Is it better to get a suit too big or too small?

Asked by: Mr. Wyatt Ortiz I  |  Last update: September 19, 2023
Score: 4.8/5 (22 votes)

The rule of thumb is that you can go down two sizes at a maximum, but a suit jacket or blazer only one size too large is a safer option. The problem is always that jackets that are too large can also be too large in the shoulders, which is a more challenging thing to alter.

Should I size up or down for suits?

If your go-to jeans are a size 32 waist, you'd probably assume you wear the same size in suit pants, but that's rarely the case. Casual clothing, like denim and chinos, typically have a little more stretch in the waist. That means your suit pants, which have less give, will likely need to be a larger size.

Should a suit be tight or loose?

But, there's one more thing to do if you want the absolute best fit – slide your hand under the jacket. You should have just enough room for your hand to go in between your jacket and your shirt. If you have more room – like enough to make a fist under the jacket – the jacket is too loose.

Should a suit be baggy?

The chest of a suit or sport jacket should always follow the shape of the wearer's chest. A gaping coat chest is not a good look and neither is chest break. A chest break usually happens when the jacket is too small, and chest gape usually happens when it's too big.

How do I know if my suit chest is too big?

Chest Width Too Large: Excess fabric at the armpits

The Chest Width is too large if the jacket appears particularly full near the armpits. You'll see excess fabric folding where the chest meets the armholes in both the front and back of the jacket. Chest Width Too Large: Excess fabric at the sides of the chest.

10 ROOKIE Suit Mistakes Men Make (And How To Fix Them)

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Are tight suit pants OK?

If you can't pinch about an inch of fabric on each side of your upper leg, the pants are too tight. Any more than that and you'll want your tailor to taper the pants so they narrow towards the ankle. Where thighs and knees are concerned, much depends on comfort, though.

How are suits supposed to fit?

It's more important than most people think! A good suit or sports jacket should fall past the waist and drape over the top of the curve formed by the buttocks. An ideal fit will cover a man down to the point where his butt starts to curve back inward, and stop there (but anywhere in that general region is okay).

Should a suit be uncomfortable?

Comfortable Attire

Unfortunately, many men believe that suits are uncomfortable. This is simply untrue, but it is one of the main reasons why some men only wear suits for special occasions. Some men may have a suit in the wrong size, thus causing discomfort.

Should a suit be tight in armpits?

Ideally, you should have two to three fingers space between your armpit and the bottom of the armhole, anything more than this and the armhole is too big. If you've got the right amount of space don't forget to move your arm.

How many suits should a man own?

No matter how you like to dress or what you do for work, sometimes only a suit will do. But how many suits does a man need? For us, the magic number is three. Whether you're at a wedding, job interview or business event, these are the men's suits that will never let you down.

Should a suit be tight around stomach?

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 doesn't fit?

How to Tell if Your Suit Fits
  1. Shoulder Divots. ...
  2. Gap Between Lapel & Shirt Collar. ...
  3. Back Collar Roll. ...
  4. Button Forms an X Shape. ...
  5. Wrinkles on the Sleeves. ...
  6. Bagginess at the Hem of Your Pants. ...
  7. The Suit Jacket is too Long or too Short.

What is the best suit size?

Jacket Length
  • Short (S): This is best for men who are 5'7″ and under. The jacket length is shorter, and the sleeves are also a bit shorter.
  • Regular (R): This is best for men who are between 5'8″ and 5'11”. The jacket and sleeve lengths are average.
  • Long (L): This is best for men who are 6′ and taller.

What is the most common suit size?

The retail industry has standardized the drop to be 6 inches with the most common jacket/pant combinations being size 40/34 and 42/36.

Does a suit make you look attractive?

80% of the women surveyed found the man in the suit more attractive. Moreover, they found the man, on average, 6% more attractive in his suit than in his casual clothes. But the results didn't stop there. We analysed the data further to identify which women found the men in suits most attractive.

How can I look more attractive in a suit?

16 Tips for Wearing a Suit
  1. Find the Right Shoulder Fit First. ...
  2. Tailor Your Suit. ...
  3. Invest in a Quality Dress Shirt, Belt and Shoes. ...
  4. Opt for Wool or Wool Blends. ...
  5. Be Intentional About the Color of Your Suit. ...
  6. Save Your Suit With a Quality Undershirt. ...
  7. Choose the Right Tie for Your Suit. ...
  8. Perfect the Tie Dimple.

How many suits do you need to wear a suit every day?

If you wear a suit every day, the absolute minimum number of work suits that you should own is four, and that is with the assumption that each suit has two pairs of trousers as most people find that the trousers wear a little faster than the jackets and so by having two pairs of trousers on rotation you are able to ...

Are big suits in style?

Big suits and blazers are the hottest clothing at the moment. Inspired by the '80s and '90s, designers are brining in more of the boxy fit suits on the runways. These days, anything oversized works. Be it cardigans or jumpers, the concept of a bigger size than the usual is becoming popular in all types of clothing.

Where should suit pants hit?

The hem of your pants with a half break should sit ½” to ¾” past the point where your pants first meet your shoes, this will allow a slight horizontal fold to make contact with the front of your shoes.

Are tight pants still in style?

Fortunately for millennials the world over, the answer to the question "Are skinny jeans still in style?" is a resounding "yes!" — even if TikTok tells you otherwise. Granted, the best skinny jeans of 2023 have evolved since the late aughts. For one, the skinny jean silhouette has softened.

Can suit pants be made bigger?

Two things can be done to the waist of your pants: 1) it can be taken in (reduced) or 2) let out (made bigger). The most important thing to remember is that there's much more room to take the waist in than to let it out. If you look on the inside of your pants you can see how much extra fabric there is at the seam.

How tight should suit pants be?

The optimal fabric amount you should be able to pinch is between half an inch to a full inch. If the pants are too loose, you will be able to pinch more. If they are too tight, significantly less.