Man-Ic Mondays - The Perfect Suit

I fortunately do not have to wear a suit to work, nor does anyone else in my office.  However, at my previous corporate job, there was a pathetic attempt for people to wear suits and look pulled together.  Looking back, I wish I held a seminar to teach them a thing or two on how to look great in a perfectly tailored suit. I think everyone should educate themselves on how to look great in the workplace and GQ is where I like to go to get educated on Men's fashion.  

A few things I've learned about suits is it's all about fit, fabric and the finer details.

Image courtesy of GQ

1. The Jacket - Your suit should fit, not be baggy or loose and should show off your manly physique.  Shoulder seams should line up with your SHOULDERS. It should be fitted and almost keep you standing upright.  If you can pull your arms across you and you don't feel tension, go down a size.  Most men buy the wrong size jacket (funny because most women are wearing the wrong size bra, get a proper fit).

Side vented jackets are a personal favorite of mine.  They scream I'm a sophisticated man with serious style.

A few no fail tips - two buttons are perfect for office and to throw over a pair of jeans for a more business casual look.

Sleeves should be just short enough to show a peek of your button down.  Think of it as the framing of your suit.

2. The Pant - Flat front and a perfect hem will make any man look great.  Puddle your hem and you look sloppy and messy which is definitely not modern.  It will also help you look taller (don't you want to look taller and slimmer? hem your damn pants)

3. Fabric - Do not wear seersucker in December, I beg you.  I hate when people wear the wrong fabrics at the wrong time.  Your timing is everything when it comes to style. Summer time fabrics include cotton and linen, seersucker is great as well as a colored khaki will help spice up your monotone look.  Come winter, store your summer fabrics and whip out the corduroy, flannel and tweed.  This fabric will not only make you look the part, but you won't freeze your ass off while heading to the office or happy hour.

4. The Finer Details - Pull it all together with a pocket square and have fun with it.  Bring out a colored stripe in your shirt, add a fun print to mix it up.  It's small enough to not be distracting, but noticeable enough to make you look smart and stylish when done well. Cuff your pants for a classic tailored look and add a bit of your own style to your cuff links.  And most importantly TAILOR.  Find yourself a great tailor who you can trust. They can make any suit and any man look smart, stylish and modern.

For more info on how to find your best fit, check out this great article/slideshow (pictures are fun aren't they?) over at GQ.