How to Buy a Sportscoat
A must-have in every man's wardrobe, the sport coat is a classic yet versatile mainstay that can be dressed up for a business meeting or dressed down for a casual date. Alhough sport coats come in a variety of colors (such as navy, gray, black or in patterns, such as houndstooth check), fabrics (including cotton, wool, polyester or camel's hair), weights and seasonal details, many sport coats that will carry the wearer throughout the year are available. With a little know-how, buying a sport coat that fits well and will meet its desired function is not difficult. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Visit the men's department of a department store. Choose a few sport coats within your desired budget that have a preferred style, color and pattern in the size expected to fit. A clerk may offer to assist with the purchase and may be able to take measurements that will aid in finding a sport coat that will fit well.
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Try on the coats in front of a mirror in an area in which you can move around.
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Check the shoulders to see if they fit properly. The shoulders should be snug but not so tight that you cannot comfortably perform your usual daily functions, such as shaking hands or taking notes at a desk.
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Check the chest area, which is the region located from the front shoulder seams to just above the armpits. If the fabric of this area gathers or gapes when the coat is buttoned, then it is too large in the chest. If the top button is tense, or if the lapel sticks out, then the coat is too small in the chest.
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Check the length of the sport coat. Drop your arms to your sides, all fingers pointed to the ground. The bottom hem of the coat should be an inch longer or shorter than where the tip of the thumb hits and should cover your rear end. If the coat is shorter than 1 inch and does not cover your rear end, the sport coat is too short. If the sport coat is longer than 1 inch past your thumb, the coat is too long.
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Check the sleeves, which should fall at your wrists and expose 1/8 to 1/2 inch of your shirt sleeve, depending on personal preference.
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Check the overall fit of the coat. It should fit against the body and be just loose enough that you can fit a hand underneath the breast or wear a sweater underneath, if desired. The coat is too tight if the buttons are tense.
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Tips & Warnings
If the previously discussed parts of the coat fit well, a good tailor can further alter the sport coat so it fits as though it were custom-made. It is not unusual for a department store to either have a tailor on staff or have a tailor it regularly works with. Sport coats come in a variety of colors, fabrics and styles appropriate for year-round wear or for seasonal wear. Determine what your needs are, and buy appropriately.
References
- Photo Credit Duchesssa
