How to wear a suit 101

The key to looking sleek and pulled together in a suit is in the details. The most expensive suit will still look poorly made if worn incorrectly. Similarly, a cheap suit can still look admirable when fitted precisely. In order to reap the benefits of a suit, one should follow the four cardinal rules of wearing a suit.

Lesson 1: The fit.

It is important to keep in mind your fit when purchasing a suit. There are several different fits when it comes to suits: Classic fit, slim fit and modern fit.

A classic fit suit is identifiable through the liberal material cradling the body of the wearer, it’s a suit made for flexibility and comfort. The accompanying pants are regular fit and sits snugly on the waist. On the other hand, a slim fit suit does not utilize extra fabric subsequently fitting the body in a close cut. These suits are often associated with Italian or European cuts and are quite popular. The accompanying straight-legged pants fit the legs closely and sit below the waistline. The modern fit suit bridges the gap between the slim and classic fit. The suit is not as closely cut to the body as the slim fit but fits more precisely than the classic fit. The accompanying pants are also straight-legged but provide more material than a slim fit pant.

Regardless of which fit you pick, you must take notice of the way a suit fits on you. You should never look like you’re drowning in material even in a Classic Fit. Similarly, a slim fit suit should not look uncomfortably tight or pull your shoulders upwards. A good way to ensure a fit is right is to check that the material lays smoothly. Whether it is a classic, slim or modern fit, the material of a suit should never be crumbled or crinkled against your body.

Lesson 2: Trouser Length

While it may be easy to gloss over the length of your trousers, there’s nothing suave about trousers which sweep the floor as you walk. The perfect trousers should sit perfectly on your ankles, the material just touching the cusp of your shoes. You can test the length by sitting down; when sitting down your trousers should rise up a bit, displaying your ankles. Subsequently, it is important to wear socks which rise to your calves when you’re wearing a suit.

Lesson 3: Cuffs

Ideally, the cuffs of your shirt should always extend past your suit jacket by half an inch. While some variance to this rule is allowed to accommodate different length arms, the cuffs of a shirt should not be swallowed by the suit jacket nor should the expanse of material exceed past an inch.

Lesson 4: Buttons

Traditionally, when standing up your top button should remain done up while the last button undone. The last button is purely aesthetic and doesn’t need to be fastened. When sitting down, the top button should be unfastened to prevent creases. Fasten it quickly upon standing up.

When wearing a suit, it is important to ensure these rules are being followed in order to achieve a timeless, put together look which commands the attention of others. It is best to get a bespoke suit carefully crafted by our master tailors at Made Suits to ensure a perfect fit for you.