How to find a perfect fitting suit

If your still wearing the suit you bought for your high school homecoming dance, it's time to upgrade. Find a suit that will land you the job of your dreams, the girl of your dreams, or just a few nice compliments.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Brand
   
   Select a brand that you like and can afford. Not all men's suits are made alike, and different brands will fit different men better. If your buying from a good retailer, the salesman should know which brands will best fit your body type. For example, high fashion brands like Prada, Gucci, and D&G tend to fit narrower body types (though there are top names that will accomodate other body types).

2. Length
   
   The next step in determining your suit size is figuring out what length you need. Suit lengths vary from extra short (XS) to extra long (XL). Here is a breakdown of suit lengths that will help you determine which length is right for you:
   
   5'4" or less: Extra Short (XS)
   5'5"-5'7": Short (S)
   5'8"-5'11": Regular (R)
   6'-6'2": Long (L)
   6'3" and up: Extra Long (XL)
   
   Of course, some men's torsos aren't always perfectly proportional to their legs, so try a few lengths to figure out which will be right for you.

3. Cut
   
   To figure out the "cut" of your suit, you will need find out the difference between your chest size and your waist size. Subtracting your waist circumference from your chest circumference will give you your "drop" number. A standard cut suit will generally accomodate a 6 inch drop, an athletic cut an 8 inch drop, and a portly cut a 4 inch drop.

4. Jacket Size
   
   When purchasing a suit, you will come across numbers like 40L or 38R. We have determined that the L and the R simply stands for "Long" and "Regular" (see step 2). The number before the letter will represent your chest measurement. When purchasing a suit, the salesman will take your measurements, the chest circumference being one of them. However, chest measurements are not always accurate for determining the perfect fit, so make sure you try the jacket on in front of a mirror.

5. Other Details
   
   The sleeve length, with arms fully extended and hanging at your sides, should fall between the two joints of the thumb
   
   Your shoulders should not protrude from the sleeves of the suit. Starting from the top seam where the sleeve is connected to the body of the suit, all the way down to the cuff, the fabric should form a straight line.
   
   Above all, you should feel comfortable in the suit. You will never have the mobility in a suit that you have in athletic clothes, but you certainly shouldn't feel like your wearing a straightjacket.