How to Get a Suit Tailored

Whether you are in need of a suit to wear on special occasions or it is a part of your everyday business attire, you will definitely want the suit you are likely paying a good deal of money for, to fit well. The good news is that while most suits may not fit perfectly in the store, it is relatively easy to have a suit tailored to fit you. There are a couple of things you will want to be on the lookout for when choosing a suit and having it tailored.

Things You'll Need

• Suit Dress shirt Dress shoes Tailor

Instructions

1. Visit a store and start trying on suits that you like. You can go to a store that specializes in suits such as Brooks Brothers or Men's Warehouse, or you can go to a department store and check out the suit department. Different suits have different fits, so try several different styles to see which fits best before you settle on one suit. Ask a salesperson to measure you and recommend a size and a cut.

2. Do not worry if the suit that you try on is too long in the jacket sleeves, pant legs or too big in the waist. It is better to have a suit that is too large altered, than to attempt to tailor a suit that is too small. Make sure that the jacket fits properly on your shoulder and neckline. Ask the salesperson, if you are unsure of the proper fitting of the jacket.

3. Ask the worker if the store offers alterations, once you are confident of the jacket fit. Some stores have someone in-house that comes in to do alterations on certain days of the week. In some cases, alterations may even be complimentary. If the store does not take care of alterations, ask for a recommendation. If you know people who have had alterations done in the past, you may want to ask them as well.

4. Wear a dress shirt and shoes when you take your suit to be tailored. This will help the person doing the alterations to determine the proper lengths. If your shoe has a bit of a heel, have the tailor leave the leg a bit longer. Wearing a shirt will help the tailor determine the proper sleeve length. As you hold your arm out, your shirt sleeve should extend slightly beyond your suit jacket sleeve. Have the tailor alter the suit according to your size specifications.

5. Ask the tailor to save your measurements to alter other suits in the future.