Want to look better in suits, no matter the occasion? Get to find out the different suit fit or suit cut types in modern menswear, and get to know the best suit cut/ styles for your body style, and tips to get a proper fit from any type of suit. Read on.
Do you know that a ‘proper suit fit’ is a thing? Have you ever seen a man look so good in a suit that you wonder if it was made just for his body? That’s what buying a suit that’s your proper fit does. Do you also know that there are different styles and types of suits, and not all of them will look good on everyone? There’s a suit style for every man’s taste, personality and body type, and some suit types are best for certain types of occasion. Keep reading to find out the suit types available in the market and ‘your type’.
Aside from suit-fit, another thing is size. A lot of men do not know their suit size. You should not go shopping for a suit until you know your size. Period! If not, you are likely to buy a suit that will not hang well on your body. But then there’s something you can do to a ready-made suit to make it look like it was made just for you. Read on.
3 Types of Suit-Fit or Suit-Cuts for Men (Buying Guide)
Here’s a guide to help you when shopping for the perfect style of suit cut for the occasion or for your personality:
1. Standard or Classic Fit Men’s Suit
This is the regular-fit suit styles that are common in the office places. The classic-fit suit is designed or cut to have more allowance (not tight-fitting) but is properly-fit, meaning that the suit does not look oversized. This is the regular suit-fit style that most men wear. It’s also known as the ‘Traditional Cut’.
2. Slim-fit Men’s Suit (sometimes called ‘Modern Fit’ Suit)
This is a fitted suit and by the way it is cut, slim-fit suits do not have an extra allowance of materials/ fabric. When you wear a slim-fit suit, the jacket and trousers will hug tightly close to your chest and waist. The slim-fit suit is tight but not too tight to the extent that you cannot breathe.
3. Skinny-fit Men’s Suit
A Skinny-Fit suit is similar to a slim-fit suit, but it is tighter than the slim-fit suit cut. Skinny-fit suits are cut or sewn to be body-hugging suit and you can notice the cut from the tight legs of the suit trousers and the tight arms of the jackets.
Which Suit Cut/ Type for Different Men’s Body Types?
The type of suit fit style you choose depends on your preference. Generally, younger men prefer slim-fit suits and skinny suits, which looks sleek and like a smart casual. The standard-cut or standard fit suits are suitable for all occasions and formality. However, below is a general guide for suit cut types and the best body shapes they flatter:
Slim/ Slender Men: The slim fit cut generally looks look good on men with slender body frames, but be sure that the suit is not too tight that you cannot move freely.
Larger Men: A standard/ classic cut suit looks best on men with large body frames. Avoid anything too loose as this will make you appear bigger than you are. Proper-fit is all about not having your suit fabric looking rumpled or sticking out in different directions, but it’s about the right proportion of fabric.
Short Men: Shorter men should avoid loose fitting suits – the rule is: never look baggy. Go for a slim-fit cut, but ensure that your sleeves end at your wrist and your trousers reaches your ankles.
So, who should NOT wear a slim-fit suit?
Younger men prefer the slim-cut suit because it gives a modern finish, does not look very formal and is body-hugging. However, not all young men can pull off a slim-fit suit, and some older men look good in them. So, who should not wear slim-cut suits?
- Men with big belly should avoid slim-cut suits, as it will draw attention to their stomach. A standard-fit or classic suit will look better on men with visibly big stomachs, but be sure to get it in a proper fit (I covered how to get your suit fit properly down in this post).
- Very tall men should also avoid slim-fit suits, as the it will draw attention to your height. A classic-fit or standard fit suit with the correct jacket length will give you a clean and put-together look.
- Men that are short and muscular at the same time
Who should wear a slim-fit suit?
A slim suit looks best on men with any of these body types: small to medium body type; have flat stomach; short men; tall and slender men.
Generally, bigger-frame men find it difficult to pull off a slim-cut suit, BUT the choice of jacket can change that. If you’re a big-frame man, a slim-fit suit will look good on you if you opt for a a double-breasted jacket (instead of the regular, two-button jacket). I bet you know why? The double rows of buttons will make a bigger-frame man appear slimmer and narrow.
While the above guide helps to easily choose a suitable suit cut, generally, your taste, personality (and not your size) should determine the type of suit cut you buy. As long as you ensure to get a proper-fit suit (even if that means having a tailor do some adjustments), you should be able to pull off any style of suit.
How to Get a Proper-Fit Suit
A well-fitted or proper-fit suit gives off a classy and put-together image. Proper fit is all about proportion – no frumpiness, no rumpling in the fabric and you should be able to move freely. Here are tips to help you get a proper fit with your suits.
a. Know Your Size
Only a suit in your right-size and proper fit will make you stand out. So, before going for suit shopping, first know (1) your suit size and (2) the fit of suit you are going for.
In the previous section, I covered the types of suit-fits (aka suit cuts or styles). Let’s assume that you have decided on the suit-fit type to buy, the next thing you need to know is your suit size. Make sure to buy your suit in the correct size.
b. Getting a Proper Fit with Ready-Made Suit
If you plan to buy a ready-made wedding suit, chances are that it may not be a perfect fit – because it was not made with your measurements in mind. You may find the jacket hand hanging out or the trouser waist loose. A ready-made suit may require a small amendment (by a good tailor) to make it a perfect fit for your body.
Therefore, budget in advance for amendments. Be sure to find a good tailor that will help you adjust the suit trouser or jacket to better fit your body on every side.
c. Getting a Proper Fit with a Cut-and-Sew Suit
If a cut-and-sew (made-to-measure) wedding suit is your preference, that’s totally okay because there are many pretty good menswear tailors in Nigeria. Just be sure to find a good tailor that you are sure will sew a well-fil suit for your body, and that also won’t disappoint on the style or delivery date.
After getting your tailor-made suit, you’ll still need to have the final fitting and adjustment by your tailor to make it fit you properly.
- SEE ALSO: Tuxedo vs Suits: The Difference
Conclusion
In the above sections, I covered how choosing a suitable suit-fit and knowing yours size are essential to having a suit that looks good on you. I also added that you may (or may not) need to amend it a a little to get a proper fit.
When shopping for your suit, you’ll find that some modern suits are cut to be tighter on the body and some are designed to have more allowance. You can find two similar suits that have the same size but on a closer look, you discover that they have different cuts or suit-fit. That’s what suit-fit is about.
Generally, you’ll find men’s suits styled in 3 main fit types: standard-fit suits, slim-fit suits, and skinny-fit suits. The suit-fit you choose to buy will depend on your personality, style or the occasion you want to wear it to.
It doesn’t matter whether you choose a ready-made suit or cut-and-sew suit, what matters is that you get the right fit with your suits, whether it’s a wedding suit or office suit. Designer men’s suits are nice to have but if you can’t afford them, you’ll still look as elegant if you buy one with a proper fit.
The perfect suit is all about the right fit for your body type. With suits, the right fit means the suit should not be sloppy or too big or too small, just be sure that it’s a perfectly-fit and clean-cut suit you’re comfortable in. When trying on suits at the shops, a suit that properly fits you will look better, taller, slimmer and muscular.
There you have it on how to find the proper-fit suit for any occasion. So, tell me – which of the 3 suit-fit types is the your personal style? Let me know in the comment section down below.
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