How to Pick Out A Suit

According to the book "The Essential Guide to Business Etiquette," a well-chosen suit is key to success.

The two-piece business suit is widely considered the most acceptable attire choice for men and women in many business environments. According to cultural geographer Wilbur Zelinsky, the modern suit allows a person to become an "interchangeable cog in a global system." But, however timeless and similar suits around the world may be, they do vary greatly in cut, color and style over time and across distances. When picking out a suit, your specific personal features, environment and professional goals should be considered in order to use the suit to create the most positive impression on others.

Instructions

1. Choose a suit color. Consider cultural, geographic and industry standards when it comes to suit colors and styles. Gray, black, charcoal and navy blue are prototypical, classic suit colors in many corporate cultures, while tan, white, red or patterned or multicolored suits might be less versatile.

2. Try on different suits. Look at yourself in suits while standing, reaching, sitting and kneeling. Is the arm length just beyond your wrist bone? Does the waist line allow the shirt to comfortably tuck? Above all, is the suit comfortable in all positions? If it does not fit well or cannot be altered, then consider a different style or size.

3. Ask a shop assistant or friend you trust for feedback. Picking out a suit is not about the size you are, but about how the suit fits and what impression that gives, writes Glenn O'Brian for GQ.com. Others can help you decide what messages you are sending with the suit. Moreover, suits can -- and should -- be altered to fit you properly.

4. Inspect the workmanship and quality of the suit. Scrutinize the seams, hems, darts, and buttons of the suit. Check the material. Clothing made of pure fabrics such as 100 percent wool are associated with people of higher status. Invest in suits of high-quality fabrics that fit well, write Lillian Chaney and Jeanette Martin in "The Essential Guide to Business Etiquette," to make a good impression in business.

5. Shop around before purchasing. Decide what you like and try on different brands and style variations before purchasing. Chaney and Martin write that the security and longevity of a suit that fits will be well worth the amount of time and money it will require to choose it.

Tips & Warnings

• Business suits should always match perfectly. If a jacket and trousers are not identical in color, pattern and texture, they should not be worn together.

References

• "Good Girls Don't Have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Woman"; Shari Braendel; 2010
• "The Essential Guide to Business Etiquette"; Lillian H. Chaney, Jeanette S. Martin; 2007
• GQ: Improvised suits; Glenn O'Brian
• "GQ"; Choosing My Size; Glenn O'Brian
• "Journal of Cultural Geography: The Historical Geography of Modern Western Male Attire"; Wilbur Zelinsky; September 22, 1994