I want to be upfront about something: I am not a suit person. Or at least, I wasn't. I'm a 34-year-old secondary school PE teacher from Nottingham. My wardrobe is mostly tracksuit bottoms, polo shirts, and one pair of jeans I've had since 2019. The last time I wore a suit was my nan's funeral, and that one belonged to my dad.
So when my best mate Jamie announced he was getting married — proper wedding, church ceremony, sit-down dinner, the works — I knew I had a problem. I needed a suit. A real one. One that actually fit me and didn't make me look like I'd borrowed it from someone else.
The Brief I Gave Myself
I had about six weeks and a budget I wasn't willing to blow entirely on something I might wear twice. But I also didn't want to look cheap. Jamie's wedding was going to be photographed properly — the kind of photos that end up framed on walls — and I was best man. I'd be in a lot of them.
I wanted something with character. Not a plain navy or charcoal that blends into the background. Something that looked considered. A mate of mine mentioned Prince of Wales check and I went down a rabbit hole. Turns out it's one of the most classic British patterns there is — worn by everyone from the Duke of Windsor to Peaky Blinders characters — and it photographs beautifully.
Why I Chose This Suit
I found the AK-10 Men's Classic 3 Piece Suit in Prince of Wales Check while browsing online late one evening. The grey-black check combination was exactly what I had in mind — classic without being stuffy, vintage-inspired without being costume-y. The 1920s Gatsby and Peaky Blinders influence in the design was a genuine selling point for me. I've always loved that era's approach to tailoring: structured, deliberate, every detail considered.
The tailored fit — described as sitting between slim and regular — was also the right call for my build. I'm broad across the shoulders from years of sport, and slim-fit suits have always pulled awkwardly across my back. Regular fit tends to swamp me. The tailored fit sounded like it was made for exactly my problem.
Three pieces sealed it. A waistcoat adds a layer of formality and polish that a two-piece just can't match. As best man, I wanted to look like I'd made an effort. The waistcoat did that without me having to do anything else.
When It Arrived
The suit arrived well-packaged and ahead of schedule. First impression out of the box: the fabric looked and felt better than I expected at the price point. The soft wool-feel finish has a real weight and drape to it — it doesn't look synthetic, which was my main concern going in.
I tried it on immediately. The jacket fit across the shoulders perfectly — which, as I said, is always my sticking point. The waistcoat sat flat and neat. The trousers were a touch long (they come with a standard 32" inside leg), but that's easily sorted at any local tailor or dry cleaner for a few pounds. I had mine taken up slightly and the whole thing was done in a day.
The Wedding Day
I won't pretend I wasn't nervous getting dressed that morning. Best man duties are stressful enough without worrying about whether you look the part. But when I put the full three pieces on — jacket, waistcoat, trousers — and looked in the mirror, something clicked. I looked like I knew what I was doing. I looked like someone who'd chosen this deliberately.
The check pattern caught the light beautifully in the church. In the photos — and there were a lot of photos — it reads as sharp and distinctive without competing with the wedding party. Jamie's wife actually told me I'd "scrubbed up properly" which, from her, is high praise.
I wore it for about eleven hours straight, from getting dressed at 10am to the last dance at 9pm. It held its shape throughout. No bagging at the elbows, no creasing across the back. By the end of the night I'd had four separate people ask me where the suit was from.
Since the Wedding
I've worn it three more times since Jamie's wedding. Once to a colleague's leaving do at a smart restaurant, once to a christening, and once — and I'm slightly embarrassed to admit this — just because I had nowhere to be and wanted to feel good on a Saturday afternoon. It's that kind of suit.
There's something about putting on a well-fitted three-piece that changes how you carry yourself. I stand differently. I speak differently. I feel more composed. I know that sounds dramatic for a piece of clothing, but I think anyone who's worn a suit that actually fits them will know exactly what I mean.
Who I'd Recommend This To
Honestly? Anyone who needs a suit and doesn't want to spend a fortune on something that looks like it cost a fortune. The Prince of Wales check gives you instant personality. The three-piece format gives you versatility — wear all three together for formal occasions, or separate the jacket and trousers for smarter casual. The tailored fit works for a wide range of builds.
If you've got a wedding, a christening, a job interview, or just a reason to look sharp coming up, this is where I'd start.
You can find the AK-10 Men's Classic 3 Piece Suit in Prince of Wales Check in our store. Browse the full range in these collections:
Daniel Ashworth is a PE teacher and reluctant suit convert based in Nottingham. He now owns two suits and is considering a third.
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