Suit Buying: how to look good

When buying a suit there are a lot of choices to consider but the desired result is usually the same, "I want to look good in this suit." Unfortunately, there is no one size, or style that fits all, so let's break suit buying down by two basic body types.

If you are tall and don't want to appear taller avoid vertical stripes and stick to a three button jacket. Also try to choose a suit with pleated pants. The idea is to break up all the long vertical lines to create an illusion of width and substance. You may even want to get your pants hemmed with a cuff to create another visual break in the long lines of your legs.

Conversely, if you are wider than you'd like to be try a suit that has vertical stripes. Choose a two button jacket and avoid pleats and cuffs at all costs. Here the idea is the opposite, we are trying to extend all the vertical lines in your suit to give the illusion of height and reduce the width of your torso. Get your pants hemmed with a "full break" meaning that they fall all the way to your shoes with a slight wrinkle about 4-6 inches above the tops of your feet. It is important to get your suit fitted while wearing the style of shoe you will be wearing with the suit so that the break is appropriate for those shoes.

These two strategies cover the most basic suit choices, more details and other options including altering and ordering custom clothing will be showing up in later posts.