A great suit is unlike anything else in your closet—timeless and elegant, certainly, but also difficult to get right. The process of choosing, buying and caring for fine tailoring is often fraught with tough decisions, confusing jargon and conflicting opinions. That’s why we’ve assembled an all-star roster of the world’s most knowledgeable menswear experts to definitively answer all of your sartorial questions. Welcome to GQ’s Ask a Tailor.
The biggest difference between a great-looking suit and a just-okay one all comes down to fit—and getting the right fit requires time, research, and ideally a few in-depth conversations about budget, style, fit and finishing. That means—unlike buying a five-pack of white tees—there’s really no substitute for going to a store and getting fitted in-person, especially if you’re getting something custom-made as opposed to buying off the rack. If you’re set on buying your next suit online, however, we asked a couple of guys with extensive knowledge of both tailoring and e-commerce for some expert advice on how to nail it.
Do your research
The more you know about suits, different “house styles” and which ones you like, the more likely you’ll be to find a suit you love. “The best approach is to search online, using platforms like Pinterest or Instagram,” says Todd Snyder, whose eponymous menswear label has been helping men look great in suits (both in-store and online) since 2011. “Find inspiration and have a clear reference for what you want to achieve, whether it’s for a summer wedding, a beach wedding, or a job interview. It’s similar to getting a haircut from a new barber—having an idea in mind before exploring someone’s website ensures better results.”
Get accurate measurements
“The key when shopping online for a suit—or any garment—is to know your measurements,” says NYC-based men’s stylist Turner Allen. “Having precise measurements allows you to match your size with the brand’s sizing chart accurately.” Since every brand cuts their suits slightly differently, having a firm grasp on measurements (both yours and theirs) will pay dividends. Pay particular attention to the chest and shoulders of the jacket and the rise of the pants (the distance between the fork of the legs and the waist) as those are the hardest things to fix.
Go beyond the fit guide
As shopping for suits online has become more popular, brands and retailers have started to provide increasingly sophisticated resources to help you get the right fit. “We offer a lot of measurements and size charts online for people to check out, and we’ll also do fittings over FaceTime, Zoom and Teams,” says Atlanta-based clothier and 40-year retail veteran Sid Mashburn. “We’ll have one of our sales guys and a master tailor on the call and they’ll walk you through how you measure yourself, and how to choose what suit is best for you.”
Read the full article here
