Tuesday Q & A: Suits

Today I'm going to concentrate on a question asked by Matt Shields.

Matt asks: "What should a guy look for in a suit that will be "in style" for years to come??? Are there any new changes we should look for?"

Jennifer responds: This is a great question, Matt, as a good suit is an investment that will last you years if properly cared for.

To begin with, let's look at the first part of your question. Even before talking about the style of the suit, let's talk about fabric. In my opinion, the best fabric to choose would be a wool gabardine. Gabardine has excellent drape, and can be worn year-round. Look for a thread count (Super) in the low hundreds. Higher numbers are not as durable, and you will end up needing to replace your suits more often. Lower numbers just won't have the same feel that you would expect in a quality suit.

Next, let's talk about fit. If you are serious about your suits, I can't urge you strongly enough to get yourself properly measured. Don't guess your measurements, and don't go off of last year's measurements, either. Your body will change shape, however slightly, over time. Make sure you are buying a suit that will fit you TODAY. (And find yourself an awesome tailor, as well. They are hard to find, but oh-so worth it.)

Three other things to make sure of in order to avoid a fit faux pas: the hem of your trousers should reach your shoes and break once; your jacket sleeve should reach the first knuckle of your thumb, exposing a half-inch of your shirt cuff; and the shoulders of your jacket should align with your natural shoulder line. These three fit points are very obvious when they are "off", so pay extra attention to them.

Now, for style. The oversized suit has had its day, and the current trend is an overall slimmer silhouette. Look for narrow lapels, slim pants, and shoulders cut with very little padding. I've heard that gray is in as a neutral, and that there will be some more daring bright colors showing up, as well. But if we are talking style for the long-term, I'd say avoid the brights unless they completely fit your brand image. Color is one element that can easily look dated.

I hope you found this helpful, Matt...and all you fellas following my blog. See you back here again next time...same blog time...same blog channel....

(For more information on wardrobe planning, please stop by my website.)