The retailer said while overall sales were down, the jump in demand for suits reflected nervousness in the workplace, as consumers focused their reduced spending power on tailoring.
Moss Bros finance director Michael Hitchcock said the trend was in contrast to the boom years, when people felt less inclined to spruce up.
"If you have got a job you are smartening up to keep it, and if you have not, you are smartening up to get one - and either way it plays to our favour," he said.
He said suit sales were up 20 per cent on a like-for-like volume basis for the six weeks since January 31, but overall like-for-like sales slid 9.4 per cent, as shoppers bought suits at the detriment of the firm's other products, such as ties, coats and shirts.
Dress suits were hit particularly, as businesses cancelled formal events to save money and avoid `frivolity' in the teeth of the `worst recession in living memory'.
Moss Bros shares jumped more than 25 per cent, despite the announcement that it made a pre-tax loss of £9.3m for the 53 weeks to January 31, including exceptional items of £4.3m, and would not pay a final dividend.
It also revealed that it considered selling its Cecil Gee stores - which `felt the full brunt of the recession' with a like-for-like sales decrease of 6.4 per cent last year - but did not receive high enough offers for them.
The brand has now been scaled back to nine branches, and Mr Hitchcock said the firm would now `put our arm around' the business.
Moss Bros said its factory outlet stores had been hit particularly hard by conditions last year, with like-for-like sales down 10.6 per cent.
It said high fuel prices caused consumers to cut down on the use of cars, reducing visitors to out-of-town shopping centres. Customers were also turned off the factory outlets as high street stores narrowed price differences.
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