Buying a suit seems like it should be easy, right? Actually, there are a lot of factors that go into making the right choice. From color and style to the fit of the jacket, you’ve got a lot to consider. Start with these tips.

Color

• If you’re only buying one suit to serve as your wardrobe staple, opt with navy blue or charcoal gray. They’re very versatile in terms of occasion and mixing and matching shirts and ties. Black also works, but it can look harsh on 20-somethings or men with extremely fair skin tones if you don’t choose the right fabric.

Style

• Types of vents: The vent (i.e., the opening on the back of the jacket) is imperative to not only movement but also style. Ideally, choose a center vent, which is traditional. Side vents are more popular in Europe. Jackets without vents can look cheap and make it difficult to move freely.
• The number of buttons: Look for two- or three-button suits. One-button suits aren’t very conservative and you want something that can be versatile, depending on the function you attend.

Fit

• Jacket length: Hang your arms to your side. The longest your jacket should hang is to your knuckles. The shortest should be an inch or so beyond the cuff, depending on the style.
• Chest: You don’t need a huge gap between the jacket and your chest. With a shirt on, you should be able to fit your fist between the button and your chest while the jacket is buttoned. Any more and the suit is too big; any less and it’s too tight.
• Shoulder pads: Look for something that hugs your shoulders without being too tight or boxy. You should be able to move your arms above your head comfortably. One trick to tell if the shoulder pads is too big is to stand sideways against a wall. If the pad touches the wall before your arm, you need a smaller suit.
• Sleeve and pants length: This is where a good tailor comes in. Spend the money to get the exact fit for your body and it will make all the difference!

When in doubt, spend the money on a good suit because you could end up wearing it to a wedding, funeral, work and other events, not to mention mixing and matching the pieces with jeans, and more casual shirts.

lisam