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Finding the Perfect Clothing Fit

The ladies might be all about what’s hot in Milan right now, but good fit never goes out of style in men’s fashion. Designs for guys don’t drastically vary between seasons, and the most radical have to do with fit as well. While there’s a popular belief that luxury is having a closet full of brands, the real fashion aficionado knows that it’s the fit that is golden.

It’s not just shirts, pants and suits that ought to fit, either. Nowadays, everything from the necktie you wear to the shoes on your feet have a particular fit that goes with a certain body type. There’s no doubt that we live in a very fit-conscious world.

Classic Fits, Classic Styles

We’re not going to deny it: getting clothes that fit will cost you a little extra -especially if you have an unusual body type. You no longer should settle for the off the rack one-size-fits all clothes that you will find at your discount retail stores, and a large part of your closet will have to be either altered or tailored. Either way, there’s additional cost involved. Since you’ll be investing in fit anyway, you may as well make sure that your classic pieces fit you well.

That’s part of the reason why you should definitely think about getting basic pieces like white shirts and a go-to sport jacket bespoke. Even if you end up spreading the cost of a tailored wardrobe over a couple of years or so, you still won’t get better style value from any other place. Items like a dark suit or a great pair of pants will never go out of fashion, and a great fit on your body only add to the timelessness of their appeal.

Always Get Measured

Even when you’re buying retail from a men’s shop, get your measurements taken when the opportunity presents itself. Not only does this keep your personal knowledge of your own measurements updated, but the sales staff also gets a better idea of what will fit you.

Never rely on size labels alone, as different brands really do size differently. What might be a small in one store could be a medium in another and even a large somewhere else. Take the side of caution and get your measurements before asking for an item your size. This is especially true for fit-critical items like shirts and trousers. Keep your list of sizes – from neckties to undershirts – up to date, with a retaking at least once every year. Even 40-year old men tend to change sizes every so often.

Believe the Mirror

The label on the garment might say the correct size and the salesperson could be telling you that you look good. Nevertheless, don’t commit to buying until you’re happy with what you see in the mirror. Even when the garment you’re wearing should, in theory, be perfect on your body, there are countless things that could make it look off.

While you’re considering your mirror, go take a look at yourself right now and give a no-holds-barred honest assessment. How is your body? Are you slim and svelte, or are you packing a few excess pounds here and there. Style isn’t as much about having the perfect body type for the clothes as having the right clothes for your body type.

Fashion will be so much easier to navigate when you have a good idea of how to dress for your body. Some of the movers and shakers in men’s fashion have less-than-ideal bodies, but you don’t notice it. They dress for the body they have – and you should, too.