The Albertan Guide to Suits
The Albertan’s Guide to Suits
Custom suits for hockey players and professionals in Alberta
The NHL loosened its dress code. Hoodies are legal now. But here’s the thing: the suit aren’t going anywhere, and for good reason.
Whether it’s game day at the barn or a big presentation at the office, showing up in a well made, well fit suit for the main event is always a good choice. It’s never the only choice. You could show up for game day in a hoodie or tracksuit like most of the Leafs did as soon as the league let them (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-embrace-new-nhl-casual-dress-rules-ahead-of-season-opener/) … but then again the Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup in almost sixty years, so maybe they don’t have a winning attitude.
In all seriousness, professionals should be able to wear whatever they want, but a good suit isn’t about pretending to be fancy. Showing up in a suit for the big day is one way of telling the world that you came prepared to get the job done and done right; sure, there are other ways to do that, but putting on a suit works really well.
Suits are not every day attire, but they are game day attire. And not every game day is a literal hockey game. Sometimes you really should just be in a suit: at a wedding, a job interview, a hot date (with the right person), accepting an award, or honouring a loved one at their funeral. At Game Day Suits, we build gear for that version of you—the one built for hockey in Alberta, who takes pride in getting the details right without making a big production of it.
1. Why Suits Still Matter
When you throw on a suit that fits, two things happen:
1) People treat you differently. People take you more seriously, especially strangers, and honestly most people will complement someone in a well made, well fit suit. If you hate flying, try traveling in a suit. You’ll get better service at the airport, I shit you not.
2) You feel ready. A suit should be one of your most comfortable outfits, but that requires proper fit. If you’ve hated every suit you’ve ever owned, that’s because you just bought they some department store, hand a hand-me down, or rented something. A suit that’s made for you fits like a comfy glove, but reminds you that’s game day and you need to be performing.
So sure, the top hockey league says joggers are fine on travel days or whatever. But show up to the arena, a meeting, a wedding, or a hot date in a clean navy suit and you’ll see the difference in every handshake or glance. The suit isn’t dead for people who still believe in showing up right.
2. Fit: Your First Line of Defense
A suit should move with you, not against you.
If you can’t hug your mom, lift a trophy, or grab a beer off the table without resistance, something’s wrong.
Here’s the quick rulebook:
Shoulders and back: Flat and natural—no bulges, no dents.
Chest: Make sure you can button without straining the jacket, and you still gotta be able to breathe without ballooning.
Sleeves: Show a half-inch of shirt cuff when reaching forward, that’s the “handshake rule.”
Trousers: Clean line down the front and not snug. You’re not trying to show off your huge quads or whatever, you’re dressing like a professional and that requires being able to move.
Think of fit like your skate sharpening. It’s invisible when it’s right, a pain in the ass when it’s off. If it doesn’t feel right, something’s off. Luckily, suits are easily adjusted. There’s also a bunch of little details that affect comfort and mobility (like how big your armhole is, how long the jacket should, how much “drape” there is, etc.), but don’t worry about that too much, we’re pros we can handle that for you.
3. The Traditional Meanings of Different Suit Colours (Star Trek Edition)
Every colour says something—just like in Star Trek, wearing a big red suit is probably going to paint you as some kind of target. Traditional suit colours all look sharp, but each signals a role.
Navy: The Captain’s color. This is what deal-makers wear. 100% all business.
Charcoal or Medium Grey: The Science Officer—smart, reliable, super professional, super low-drama.
Black: Formal uniform. For weddings, funerals, galas, private security or government agents—only for serious matters like life, love, death, and national security.
Light Grey, Tan, or anything in linen: The Away Mission look. Relaxed, ready for summer travel.
Learn the language, then decide when to bend it. We’ll help translate those choices into something that fits your personality and your game.
4. Rules—And When to Break Them
The old rules came from tradition, not truth.
It’s a postmodern world, you can certainly break all the rules. Wear a suit to the beach, or rock a broad-shouldered and bright yellow Dick Tracey suit at work, I mean, it’s up to you.
But you can only really break rules if you know what those rules are. Conventional wisdom suggests the following:
Job Interview? Keep it simple—navy or charcoal, white shirt, solid tie.
Team Road Trip? Add color or contrast; show your personality.
Wedding? Don’t make yourself the centre of attention by being a slob or by peacocking, just wear something nice.
Everyday Office? Lose the tie, roll the cuffs, throw on a jacket with trousers—still counts.
You don’t have to follow rules or fashion or “society, man.” You just need to understand what each move communicates. Then play your own system.
5. Materials Built for Alberta
Wool isn’t old-fashioned—it’s functional performance fabric. It breathes, resists wrinkles, and handles temperature swings better than synthetics. At the same time, a good synthetic is affordable and easier to care for, and will still last a long time. All of our fabrics are good choices for custom suits in Alberta weather, but there are inevitable tradeoffs. When we design a suit with you, we can explain all the tradeoffs, then decide together whether to lighten it for summer or make it heavier for winter. If you’re commuting from minus-30 to a heated rink, we’ve already thought of that.
And yes, we can get anything: tweed, linen, checks, herringbone, bright team-inspired colors. Tell us what you want to say, and we’ll find the fabric that says it.
6. Suit Care—Simple Version
You don’t need to baby it.
- Hang it on a wide-shouldered hanger.
- Steam instead of pressing.
- Dry-clean once or twice a season even if worn regularly, not every week.
- Never store it in a plastic bag.
Treat it right and it’ll last longer than your truck payments.
7. The Big Picture
There’s nothing wrong with any style—just different contexts and reasons.
Some guys follow the playbook; others write new ones.
What matters is intention: knowing what your suit says and choosing it on purpose.
At Game Day Suits, we’re here to help you do that without the jargon, lectures, or runway nonsense. Five-minute fittings, zero pretension, results that make you feel like you just stepped into your own highlight reel.
Book Your Fitting
We make it easy. Just book online, call us, text us, get in contact however you can. Then we come to you—rink, office, home, wherever’s convenient. We measure everyone, show you our fabrics, walk you through styles, and ship directly to you when it’s made.
Custom jackets, trousers, shirts, and full suits in team colors or classic cuts.
Fast turnaround, local tailoring credits, and no guesswork.
Call/Text 780-XXX-XXXX
Whatever your game day looks like—suits are for game day.