You should be able to feel the suit jacket slightly ‘hugging’ your torso, but lightly is the keyword here. Fasten the middle or upper button to test out the fit. If you’re seeing the suit flare out near the top and bottom, it’s too tight.
In this post
Should a suit jacket feel tight?
With the top button fastened (never the bottom button), the jacket should lightly hug your midsection, but not feel tight or constricting. The jacket shouldn’t be pulling at the button, creating an ugly “X”. The X mean’s it’s too tight.
How do you know if a suit jacket is too tight?
The Shoulder Pads Hug Your Shoulders
The shoulder pads of a suit’s jacket should stop exactly where your shoulders do. If they go any further, the suit will look too big. If they stop before the end of your shoulders, the suit jacket will look and feel small.
How do you know if a suit is good quality?
A good suit has genuine horn buttons (usually buffalo horn). Also, the front buttons should be sewn with a thread shank (a stem of twisted thread) which provides space for the fabric to drape in between the button and the garment when fastened.
Should I be able to lift my arms in a suit?
Go to shake someone’s hand. If the suit raises up as you raise your arms, then your armholes are too low. The area around your armpit should snug but not too tight. There should also be enough room for you to wear a dress shirt without it constricting your arms.
Will a suit jacket stretch?
Soak the jacket in cold water for 15-20 minutes, or until it is completely saturated. Allow excess water to drain while the jacket is laying down, then lay flat on a towel or table. Gently pull at both sides of the body or sleeve to stretch it out.
How should a suit jacket fit arms?
Jacket Sleeve Length
“A half-inch of linen” is a good, old-fashioned guideline for the relationship between a suit jacket and the shirt worn under it — about half an inch of the shirt cuff should be visible beyond the jacket cuff. That said, it’s a general guideline, and you don’t need to get too obsessive.
Should sleeves show under suit?
Ideally, you should try to show about 1/4 inch of your shirt cuffs when standing and 1/2 inch when sitting. If you’re unable to achieve this amount of exposed cuff, you may need to upgrade to a larger dress shirt with longer sleeves. Alternatively, you can switch to a smaller suit jacket with shorter sleeves.
How long should a good suit last?
Generally, the suits I purchase can, in some cases, be ten years old or more. I may wear them over a period of five years or more without any evidence of wear or tear marring their appearance.
What causes shoulder divots in suits?
Shoulder divots are caused when the width of the bicep area is not proportionate to the size of the armhole. Those with larger biceps may have this problem more often, as suit manufacturers typically do not cut with athletic people in mind.
What’s considered a cheap suit?
Another great way to spot a cheap suit is by identifying if it’s a polyester lining or not. Quality suits have linings made out of sometimes viscose which is less expensive. A higher-end option would be silk, sometimes you also see cotton, but very cheap suits have polyester lining or blends with polyester.
What makes a suit look expensive?
Most expensive suits should be made from at least a pure wool. If you want quality, never choose polyester mixes. Ideally you’re looking for anything above a Super 100s wool. This means the fabric is smoother and has less thread count per meter, making it super soft and luxurious to touch and feel.
How do you spot a cheap suit?
First, here is 10 ways to spot a cheap suit.
- CHEAP PLASTIC BUTTONS. Do the buttons look cheap, flimsy and painted to match the color of the fabric?
- PLASTIC BUTTON ANCHORS. Classic cheap tailor move.
- PAPER-Y LINING.
- SYNTHETIC FIBERS (& SIZING S-XL)
- NO SEAM ALLOWANCE.
- LAPELS “UN-ROLLING”
- FUSING BUBBLES.
- LOW ARMHOLES.
Should jackets be a size larger?
Trying on Jackets in a Store. Opt for a jacket that’s 1 size larger than your shirt size. This is the general advice for buying a jacket so that it won’t be too tight. Having the jacket a little bigger than your normal size will also help to ensure that you can easily layer it over other items.
How is a jacket supposed to fit?
The back panel of the jacket should end just below the bottom of the seat, and the jacket should be perfectly parallel and level to the ground (not “hiked up” in the front or back).
How should a men’s suit fit?
The seam that connects the shoulders to the arms of the jacket is a reliable indicator for fit. Basically, the seam should be at the edge of your shoulder, right where it slopes down to your arm. The shoulders on a suit should be flat and smooth. You don’t want any rumpled fabric or creases.
Where should your hands be when wearing a suit?
July 4, 2016
- COAT- Always button your coat throughout the day until the reception.
- Keep it buttoned unless you sit down, then unbutton your coat.
- If your jacket is unbuttoned, your hands should gently tuck your jacket back before you put your hands in your pockets.
What causes collar roll?
It’s called a collar roll and it’s directly related to your shoulder slope (or lack thereof). If this is happening to you, you probably have square shoulders (the opposite of sloping) and are wearing jackets that are cut for sloped shoulders (the average off-the-rack jacket is cut for men with average slopes).
Is it easier to make a suit bigger or smaller?
A suit jacket is quite complex in construction and can’t simply be shrunken down multiple sizes, because the proportions will be altered and the elaborate structure (lining, canvas, padding, pockets, etc.) will have to be reconstructed to the point that it would be more cost-effective to buy a whole new jacket.
Can tailors make suit jackets bigger?
If your suit jacket is too tight for you, you can either go to a tailor to make it bigger or you can buy a new suit jacket that fits you well.
What do you do if your suit is too big?
The first (and most obvious) is to see a tailor. They can re-measure you and tighten up areas of the suit to better match your body. You can also buy a smaller belt if it’s still loose around the waist afterwards, but be warned, it can start to make your suit look sloppy if you have to tighten it too much.