Jul 16, 2019

How To Tailor A Men's Suit

For many men, wearing a suit is synonymous with special occasions like weddings or functions. As such, your experience with a tailor tends to be limited, possibly only having been fitted once. But, if you want a properly-fitted suit that will last for years to come, what should your approach be? How can you tell if your tailor is getting the fit right? Here are a few tips on exactly how to tailor a men’s suit.

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Know How a Tailored Suit Should Fit

The best way to ensure you get a properly-tailored suit is to roughly know how a tailored suit should fit when it’s finished. Not only will this give you an idea of a tailor’s quality, but it will help you talk out the fit with the tailor. Here are a few essentials you should know:

What A Properly-Fitted Suit Looks Like

The shoulder of the suit should lie flat. If fabric “bunches” over the top, it’s too big. If the fabric is strained on the upper portions of the chest, it may be too small.
The jacket closure should button easily while standing, without straining. A jacket that’s too small will have noticeable tension on the button, while a jacket that’s too large will spread out across the torso even while buttoned. You’ll want a jacket that fits snugly around the torso while buttoned without a strain. (Tip: make sure to only button the top button to test the fit adequately).
Sleeves should show some of your shirt cuffs, stopping at your wrist when you’re standing with your arms at rest at your side.

Walk Around In The Suit

Walking around a bit will help you get a sense of how the fabric feels, particularly in the fit of the pants. There are a few good signs to look for as you try on a new pair of pants:

Pant legs. To get the right fit, ensure the pant legs strike just the top of your foot. You don’t want to be showing ankle or have your pants covering up your shoes.
Pant seat. You want the pant seat to feel natural and comfortable, but not too baggy.

Tips For Getting Fitted At A Tailor

Once you have a visual and physical sense of how a suit should fit, there are a few ways you can make sure your tailor helps you. Remember that tailoring a suite should be an interactive experience, meaning your feedback and participation is vital to the process. Here are a few tips:

Prepare for the tailor by wearing a dress shirt. Wearing a dress shirt while you get fitted for a jacket means that you’ll have the precise fit when you wear the entire suit. This is a great way to preview how a suit will feel, which is why it’s a good idea to come into the tailor as though you plan on wearing the suit right away—even if you don’t.
Ask the tailor to check some of your problem areas. If you always seem to have problems in areas such as the jacket collar, for example, ask your tailor to have a look. You can sometimes judge a suit solely by how it feels, but it doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.
Ask for a second fitting. The first fitting with a suit is usually a comparison and measurement—but not anything close to the final suit. When the final suit does arrive, try it on and see if any adjustments need to be made. It helps to do it right at the tailor’s, so you can provide immediate feedback.

Shop Berle Tailored Trousers

A properly-tailored suit can do wonders for your look, especially when you’re trying to dress to impress for those special occasions. If you want a head start on improving your look, shop the Berle Tailored Trousers Collection. When ordering online with us, you can enter your sizing information to get the measurements correct the very first time. Enhance your style with Berle!

Shop Tailored Trousers