One of the most common mistakes men make when wearing a suit is choosing a jacket in the wrong size. A suit is a formal outfit consisting of a jacket and a pair of trousers. Even if the trousers fit your body, the jacket may not.
You can't expect to create an attractive formal outfit if your suit jacket is the wrong size. Maybe it's too small in the shoulders, or perhaps it's too long. Regardless, a poorly fitted suit jacket will take a toll on your entire outfit. To determine if your suit jacket is the wrong size, look for the seven following signs.
#1) Sleeves Extend Past the Wrists
If the sleeves extend past your wrists, your suit jacket may be too big. When checking the size, place your hands by your side. You can then inspect the length of your suit jacket while paying close attention to the sleeves.
The sleeves should stop right at your wrists. If they go past your wrists, meaning they cover some of your hands, your suit jacket is too big. If the sleeves fail to reach your wrists, conversely, your suit jacket is too small size. Regardless, you should check the sleeves to determine whether your suit jacket is the right size.
#2) Unable to Fasten the Buttons
All suit jackets have buttons. Some of them have a single button on the front, whereas other suit jackets have two or three buttons on the front. If you're unable to any of these buttons, you may want to choose a different suit jacket.
If your suit jacket is too small, you may not be able to fasten some or all of the buttons -- at least not without damaging your suit jacket. Fastening the buttons on a small, undersized suit jacket may cause them to rip. The buttons may rip off the suit jacket, in which case you'll have to reattach them. To avoid button-related problems such as this, you need to choose a suit jacket in the right size.
#3) Wrinkles in the Shoulder Area
Wrinkles in the shoulder area is a sign that your suit jacket is the wrong size. Different men have different-sized shoulders. Some men have broad shoulders, whereas others have smaller and narrower shoulders.
After putting on your suit jacket, check the shoulder area for wrinkles. If you notice deep wrinkles or creases in the shoulder area, it may be too big. Wrinkles in the shoulder area is a telltale sign of an oversized suit jacket. If your suit jacket is too big in the shoulders, it will manifest in the form of wrinkles in this area.
#4) Can't Fully Extend Your Arms
You should be able to fully extend your arms when wearing a suit jacket. If it's the wrong size, your suit jacket may prevent you from fully extending your arms. To check it, try to extend your arms horizontally directly in front of your body. You can then try to extend your arms vertically by your side.
If you can't fully extend your arms, your suit jacket is the wrong size. Your suit jacket is probably too small if you're unable to fully extend your arms. This is another sign of a poorly fitted suit jacket.
#5) Rolls in the Collar
Another telltale sign that your suit jacket is the wrong size is rolls in the collar. The collar is the uppermost part of a suit jacket that wraps around your neck. All suit jackets have a collar. When wearing your suit jacket, use a mirror to check the back of the collar for rolls.
Rolls in the collar, particularly the back of the collar, is a sign of an oversized suit jacket. The back of the collar should contour to the back of your neck. If the back of the collar is too big, it may develop rolls.
#6) Sagging Front
If the front of your suit jacket sags, you may want to replace it. The front of your suit jacket should rest neatly against your chest. It shouldn't bunch up, nor should it sag.
A sagging front is indicative of the wrong size. If your suit jacket is too big in the front, it may sag in the front. Oversized suit jackets are characterized by an excessively large size, meaning they have too much fabric in certain areas. If your suit jacket has too much fabric in the front, you may notice that the front sags when wearing it.
#7) Can't Wear Over a Dress Shirt
When checking to see if your suit jacket fits, test it with a dress shirt. After all, suits require the use of a dress shirt. You'll probably wear a dress shirt, as well as an undershirt, with your suit.
Your suit jacket may "look" okay if you wear it without a dress shirt, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right size. To determine if your suit jacket is the right size, you need to wear it with a dress shirt. Test your suit jacket by trying to wear it over a dress shirt. If you notice any of the problems listed above, your suit jacket is the wrong size.
Custom Sizing: The Secret to a Perfect Fit
How do you get the perfect fit with a suit jacket? Ordering a suit jacket in a generic size won't work. Suit jackets feature different areas, such as the sleeves, shoulder and collar. All of these areas must be sized to fit your body.
The secret to a perfect fit lies in custom sizing. Custom sizing doesn't consist of universal measurements. When you order a custom-sized suit jacket, you can specify your own custom body measurements. The custom-sized suit jacket will essentially be designed to fit your body. Therefore, you won't have to worry about it being too small or too big in certain areas. Your suit jacket will fit perfectly it with custom sizing.
