Luxury menswear can be an intimidating world for first-time suit buyers or men looking to smarten up their wardrobes, buying the perfect fit can prove tricky without any prior-knowledge.
So, before you buy your first or next suit, be sure to read on as Aristocracy London founder Laz Tyrekidis, has highlighted the top mistakes made by men when it comes to suits and offers guidance on how to achieve a smart, stylish aesthetic.
1. Your fit is way off – too big or too small
An ill-fitting suit looks cheap, no matter how much you paid for it. A well-fitting suit should follow the natural curves of your frame, with no wrinkling or excess fabric, and allow for reasonable movement. Choose a style and fit that will flatter your body rather than one which will highlight problem areas or make you look bigger/shorter depending on your frame.
2. Your cuffs aren’t visible
This is another giveaway sign that separates the expert from the novice. When you are standing with your arms relaxed by your side, about ½ inch of your shirt’s cuffs should remain exposed. Many men think if their cuffs are on show their blazers are too short, this is a common misconception!
3. You’ve forgotten to unstitch
Most brands, including Aristocracy London, will stitch up pockets, vents and labels on to blazer sleeves. Another common mistake lots of men make is to not unstitch these once they take their suit home. Ensure everything is unstitched before wearing your suit.
4. You button every blazer button
The bottom button of your jacket and waistcoat should always be left undone and you should unbutton your jacket completely when you sit down. This will ensure your suit always flatters your shape and maintains a smart, sharp aesthetic.
5. You match your pocket square to your tie
Your pocket square and tie don’t need to match, either in colour or pattern. In fact, a true fashion connoisseur will match his pocket square to secondary colours from his outfit palette.
6. Your jacket shoulders don’t sit on your actual shoulders
The seam of your jacket’s shoulder should be at the end of your shoulder, exactly where it meets the arm. Any bulges or wrinkles in this area draw attention to the suit’s bad fit and make you look like you borrowed the jacket from someone with a different body type.
7. Baggy trousers
Despite the popularity of Madness’ iconic song, this trend should be left firmly in the 80s. When choosing your trousers, ensure the length isn’t too long. If your trouser leg is too long the excess material will pool around your lower leg and create a messy, wide silhouette not to mention an old-school 80’s power suit vibe – and no one wants that!
One final point. When trying on a new suit, make sure you stand upright, in a relaxed posture. You need to know the fit of your suit, for example; all Aristocracy London three-piece suits come with a tailored slim fit, which means they are snugger than a classic cut but not as tight as a slim one. Picking the correct fit for your body shape is crucial for achieving a polished, bespoke look.
Belgravia-based Aristocracy London is a luxury menswear brand creating limited edition three-piece suits with only 100 pieces produced against each design. To find out more, visit aristocracy.london.
All imagery used in this article credit: Aristocracy London
