HOW TO BUY A SUIT!

Sales guys will try and sell you just about anything. Become informed, and you don't have to worry about that.

1) Figure out why you're buying it. Is it for a special occassion? Is it for job interviews? ( in which case you don't want to spend too much) Or do you want it to be versatile? (use the jacket with jeans, etc.)

2) Start at a department store & take a blunt friend with you. Ask for a salesman when you're good and ready (after you've tried on the suit and walked around a bit)

3) Know your size! No, it's not that simple. Everyone has different preferences on how they want their suit to fit. Read on and I'll explain.

4) Shoulder pads should HUG your shoulders & they should NOT protrude beyond yours.

5) You should be able to button the suit comfortably. Conversely, there shouldn't be more than a fist's worth of space between the button and your chest.

6) With your arms hanging straight down, you should be able to cup your fingers under your suit jacket. Shorter styles (which are huge right now) are okay too. It's never okay to have a super long jacket (which can make you look frumpy).

7) Decide how many buttons you want (the two button suit is the most in style right now & has been for years). Not everyone can pull it off, but if you can, go for the ONE BUTTON. It's super trendy and sleek.

8) Know the vent in the back of your suit jacket!
    1) Center vent: Classic and modern. Can't go wrong.
    2) Side vent: More European-- a little edgier
    3) No vent: Just plain wrong! It's not the 80's.

9) ASK for a shirt and tie to try on if you're not wearing them already.

10) Consider the pants. They shouldn't be too high or too low for your taste.

11) If your pants are an inch or so too tight or too large on your waist, the tailor can usually fix them. Any more than that measurement and you're asking for trouble (tailors can't work miracles)

12) The tailor can fix the sleeves and a QUARTER INCH of your cuff should show. Sometimes the jacket also needs contouring to compliment the torso. Don't be afraid to ask for these things. Sometimes there's a roll in the back of the suit jacket (on your upper back near the neck). Ask the tailor to correct this as well.

13) Now the pant break. FULL BREAK, HALF BREAK OR NO BREAK? It's a matter of taste. I prefer no break but you must do a slimmer pant for this. I hate full break. You can do a half break if you're not too comfortable with no break.