When a garment fits you perfectly it looks like a million bucks. It's not what you wear but how you wear it! When you appear attractively dressed, you send a positive powerful personal and professional image. For men the most important item to appear well dressed is the business suit. How do you know when you have a perfectly fitted suit? What should you look for? In order to ensure a suit fits you properly, you should make sure that it makes the proper fit guidelines. A great fitting suit is priceless, so cost doesn't matter but size does!
When you find a nice suit make sure the jacket fits you properly. It is difficult to make adjustments to an "off the rack" suit jacket if it doesn't fit your torso properly. Start with yoke on the suit jacket. The yoke measurement is the space from shoulder to shoulder. There is a seam where the arms are attached to the jacket. This should fall right on the ball of your shoulder bone in order to ensure a perfect fit. If the jacket yoke is too wide, the shoulder pads will stick out and create an oversized look. If the yoke measurement is too small, the jacket will not fit into the arm area properly causing an uncomfortable situation when you try to move your arms. A tailor cannot adjust the yoke measurement on a read made jacket, so make sure it is right before you commit to buy.
The next most important thing to look for in a great suit jacket is the overall width of the jacket. You want to be sure that the jacket is the appropriate length. If it too short, there is no way to add additional length. Make sure the back end comes just below the seat area. The front of the jacket should cover half of the inseam on your suit pants.
Also be sure that the arm length is correct. Sometimes if the arms are " too short, there may be some additional fabric on the sleeve seam that a tailor can "take out". Be sure to check first. The arm length should come to the very end of wrist bone plus an additional ". If the arm is too long, you shouldn't worry. It can be altered to the correct length. When checking the arm length on long sleeves, make sure that the buttons on the sleeve won't interfere with shortening the length. Most "off the rack" jackets have plastic buttons on the sleeve. In most cases a tailor can remove the first button in order to shorten the jacket arm to the right length. Just make sure to ask them to do so if needed.
The chest and waist of your suit jacket should not hug your body but allow you to move comfortably when the jacket is buttoned. Avoid too much fabric; you will look like a flying squirrel. If the chest and wait are too large the jacket will look frumpy and cheap. You are likely to look like you are playing dress up in a larger mans clothing. Make sure it fits well! A good tailor can adjust the waist and chest, but anything more than a few inches is likely to come out butchered and won't match the width of the biceps and forearms. The bicep area on a suit jacket should fit your arm comfortably. If there is too much fabric your jacket will not look firm and fitted next the lapel.
Next you want check the back of the jacket. Look at what type of vents are provided i.e. single vent, no vent, or a double vent. Double vents will make the seat of your jacket very loose and is usually recommended for a heavy set man. A single vent is appropriate for the average body type and will allow enough movement to sit down or fit your seat when your jacket is buttoned. It is rare to find a suit jacket without a vent and you should probably avoid this unless you are rail thin or a very lean man. You will also need to consider the amount of buttons that are on the front of the jacket. A larger size man will need 3 buttons where as a smaller size man will only need 2 buttons. Sometimes one button is acceptable for a man with a leaner torso.
Suit Pants - the most important details that contributes to great fitting pants is the inseam. If your inseam is too short you will know when your pants ride up your crotch or backside. If it's too long, your crotch and seat will be sagging which is never a good look. Check pants length and thigh measurement to make sure there is not a lot of excess fabric. When checking the pant length, make sure you have your shoes on. The waist is not such a big issue as it can be adjusted.
In every corporate office, there is that one guy who stands out because he dresses better than the rest. Every office has one -- he's the guy that looks polished from head to toe, with his designer shoes, stylish tailored suit, and perfectly centered, knotted tie. He might wear a slightly more expensive necktie or suit, but that's not why he looks better than everyone else's. It's because he knows how to put it on properly and takes the necessary time to adjust it and make it look perfect. - 30291
When you find a nice suit make sure the jacket fits you properly. It is difficult to make adjustments to an "off the rack" suit jacket if it doesn't fit your torso properly. Start with yoke on the suit jacket. The yoke measurement is the space from shoulder to shoulder. There is a seam where the arms are attached to the jacket. This should fall right on the ball of your shoulder bone in order to ensure a perfect fit. If the jacket yoke is too wide, the shoulder pads will stick out and create an oversized look. If the yoke measurement is too small, the jacket will not fit into the arm area properly causing an uncomfortable situation when you try to move your arms. A tailor cannot adjust the yoke measurement on a read made jacket, so make sure it is right before you commit to buy.
The next most important thing to look for in a great suit jacket is the overall width of the jacket. You want to be sure that the jacket is the appropriate length. If it too short, there is no way to add additional length. Make sure the back end comes just below the seat area. The front of the jacket should cover half of the inseam on your suit pants.
Also be sure that the arm length is correct. Sometimes if the arms are " too short, there may be some additional fabric on the sleeve seam that a tailor can "take out". Be sure to check first. The arm length should come to the very end of wrist bone plus an additional ". If the arm is too long, you shouldn't worry. It can be altered to the correct length. When checking the arm length on long sleeves, make sure that the buttons on the sleeve won't interfere with shortening the length. Most "off the rack" jackets have plastic buttons on the sleeve. In most cases a tailor can remove the first button in order to shorten the jacket arm to the right length. Just make sure to ask them to do so if needed.
The chest and waist of your suit jacket should not hug your body but allow you to move comfortably when the jacket is buttoned. Avoid too much fabric; you will look like a flying squirrel. If the chest and wait are too large the jacket will look frumpy and cheap. You are likely to look like you are playing dress up in a larger mans clothing. Make sure it fits well! A good tailor can adjust the waist and chest, but anything more than a few inches is likely to come out butchered and won't match the width of the biceps and forearms. The bicep area on a suit jacket should fit your arm comfortably. If there is too much fabric your jacket will not look firm and fitted next the lapel.
Next you want check the back of the jacket. Look at what type of vents are provided i.e. single vent, no vent, or a double vent. Double vents will make the seat of your jacket very loose and is usually recommended for a heavy set man. A single vent is appropriate for the average body type and will allow enough movement to sit down or fit your seat when your jacket is buttoned. It is rare to find a suit jacket without a vent and you should probably avoid this unless you are rail thin or a very lean man. You will also need to consider the amount of buttons that are on the front of the jacket. A larger size man will need 3 buttons where as a smaller size man will only need 2 buttons. Sometimes one button is acceptable for a man with a leaner torso.
Suit Pants - the most important details that contributes to great fitting pants is the inseam. If your inseam is too short you will know when your pants ride up your crotch or backside. If it's too long, your crotch and seat will be sagging which is never a good look. Check pants length and thigh measurement to make sure there is not a lot of excess fabric. When checking the pant length, make sure you have your shoes on. The waist is not such a big issue as it can be adjusted.
In every corporate office, there is that one guy who stands out because he dresses better than the rest. Every office has one -- he's the guy that looks polished from head to toe, with his designer shoes, stylish tailored suit, and perfectly centered, knotted tie. He might wear a slightly more expensive necktie or suit, but that's not why he looks better than everyone else's. It's because he knows how to put it on properly and takes the necessary time to adjust it and make it look perfect. - 30291
About the Author:
Erika Chloe is New York's premiere Fashion Consultant and CEO of MyImageExperta Fashion Consulting Company with locations in most U.S. cities.
