Am I Overdressed? Need Advice as a Young Suit Enthusiast /u/Vivid-Car384 /r/malefashionadvice

Hey Reddit,

I’ve always loved wearing suits. I’m currently studying at a university in Germany that focuses on economics, and it’s fair to say my friends and I all have a pretty formal vibe. For fancy occasions, we almost always wear suits, and even our “casual” outfits (shirt, quarter zip, chinos, loafers, or sometimes sneakers) are often considered fancy by others.

We frequently attend events like operas, theater performances, and university functions, so suits have become a regular part of my life. But here’s the thing: I often end up in clubs or bars wearing a suit because of these events, and I feel like it makes me stand out—sometimes in a good way, sometimes not so much. Even my “casual” outfits seem to attract comments.

For context, I don’t own a massive suit collection—just four classic ones and one that’s a bit more unique: a gray suit with darker stripes that gives off a 70s/80s English vibe (think vintage but sharp). Despite my love for suits, I sometimes feel like I’m overdoing it, especially at my age (23). Most people my age don’t even own a suit, let alone wear one regularly.

The other issue is the “finance bro” stereotype. I’m from Frankfurt am Main, so when people see me in a suit, they immediately assume I’m a finance guy (which I actually am, but that label seems to turn some people off, especially women). I always hear women saying that they love when men dress up, but I had more trouble to even seem normal for my age when I wore fancier outfits. Keep in mind I frequent fancier bars and clubs.

I love how Barney from How I Met Your Mother rocks suits effortlessly, but I feel like in real life, it’s harder to pull off without standing out too much. Any advice for a young suit lover would be appreciated!

Hey Reddit,

I’ve always loved wearing suits. I’m currently studying at a university in Germany that focuses on economics, and it’s fair to say my friends and I all have a pretty formal vibe. For fancy occasions, we almost always wear suits, and even our “casual” outfits (shirt, quarter zip, chinos, loafers, or sometimes sneakers) are often considered fancy by others.

We frequently attend events like operas, theater performances, and university functions, so suits have become a regular part of my life. But here’s the thing: I often end up in clubs or bars wearing a suit because of these events, and I feel like it makes me stand out—sometimes in a good way, sometimes not so much. Even my “casual” outfits seem to attract comments.

For context, I don’t own a massive suit collection—just four classic ones and one that’s a bit more unique: a gray suit with darker stripes that gives off a 70s/80s English vibe (think vintage but sharp). Despite my love for suits, I sometimes feel like I’m overdoing it, especially at my age (23). Most people my age don’t even own a suit, let alone wear one regularly.

The other issue is the “finance bro” stereotype. I’m from Frankfurt am Main, so when people see me in a suit, they immediately assume I’m a finance guy (which I actually am, but that label seems to turn some people off, especially women). I always hear women saying that they love when men dress up, but I had more trouble to even seem normal for my age when I wore fancier outfits. Keep in mind I frequent fancier bars and clubs.

I love how Barney from How I Met Your Mother rocks suits effortlessly, but I feel like in real life, it’s harder to pull off without standing out too much. Any advice for a young suit lover would be appreciated!