How To Choose A Suit: 7 Critical Factors To Understand

There is nothing quite like well fitted suit to boost a man's self confidence. The right cut and colour can make any man feel like James Bond when walking into a room. In this post, we cover the critical aspects you should consider when choosing a suit, including: 

• Your budget - where to save and where to splurge 
• Off the peg, made to measure or bespoke
• Fabric
• Colour
• Cut
• Finer details
  
  

What Determines a Suit's Cost?

What are the key elements that make up the costs of the suit? Firstly, you take the fabric which forms the foundation of the suit, which can vary from cheap synthetics to quality wool and silk blends.

More on fabrics below, but effectively cheap synthetic fabrics don't breathe so can quickly become stifling. Quality wool suits, or lighter fabrics such a linen, do breathe and therefore regulate the body temperature better. 

Next is the means of construction. A cheap suit will likely be laser cut in bulk and then machine sewn. As you move up the pricing scale you have higher quality fabrics that can either been machine made off-the-peg through to fully hand-stitched garment. 

Another key element is the interlining and how it is attached to the suit fabric. The reason that suits have interlinings is that fabric is 2 dimensional whereas a suit is 3 dimensional, so the interlining gives the suit structure and strength, so it not only fits you better, but provides a more flattering profile.

There are 3 main types of interlinings, fused (also called glued), half canvas and full canvas. 

Fused Canvas
This is where the canvas is fused directly to the suit fabric. This is the cheapest way to mass produce suits. The problem with this method is that there is no flexibility in the suit, and after a period of time the jacket can start to blister. This is where the fusing breaks down and the interlining starts to move which causes visible blisters in the jacket at which point you'll probably have to throw it away. Everyone is different but this is generally within 2 to 3 years of regular wear.

Half Canvas
Combining the benefits of a fused and full canvas jacket, a half canvas jacket is where the upper part of the interlining is hand sewn so has flexibility and good shape, with the final part of the jacket being fused. This results in a jacket that has a better fit and structure around key areas such as the chest and shoulder, while also keeping costs down as the maker doesn't have to sew the full canvas in, which takes a lot more time.

Full Canvas
This is where the jacket has a full canvas interlining that is sewn into the jacket. This means the canvas moves with your body so after a period of time your jacket will actually start to fit you even better than when first worn. It also won't bunch under the fabric and allows the jacket to breathe. Obviously to hand sew the canvas it takes time which is why full canvas jackets are much more expensive than fused or half canvas.

Canvas images source: Black Lapel

One thing to keep in mind is that it's often worth setting aside some of the budget for an additional pair of trousers since these will wear out more quickly than the jacket. If you do decide to do this, it's also important to wear the trousers alternately so that they wear in line with the jacket.

Off-the-peg or Bespoke?

The obvious difference between an off-the-peg jacket and bespoke or made-to-measure jacket is that the off-the-peg jacket is designed to fit a general body shape, so the armholes will be lower and it will be less shaped.

For a made-to-measure suit, tailors will use classic patterns, known as blocks, and alter them to fit your measurements. When it comes to a bespoke item, these blocks will be created specifically for you. This means that the most important factors such as the shoulder, neck and chest should contour to your body. You can see our video series from a Savile Row tailor here: Tailoring Series

Made-to-measure is a clear step up from off-the-peg, but as with full and half canvas the time it takes to create a bespoke suit is where the extra cost comes in. A made-to-measure suit can be a very good stepping stone to bespoke. With a good tailor, it should still fit you well.    

With bespoke the possibilities really are endless. If you decide to seek out a well-known tailor such as those on Savile Row in London, you will benefit from quite literally decades of experience in individual pattern cutters and tailors.

Many of the tailors on Savile Row have a specific style that they are well known for, such as more or less structured, however a bespoke suit is exactly that, created for your needs. What you really pay for on Savile Row is the guidance one receives not just in terms of fit and fabric, but also style, trends, maintenance and capturing your personality.

Whether you go for made-to-measure or bespoke, an experienced tailor will create or alter a piece that enhances your physique and redefines the way you stand, walk and look and is therefore worth the extra investment.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TAILORED AND A TIGHT JACKET 

Buying a jacket online that fits beautifully is actually a surprisingly simple process if you take a few comparison measurements off one of your own jackets.

The main point of measure to ensure your jacket is not too tight is the shoulders, it’s really crucial to get a well fitting shoulder. Ensure you look at size charts when purchasing online to understand your key measurements. 

In our video details series, we explore the main differences between a tailored jacket vs a tight one, including the four key signs to watch out for that your jacket is fitting too tight.

COMPONENTS OF A LUXURY NAVY JACKET

Fabric

You should always aim for a quality fabric when selecting a suit. Many fashion lines boast extravagant designs for tempting prices, but always at the cost of the fabric. Textile companies such as Scabal of Savile Row provide premium fabrics to tailors all over the world.

Synthetics, of course, have their place in making a suit at a reasonable price. Cheap synthetics tend to be lightweight, hot and unsatisfying, while good natural fibres fit to your shape with softness. Natural fibres are also hardier than synthetics which can tend to blister after a certain amount of time.

It goes without saying you should avoid a shiny suit at all costs. The overall investment in fibres tends to be in the source and processing, with natural fibres having to be grown and undergo extensive treatment.

With this distinction covered, the basic rule is that you should choose a suit for its cut rather than the fabric it is made from, as a good fit in the plainest fabric will still look outstanding while an ill-fitting suit in good fabric will not do yourself or the fabric any favours.

A good suit is like a second skin rather than an embellishment. For your everyday suit, it is fair to assume that you will be facing inclement weather as well as hot offices and transport, therefore medium-weight wool is advisable.

In terms of seasonal fabrics, wool obviously forms most ‘winter’ fabrics like tweed, but is just as capable of being spun and woven for a lightweight summer jacket. Linen and cotton are the most lightweight summer fabrics. For extreme luxury, find a fabric made of a blend of silk, wool and linen.

Colour

The simple rules around colours are as follows:

Save the black suit for black tie events. Although you're not really breaking any style rules wearing a black suit in a business or semi-formal environment, it's more a case of bending style conventions. 

For semi-formal or business attire the classic colours are a navy suit or charcoal suit. Navy is an elegant colour and works with most accessory colours, while charcoal is almost a blank canvas allowing you to choose either a monochrome look or contrasting with whites.

For the summer months, you can go for a lighter weight wool, usually 250g or less, or a linen or linen blend. Creams or light greys always work brilliantly well in the summer sun. 

The pink suit that raised eyebrows in The Great Gatsby would still be eye-catching and more acceptable today, but should be saved for coastal holidays, in this piece we're focusing on the all-rounder everyday suit. 

Cut

For the simple but effective touchstones of an elegant cut, one need look no further than our video series of collaborations with Cad & the Dandy of Savile Row which can be seen here: Tailoring Video Series.

To consolidate, the sleeve length of a jacket should end around the width of a finger above the end of the shirt cuff that sits comfortably where a bend of the hand will just touch it. Outside the tailor’s studio bear in mind personal preference always applies here and so one need be too fastidious.

The length of the jacket should cover the seat, the armholes should be cut high, and there should be no collar gap on the back of the jacket.

In terms of the shape, every Savile Row tailor has a house style. Bespoke or off-the-peg, the style is largely broken down into various binaries. Would you rather a traditional, 1930s-style fitted three piece or a lighter, modern Italian style? Do you want to look like a powerful businessman or a genteel aristocrat? Do you want a quintessential ‘English’ style or a more international style? These may all seem superficial considerations, but the end result of each can be vastly different.

Suit Details

Considering the wide variety of embellishment details, lapels often form the most commonly debated topic. Notch lapels are more conservative and understated while peak-lapels evoke classic early 20th century tailoring and have a distinct Savile Row quality.

Peak lapels also have the effect of broadening the chest. With regard to width, it is generally best to match your figure for a consistent proportion and the tie should correspond to this.

In terms of vents, double vents are generally seen as more European than traditional English single vent, however, they do allow one to reach your hands into your pockets without disrupting the line of the suit.

This practicality extends to reaching for keys and travel cards, the latter of which could benefit from the below. Ticket pocket: The ticket pocket is a thoroughly modern metropolitan invention. Aesthetically the addition adorns the waist and emphasises the shape of the jacket whilst offsetting perfect symmetry.

Buttons: There is a general agreement that three buttons is too many. Two is the classic selection that makes a pleasing silhouette. One is a very prominent trend at the moment and is very elegant, but will likely follow through into a distinct past fad. Double breasted has a robust early 20th-century style, best with four buttons and the bottom left-side button undone.

Curved or straight edge: The bottom line of the jacket varies in infinite degrees between a sharp right angle and a curvature resembling a riding jacket. Double-breasted suits should always have a right-angle.

Pocket slant: Slanted pockets have the effect of narrowing the frame, which on a narrower figure can look very sharp. This also draws more attention to the vibrant touch of a Rampley & Co silk pocket square.

The Waistcoat

The resurgence of the waistcoat has been a blessing to menswear. This is no longer a statement, but bordering on an essential. Be sure to buy your waistcoat with the rest of your suit rather than buying two pieces and hoping to find a matching one. The fit of this is just as important as the rest of your suit.

The length should ensure the waistband of the trousers is covered, and, following tradition, the bottom button left undone. Lapels are an excellent touch while the choice of the number of pockets and flaps are all down to individual taste.

One word of warning would be to avoid the temptation of a luxurious double-breasted waistcoat when your jacket is also double breasted, as this could look rather too wrapped up. You can, of course, wear a contrasting waistcoat, such as red with a grey suit, but why sacrifice the superior elegance of a matching three-piece set?

Conclusion

All that remains to be stated is that a man’s suit is all about the man. While these ‘rules’ form a structure of the basics to understand, the end result and how you feel about your suit should come from within. Spend hours in fitting rooms, seek advice and keep looking. Make sure that what you come away with looks and feels like you.

What Makes Our Jackets So Special?

Choosing a tailored jacket is hard, especially if you are buying online, however we are confident we can help find you the perfect suit jacket that will be contemporary but ever-lasting. As well as being constructed from fabric supplied by the world-renowned Scabal of Savile Row, what makes our jackets genuinely exceptional is the ability to select your choice of the lining (included in the total price). Your lining is not about being extravagant but ensuring you have something personal to you that lasts a lifetime. We have a large selection of jacket linings and offer a bespoke service should you want an authentic one-of-a-kind jacket.

Fit is also incredibly important to us, and so our tailored jackets are designed to look good across all body shapes, ensuring you always look and feel your best. We offer two fits, slim and regular, as well as allowing you to choose the perfect length to suit your torso and arms. We recommend you look at our comprehensive size guide, which gives a complete overview of the sizing should you wish to check against another jacket here: Jacket Size Guide.

Once you have purchased your jacket, one of our team will follow up with you instantly to double-check the details and answer any further questions. Your satisfaction is absolutely guaranteed, so you can be sure that you will be delivered a jacket that exceeds your expectations. 

SHOP OUR TAILORED JACKETS COLLECTION

Click here to view our full range of Men’s Tailored Jacket.