Men's Suit Advice
A man's suit is an extension of his personality, an expression of who he is and how he presents himself to the world. With some basic knowledge about men's suits, you can walk confidently into any clothing store and buy a suit that will project your best image. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Fit
-
A man's suit must fit perfectly. The jacket should drape over the back to accentuate a man's shoulders, chest and arms, while the seam where the sleeve is sewn to the body of the jacket should seat precisely over the edge of a man's shoulder. The jacket sleeves should descend no further than the joint of a man's thumb while his arms are straight down and his thumbs are held perpendicular to his fingers. When buttoned in front, the jacket should hang comfortably with no visible signs of fabric pulling toward the button hole.
The pants should have room for you to insert two fingers inside the waistband. Cuffed or not, the pants should drop to the shoes and rest just above the tongue of each shoe.
You should allow extra time during your shopping experience to get fitted properly. Pay extra for a tailor to hem your suit slacks and adjust the sleeves on your jacket for the best possible fit. The better men's clothing stores have in-shop tailors or seamstresses to make adjustments to off-the-rack suits. If no one offers to measure you for a suit, leave the store.
Colors and Fabrics
-
Wool is best because it holds its shape, does not wrinkle as easily as other fabric, such as cotton, and feels comfortable on the skin. Synthetic fabrics can appear cheap. In order of thickness, there are four weights of wool: tweed, flannel, worsted and tropical.
Tweed makes an excellent winter suit for its heavy warmth, but the fabric can be bulky and should not be worn by overweight men, as it accentuates their girth. Flannel is a nice choice for formal dinners, but it is too hot for a day at the office. Worsted wool is considered the perfect blend of comfort and style. Worsted wool is a good choice for an office suit because it wears well all day, it doesn't droop or sag and it is easy to care for. Tropical wool is a good choice for a summer suit because the fabric is light and airy. On the downside, these same qualities will cause tropical wool to wrinkle easily, requiring more frequent trips to the dry cleaner.
Suit colors are largely a matter of preference, but common sense and good taste should dictate your decision. As a rule, a professional man should own at least four perfectly-fitting suits: black, charcoal gray, navy blue and a shade of brown. These give a man fashion flexibility for most occasions and seasons. Remember, a good assortment of color-coordinated shirts and neckties can make one suit look like many different ones.
-
Care and Cleaning
-
Depending on how often it is worn, a suit needs a dry cleaning and pressing at least twice a year to remove wrinkles, to return the suit to its proper shape and to eliminate odors and sweat. Home dryer kits are available, but they may not clean your suits as thoroughly as a professional shop. Take your suits to a dry cleaner. You might also consider having your dress shirts starched and pressed for a crisp look that conveys confidence, self-esteem and authority.
Remove minor stains from your suits with a solid stain remover, available at grocery stores in the laundry detergent aisle. Rub in the stain remover, then blot out the stain with a clean, lint-free cloth dampened slightly in water.
Remembering to hang up your suits after each wear will protect your fine clothing investment. Place the slacks on a padded hanger to prevent wrinkling and place the jacket on a different hanger. This allows both to air out when not in use.
Buying a Suit
-
Look for sales. With enough planning and intelligent shopping, the savvy man never has to pay the retail price for a suit. Try to evaluate your needs well in advance so you can take advantage of off-season sales. A good rule of thumb is to buy your next winter suit in the late spring, when stores make room for that season's items. Thus, it makes economic sense to buy a summer suit in the fall. Pick a store that can handle the tailoring for you as well.
-
