The Simple Suit

Style today is moving in the direction of subtraction: doing away with anything extraneous in favor of pared-down, well-made clothes with subtle or unseen details that make them fit or feel that much better. Simplicity, quality, integrity: This is the new extra 10 percent.

What do you notice about these getups? Well, there are the suits themselves—streamlined fits, solid colors, interesting textures. There are the shirts—white or pale blue, blank canvases each of them. And then there is the total lack of discernible flair—no colorful pocket squares, no wild socks, no jazzy plaids or bright colors. There's a word for this approach to dressing up—simple—and it works because the absence of look-at-me details or accessories can be the sartorial equivalent of silence speaking louder than words: a bold statement that signals clear intent and ample confidence.