Guide for Men's Suits

Like men, suits can be varied and diverse. To choose the best suit for you it is important to educate yourself on the different types of fit and style. Regardless of how nice or expensive a suit is, if it is the wrong size it will look sloppy on you. Take the time to try on different suits to see which is the right one for you. 

• Avoid bargain hunting. Head to a reputable department store to try on your suits. Never purchase a suit that cannot be altered to your body.


• Suits are crafted in several layers. There is an underlining, lining and the fashion fabric. Most suits are made with wool since it is versatile and can be worn year-round. There are other variations such as cotton, linen and silk; however, these are more seasonal suits. If you are looking for purchase a suit that can be worn in any season, select a wool suit.


• The shoulder pads of your suit jacket should never droop. When you rest your arms at your sides, the hem of the jacket should not be longer than your arms. The sleeves of the jacket should never meet the wrist any lower than the base of the thumb. If you try on a jacket that does not meet these requirements, it is too big.


• Look at the fineness of the suit. This will be dictated in the “super number.” The super number tells the customer the fineness of the individual fibers. The higher the number the finer the suit will be. However, wool becomes rarer the higher the numbers go, meaning the suit can become wrinkle prone and is less durable. If you work in a corporate environment that requires a suit every day, choose a suit with a super number in the range of the 150s.


• You should have room when you place your flat hand into your suit jacket buttoned. If you make a fist with that hand in your jacket, it should tug slightly at the button.


• For a two-buttoned suit, the first button should not be below the navel. If you select a three-buttoned suit, the second button should not go below the navel.


• The quality of the suit is determined by its “guts.” If you squeeze a handful of the material and notice no immediate wrinkling and retains some of its structure, the suit’s strength is of quality.


• The pants of the suit will more than likely need to be hemmed to fall properly. The hem of the pants should never cover the whole shoe and bunch excessively at the body. It makes the wearer look sloppy.


• Choose suit pants that have vented pleats. This will ensure a good fit and prevent your tailored suit from pillowing out.