How to Buy a Pre-Tailored Suit

You should be able to move freely in a suit that fits well.

Buying a suit is an investment of money and time. Pre-tailored suits are blazers and pants that have already been fit to standard sizes, negating the need for custom tailoring. Standard sizing will certainly simplify your search, but you still might find the whole process overwhelming. As long as you acquaint yourself with the terminology and basic options of suiting, you should have no trouble making effective and efficient use of your resources.

Instructions

Measurements

1. Take your measurements. You cannot do this yourself. Have someone help you at home, or ask a salesperson in the store. The most significant measurements are your chest, arm, and waist measurements, and your inseam.

2. Measure your chest with the tape measure around the broadest part of your ribcage, roughly in the middle of your chest or pectoral muscles.

3. Measure your arm with the end of the tape measure between your shoulder blades. Bend one arm, and put that hand on your hip. Measure from between your shoulder blades to your shoulder joint, then down to your elbow, and finally to your wrist.

4. Measure your natural waistline just beneath your ribcage. Leave the tape a little loose.

5. Measure your inseam on the interior side of your leg from the beginning of the pant leg to the top of your foot.

Finding a Suit

1. Look for the jacket before the pants. Find a jacket with your chest measurement. You will have to choose between a short, regular or tall length. Choose whichever length is appropriate based on your overall height.

2. Check the fit through the shoulders. The suit shoulders should fit yours like they are a natural part of your body. The shoulder pads should not extend further than your shoulder joint.

3. Button the jacket to check the chest size. You should be able to button it easily. It should also not be too large. You should be able to fit your fist snugly under the buttoned blazer.

4. Look at the sleeves. They should hit at your wrist, 1/2-1 inch shorter than a long-sleeve shirt.

5. Choose a pair of pants that match the suit jacket's color and material. Pant sizes are a waist measurement by an inseam measurement. Try the pants on in the store, even though the pant size matches your measurements. The size may match, but the pants may not.

References

• "GQ": How to Buy a Suit: The Complete GQ Guide; Adam Rapoport; Aug. 2006
• University of Wisconsin - Green Bay: Buying a suit for the 1st time?; Orlando R. Lorenzo
• University of California at Davis: Internship and Career Center: Dress for Success Tips