular season and/or occasion. Grey, however, is not as slimming as black and, it won’t hide imperfections, if it isn’t well-made, so you’ll want to have a made to measure grey suit to put your best foot forward in.

Blue Suits

Nothing says dependability and trustworthiness like the color blue. It’s a great choice that offers a more colorful approach to suiting up, without going too far left. Blue is another seasonless color that looks great all year-round; what changes with the seasons is the shade of blue. Choose navy and sapphire for the colder months. You can get lighter and more adventurous (light blues, turquoise, teal) in Spring and Summer.

Summer Suit / Light colored Suit

Your essential neutrals don’t stop at dark colors; you’ll need a neutral at the other end of the color spectrum to complete your closet staples. Be sure to include a white suit, khaki suit or light blue in your repertoire. It’s a must-have for the summer and spring and will help with that hot sun on days when you wish you weren’t wearing one. The biggest factor in looking dapper in a white or khaki suit is fit; there’s nowhere to hide with light colors, so a made to measure fit is absolutely crucial to pulling the light colored suit off.

Keep these 4 main suits in your closet and you will be good to go year round. It’s the foundation to having a well rounded, well polished wardrobe for any event!

It's the year to look like a boss! Looking the part means a simple, clean cut style that accentuates your personal style and exudes confidence. It's 2017 and there's no reason not to upgrade your look. Everyone knows that looking the part of a boss makes that powerful first impression that gets your foot in door. Plus, no one wants to look like a generic copy of the next guy walking down the street. Impress yourself and those around you with a custom tailored suit that will have you looking and feeling like you just walked out of a GQ spread. It doesn't take a million bucks to look like a million bucks. While having a diverse wardrobe is always the goal, narrowing it down to the staples is a great starting point to build from. Lay the foundation of your boss style with these two essentials:

• Tailored Suits
• Custom Dress Shirts

Customizing your Tailored Suit

The beauty of a made to measure suit is in the capability to customize it. A boss always adds his own, signature style to everything he does, owns and wears. Make your suit your own by customizing these key elements:

• The style and color of the lapel and/or vest neck lining
• Suit Vents
• Suit buttons and vest buttons
• Suit pocket color and style
• The pattern of the suit lining and the vest lining- (this is where you add your most unique personal flare)
• Suit monograms
• Amount of pleats in the pant and the fit

The Right Fit is Everything

There's nothing worse than looking like you're wearing someone else's suit. Get the fitted look by making sure you have accurate measurements throughout. The bottom of your pants, which is called the break in your pants, should fall right above your shoes. The break shouldn't be too loose or to baggy, otherwise it tends to look unflattering and sloppy. As for the shoulder area of your suit, this is often the priciest part to have adjusted and the most noticeable when it comes to your silhouette, so be sure that it's an exact measurement for an exact fit. The rule of thumb for the sleeves on your suit is to make sure that it falls where the thumb connects to the rest of your hand.

The best way to ensure that the fit is right is by making sure your measurements are on point. It's always best to have someone else measure you. If you don't have anyone in mind, you can also hire a tailor to measure you. At Suits for Me, where you can find made to measure suits, dress shirts, pants and more, you can actually hire a travelling tailor to come to you. This ensures the most exact measurements and the best fit possible.

The Power of a Quality, Custom Dress Shirt

Because a dress shirt is what's closest to your body and sets the tone for any outer layers you put on top of it, this particular item is important to get right. A custom dress shirt can be tricky to pick out if you don't know the basics. You'll want to take your size and build into account - if you're muscular or thin and slender or more filled out, there's a different approach depending on your body type. For the well built, shoulders are normally wide and the gut area in the shirt needs more room for any potential weight gain. For the thin and slender this would be an easy job for your tailor, the custom dress shirt would be considered slim fit. Similar to the muscular fit, a regular or classic fit is for the compact individual. It would also be a safe bet to look at your waist measurements when going for a classic fit due to the yoke of the shirt aligning with your waist. Finally, the customization of the details is the finishing touch that will help put your personal touch and express your signature style in the best way. You'll be customizing the following elements:

• Shirt Collar
• Shirt Cuffs
• Shirt monograms
• Shirt pockets
• Cufflinks

There's plenty more that goes into a solid wardrobe, but with these elements, you're well on your way to an impeccably clean cut style that says SUCCESS.