The Great Gatsby, Casino Royale, Atonement, Breakfast at Tiffany's, A Single Man, and Skyfall, are just some of many movies that have awed us not just because they were a cinematic splendor, but because the men were deliciously dressed for their parts. Take James Bond for instance - every character that has ever played the crime-fighting 007, has been featured in the perfect suit, whether he was busting fancy fight moves or flirting with an eyelash-batting beauty. There's more to a suit than just its form-fitting appeal; it's a mark of refined taste and a self-confidence that is almost tangible. In short, a suit is an investment. A luxury pick may cost you hundreds of dollars, but you'll never find a pair like it - unless of course you locate a brilliant tailor to mimic styles you present him with. While a lot of great suits can burn a hole in your pocket, a trusty professional tailor who can replicate one for you, is a godsend. Just be sure to buy the right material and present a good reference image. Cocktail Party Attire for Men The cocktail attire for men suggested here, should give you a good idea of what to buy or how to tailor your next suit. Swank, Suave, Sexy Nothing screams sexy like a sartorially perfect suit. While the idea of sporting a vest beneath your jacket may seem a little too much for a cocktail party, it works well for older gentlemen, or for those who love classic refinement. If you're going with the vested look, go with colors of the season like ash gray or charcoal black. A dinner jacket is a favorite with the ladies, for its understated elegance and timeless style quotient (courtesy, James Bond). Turn the heat up a notch by choosing a dinner jacket with a bold lining; don't be afraid to experiment with color since the white of the jacket will offset it beautifully. Exaggerated, Trendy, Hip This season is all about color, prints, and wild pairings. Tap into a style statement that you've never tried before, like swapping black pants for inky blue when donning a dinner jacket (note the prominent pocket flaps); pairing checks with a cream-colored jacket; or going all-black with a super-sultry number. Work with a tad of sheen when it comes to charcoal grays and blacks; it invokes alpha male élan. When you go in for a fitting, be sure that suits are as close to the body as possible, for lean men. If you're broad or a little stout, make sure suits are well-fitted and breathable; they should never be too tight. Our Favorite Suits in Stores Suitsupply Sienna Grey Check Suit, Suitsupply Copenhagen Biege Plain, Dior Homme Pinstriped Virgin Wool Suit, Kenneth Cole Reaction Suit, John Varvatos Double-Breasted Linen Suit, INC Suit (Macy's), Kenzo Costume Elbow-Insert Single-Breasted Suit, Banana Republic Suit, Burberry London Slim-Fit Cotton and Linen-Blend Suit, J.Crew Ludlow Suit, Saint Laurent Micro Pied de Poule Suit, and Gucci Brera Slim-Fit Wool Suit, to name a few, of course. "Knotty" Affair While we love the whole let's-not-wear-a-tie bad boy, carefree stance, we're split over the idea of a guy wearing one too. Let's do the bad boy bit in the day, shall we? For a brunch or luncheon affair, ditch the tie but sport a quirky, heavily patterned one for sundown. If the cocktail party is a dinner soirée, then wearing a tie to the affair seems only, well... civil. Let's not think of it as a boring addition to one's look, but something to get excited over, especially for the fashion-forward gentleman. Use fun prints and funky colors; these work well for suits in gray, beige, and anything in between. For brown and black suits, go with intricately designed ties or pastels. From our many options, you'll see that we've not maintained any rule of going all-formal, but switched to semi-casual pairings that are still cocktail-party worthy. Magazines like GQ offer great tips on how to dress up in a suit and make it stand out, including eye-opening dos and don'ts for the suit-loving man.