International Suit Up -day

What the day is

International Suit Up Day is observed on October 13. It is a fan-created, unofficial day that asks people to wear a suit, or at least something sharper than usual, for no reason except that it makes the day feel different.

The inspiration is Barney Stinson, the character played by Neil Patrick Harris on the CBS comedy How I Met Your Mother, which ran from 2005 to 2014. Barney wore a suit nearly everywhere and made the line 'Suit up' one of the show's best-known catchphrases, along with the claim that a suit makes you better at whatever you are about to do.

Origin and background

There is no organization behind the day. It appears to have started among fans of the series, spread through social media and fan lists of unofficial holidays, and settled onto October 13. Because it began informally, you will find slightly different versions of its rules, but all of them come down to the same instruction.

The suit itself has a long and surprisingly stable history. The modern matched jacket and trousers took shape in the nineteenth century and has barely changed in outline since. It has stayed in use for one reason: it is a reliable, flattering uniform, and many people find that dressing more formally does change how they carry themselves, which is the idea the show took as a joke and the day takes as a game.

How to take part

• Wear a suit to work, school or dinner, and commit to it for the whole day.
• If you do not own one, borrow one, rent one or wear your smartest jacket and a tie.
• Dress up for something ordinary, like grocery shopping, and see whether it changes your mood.
• Watch an episode of How I Met Your Mother with friends, ideally while everyone is dressed for the occasion.
• Take a group photo with other suit wearers, and keep the joke affectionate rather than mocking anyone who is not.