Style Staples – How to buy the perfect suit
Gabe Alonso Every man needs one suit that one perfect suit that they beat to hell. The suit should be able to go from work to a wedding to a birthday party and any other event you can think of. Yes, one suit can (and should) do all that.
The perfect suit has a series of characteristics that make it versatile for any sort of situation. It’s the kind of thing you want to be able to spend some money on if you can swing it. If not, there are plenty of affordable options to meet everyone’s needs. From the guy who needs it once a week for client meetings, to do the guy wears it once every two months for that special occasion.
Now the characteristics I’m talking about aren’t mind-blowingly difficult to assess for yourself, they’re mostly visual cues that’ll aid you in shopping. I don’t expect everyone to know what a good wool feels like (I barely do). That type of thing will come over time as you buy more suits and know what to expect. So, here we go.
Natural Shoulder
A lot of suits have linebacker-like shoulder pads in them that make most guys look a tad ridiculous. Either that, or like we’re going to an audition for a gangster movie (especially if the suit is black). A natural shoulder is a far less padded, more sloped shoulder that more closely resembles your shape. That way it feels like you’re wearing the suit, not the other way around.
Notched Lapel
The lapel is crazy important. The size and style says a lot about you. A small, yet high notch right on the collarbone signals a bespoke look, even if your suit is straight off the rack from Macy’s.
Dark Navy, Wool Cloth
A dark navy is classic. It’s versatility is second to none – good enough for professional settings, but lighter than the super formal and stuff black suit. Buy it in a lightweight wool to be able to wear it repeatedly year-round without worry. Add texture to the suit, like a herringbone pattern, to subtly take the suit to the next level.
Fitted Waist (on the jacket)
You spent many weeks doing lat pulldowns and rows to get that perfect v-taper. Don’t throw it all way by forgetting to cinch the waist of your jacket (slightly). It’ll give your body a more tapered look and hug those lats quite nicely. Do work son!
Simplicity
Don’t go crazy in the details. The more understated the suit is, the more widely you’ll be able to use it. Stay away from extra pockets or ornate stitching. Not to say that you can’t get that extra ticket pocket, but don’t get it to be cool. get it because its functional. Having a detail and not knowing it’s use, is far worse than just not having it to begin with.
Trousers
Flat-front trousers seem to be the norm nowadays. You can certainly get them with a single pleat. It’ll help when you gain those 10lbs. over the winter. Cuffs are definitely an option if that’s your thing. They add weight to the bottom of the pant leg, thus helping the crease stay sharp. Cuffs should really be no more than 1.75″, though the truly bold could go to 2″ or more. But you better be tall. Otherwise, they’ll look goofy as hell.
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