If the suit fits: a Buyer's Guide

If the suit fits: a Buyer's Guide

Making the perfect impression in business and social situations has a lot to do with the way you dress. A good suit is a surefire way to gain more success and esteem. But it really does have to be a genuinely good suit.

The first thing you need to know about suits is that you should never ever buy off the rack. The only way to go is custom tailored. If you buy an off the rack suit, you will come across as somebody who lacks good perception of value, a miser (even if you paid a fortune for the suit), and amazingly enough it can even make you seem like a bit of a wimp. Rack suits are for followers, not leaders.

You can always tell when a suit has come off the rack. It has big shoulder pads and it's covered in creases and wrinkles. The worst examples of these suits have huge seams where the arms join onto the suit torso, looking like something Frankenstein's monster would wear. It's a cheap and undignified look, and one you should avoid shaming yourself with.

Never make the mistake of thinking that it doesn't matter, because it certainly does. People are always making judgments about others based on nothing more than how they look. It's really important that people are not making negative judgments about you.

When selecting the fabric for your suit, think about the climate where you will be wearing it. If you'll be outdoors a lot in a warm and sunny place like Los Angeles or San Diego, choose a light weight linen or cotton suit, in a light color to help reflect UV rays. Ultra-violet rays are just as bad for your suit as they are for your skin, because they penetrate into the fabric and weaken the fibers, shortening their lifespan.

In cooler climates, wool will generally be a better choice. Wool suits may be worsted, tweed, or other variations. Worsted wool is usually the best choice for a business suit because the fibers are combed before they are spun, which results in a superior finish. Tweed suits are softer and more comfortable, but also look a bit less refined.

The choice between single breasted and double breasted suits is largely a personal one. A double breasted suit is more formal, a little more aggressive, and an attention-getter. The single breasted suit is a little more conservative and calm. It's what you wear when you don't feel that you need to assert yourself strongly into the situation.

You should always put equal thought into your suit accessories compared to what you put into choosing the suit itself. A good suit is wasted if it is paired with low quality accessories.

You can learn more about suit styles and choices at Studio Suits. Their website has a lot of information for you to discover, and you can also browse through a huge range of suit styles and choices, making it easy to find the suit you need.