People, especially men spend much of their adult lives in suits.
From jobs, meetings, weddings to special nights out, suits are a man’s go-to fashion statement.
Unfortunately, too many men overlook the importance of buying the right suit. In truth, a poorly made or poorly fitted suit can ruin your look faster than shorts and flip-flops. And especially for employment, it’s important to make a good first impression at a job interview.
If you are truly trying to dress to impress, you must find the perfect suit and have it tailored to your body. The first thing to do is to get measured by a professional at a reputable retailer. Once you know your proper size, you can start looking for the perfect suit.
When suit shopping, make sure to consider these factors:
Fabric
Unless you are just out to add something unique to your suit collection, you will want to look for worsted wool suits. This can include corded wools, gabardines, and super 100s. One way to test the fabric for quality is to squeeze a handful of material and watch how it reacts. If it springs back without leaving wrinkles, it is a good choice. You can wear worsted wools year-round and will typically get a great deal of wear from them.
Trouser Fit
Be sure that the waistline of your trousers is comfortable to wear. This usually means that you can fit two fingers into the waistband while you are wearing them. Pleats are a personal preference, but typically look better on those who wish to camouflage an ample midsection. They will make a larger man look thinner, but will make a thin man look too skinny.
Hemline
Ideally, your suit pants should have a slight break at your shoes. If they are too long, you will look sloppy, and if they are too short, you will look ridiculous. Whether or not you prefer cuffs is up to you, but cuffs are generally better suited to taller or more mature men.
Sleeve Length
Your jacket sleeve should not completely cover your shirt cuff. Instead, make sure it just reaches the base of your thumb and that it shows between ½ to one inch of shirt cuff for the best look.
Jacket Waist
Traditionally, suit jackets have had two buttons. Recently, however, suit jackets have become more fitted and feature as many as four buttons. When buttoned, the jacket should fit your stomach easily. Even if you feel that you are too thick around the middle, make sure you get a well-cut jacket that is fitted to your body. A too-loose fit will make you look like you are playing dress-up in someone else’s suit.
General Fit
When your suit is fastened, you should be able to stretch, bend, and more easily. Your arm movement shouldn’t be restricted at all and you should be able to bend and sit comfortably. Try sitting and moving around as you would in a work or social setting. If you feel any restriction, pinching, or binding, the suit doesn’t fit your body properly. After all, the number one consideration is comfort.
If you are interested in buying a suit to land a dream job, view our tips how to write a good CV.