Buying a Man's Suit

A suit is an essential part of any man's wardrobe. It is often an overlooked item or one that is constantly put on the "need to purchase" list, but is never bought. This usually happens because buying a suit is an investment, and people are hesitant to buy a clothing item that is a bit costly when they aren't sure what to even look for when shopping or actually buying the suit.

A well-fitted suit can change a man's image, creating a look of a confident man and one who is in charge. While buying a suit may seem a bit overwhelming, knowing what to look for can make the shopping experience more pleasant for all those involved.

When looking for a man's suit there are several things that you will want to consider:

• Where and When. How often will you be wearing the suit? If it is for everyday office work you will want to think about what else is in your closet. Take a good inventory of your wardrobe before you go shopping to determine if you will need more shirts or ties that will complement the suit.
• Image. What kind of image are you going for? Does your job require a more conservative look or can you reflect more of your own style with your suit? If you can only afford one suit you will want to go for a more conservative style, then you can add more flair with different color shirts and ties as the occasion calls for.
• Fit. You want to have a suit that you feel comfortable in. With the jacket on, be sure to take the time to walk around in it and move your arms up and down. If it isn't comfortable or doesn't move with you, then keep looking. A couple of things that you will want to do when trying on the pants is to place your keys and wallet into the pockets, making sure there is plenty of room. Also, you'll want to try sitting down wearing the pants, especially with the keys and wallet in the pockets. One way to find the perfect size is to go to the better men's clothing stores and let a sales clerk help to determine your size. It is well worth the price that you will pay for the suit. If your build is on the larger size (L-XL or larger), then go with more defined fit; smaller frames (S-M) should choose a slim fit.
• Price. Determine how much you are willing to pay for a suit before you even start shopping. Suits can run as low as $100 and up to thousands of dollars. A good suit that will last can be found on sale. If you are on a budget look for a more classic style of suit. The trendy suits go out of style quickly.
• Color. A good classic suit that would fit most occasions would be of a neutral color. These colors are black, brown, blue, olive, and gray. The great thing about these colors for suits is that you have more options on what colors of shirts and ties that you want to coordinate with.