My name is Dominic Adeyemi. I’m 36, I work in financial services in London, and until about eight months ago I owned exactly one suit. It was dark navy, it was seven years old, and it had seen me through job interviews, a cousin’s wedding, two funerals, and more client meetings than I could count. It had done its job. It had also, quietly and without my noticing, started to look like it had done its job.
I got promoted in February. Senior relationship manager — a step up that came with more client-facing responsibility, more board-level meetings, and a quiet but unmistakable shift in what was expected of me in a room. I looked at my navy suit and knew, with sudden clarity, that it wasn’t going to carry me through the next chapter the way it had carried me through the last one.
The Problem With Getting By
I’d been getting by on one suit for years because I’d never had a strong reason to invest in another. The navy worked. It was fine. It was the kind of suit that doesn’t attract attention, which I’d always thought was the point.
But I’d started to notice something in client meetings: the people who commanded the room weren’t necessarily the most senior or the most experienced. They were often the ones who looked like they’d made a decision about how they wanted to present themselves. There’s a difference between wearing a suit and wearing a suit with intention. I’d been doing the former.
What I Was Looking For
I wanted something that read as professional without being anonymous. Grey felt right — versatile, authoritative, appropriate for everything from internal meetings to client presentations. But plain grey felt like a lateral move from plain navy. A check pattern gave it the personality I was looking for without crossing into anything that would feel out of place in a boardroom.
Three-piece was important to me. The waistcoat gives you options — jacket on for formal settings, jacket off for longer working days, waistcoat doing the work of looking put-together either way. It also photographs well, which matters more than people admit in a role where you’re regularly on video calls and occasionally in press materials.
Budget was a consideration. I wasn’t looking to spend bespoke money — I was looking for something that looked like I had.
Finding the IM3
I’d been browsing for about a week when I found the IM3 Men’s Grey Checked Tailored Fit Suit. The check pattern was exactly what I’d been picturing — classic and precise, the kind of pattern that reads as considered rather than casual. The grey was a proper mid-grey with enough depth to look rich rather than flat. And the tailored fit silhouette in the product images looked genuinely sharp — not boxy, not oversized, but structured in a way that suggested the suit was doing some of the work for you.
80% polyester, 20% viscose — a blend I recognised as standard for structured suiting that holds its shape through a long day. Complete three-piece set: jacket, vest, trousers. I read the description twice, looked at the images several more times, and ordered.
Why This Suit Specifically
- The grey check pattern — timeless and versatile. Works for client meetings, internal presentations, formal events, and business dinners. The check adds personality without limiting where you can wear it.
- Tailored fit — a sleek, modern silhouette that enhances rather than hides. In a professional context, fit is everything. A well-fitted mid-range suit will always outperform a poorly fitted expensive one.
- Complete three-piece — jacket, vest, and trousers as a cohesive set. No mixing and matching, no hoping separates work together. Everything is designed to be worn as a unit.
- Premium fabric blend — comfortable enough for a full working day, structured enough to hold its shape from the morning meeting to the evening client dinner.
- The price point — I’m not going to pretend this wasn’t a factor. It looks considerably more expensive than it is, which is exactly what you want from a professional wardrobe investment.
First Wear: A Board Presentation
The suit arrived four days after I ordered it. I had it lightly pressed and wore it for the first time to a board-level presentation three days later — not the most low-stakes debut, but I’d tried it on and felt confident enough not to worry.
The fit was right straight out of the packaging. The tailored cut sat correctly on the shoulders, the trousers had a clean break, and the vest buttoned without pulling. I wore it with a white shirt and a dark tie and felt, walking into that boardroom, like I belonged there in a way that was slightly different from how I’d felt before.
That sounds like a small thing. It wasn’t.
After the presentation, the CFO — a man not known for personal remarks — said I’d presented well and that I looked the part. I’m fairly certain the suit was doing some of the work on the second point.
Eight Months of Professional Wear
The IM3 has been to client meetings, internal presentations, a company away day, two industry dinners, and one awards evening where I was shortlisted for a sector recognition. It has been worn hard and looked after properly — hung correctly, pressed when needed, dry-cleaned twice.
It holds its shape well. The check pattern hasn’t faded or distorted. The tailored fit is as clean as it was on the first wear. For a suit at this price point, the durability has been genuinely impressive.
I’ve also had more comments on this suit in eight months than I had on my navy in seven years. Colleagues have asked where it’s from. A client mentioned it specifically in a follow-up email — “great to meet you, and that was a sharp suit” — which is not something that has ever happened to me before.
What It Changed
I walk into rooms differently now. Not because the suit is magic — it isn’t — but because wearing something that fits well and looks intentional changes how you carry yourself. Confidence is partly internal and partly external, and the external signals matter more in professional settings than most people are comfortable admitting.
I’ve since bought a second suit — a navy three-piece to replace the old one — and I’m rotating between the two. But the grey check is the one I reach for when the meeting matters most. It’s become my version of armour.
Who I’d Recommend This To
Anyone at a career inflection point who needs their wardrobe to keep up with where they’re going. Anyone who’s been getting by on one ageing suit and knows it. Anyone who wants a professional three-piece that looks considered and expensive without being either. And anyone who’s been told to “look the part” and isn’t sure where to start — because this is a very good place to start.
Where to Get It
The IM3 Men’s Grey Checked Tailored Fit Suit is available from ALTOE. If you’re building out your professional wardrobe, these collections are worth exploring:
- Suits — three-piece, tweed, linen and occasion suits for men and women
- Clothing — quality pieces for every professional and personal occasion
- Apparel & Accessories — a curated wardrobe edit from everyday to boardroom
Dominic Adeyemi is a senior relationship manager in financial services, based in London. He now owns two suits and rotates them with intention. He considers this progress.
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