Gentlemen, whether you’re new on campus, looking to graduate or somewhere in between, looking sharp is a must. Of course, looking good doesn’t just happen magically — there’s a formula that can be adjusted to fit any man’s style to keep him looking sharp as a tack.
It’s simple. A man’s dress clothes should fit well, and the patterns and colors should work together.
The first part is the one we gentlemen should be most concerned about because the fit of a man’s clothes is everything. Just because something is expensive or well-made does not mean it will look good on everyone.
A man can look like a million bucks in a $200 suit, or he can look like he’s wearing a trash bag for which he paid upward of $5,000. It’s all in the fit, and there are rules to making dress wear work.
First and foremost, a dress shirt and slacks can be a great outfit, but it will take more effort than a quick trip to Macy’s to upgrade your style.
High-end dress shirts have specific measurements that range far beyond extra small to extra large. Throwing down the scratch for a Ralph Lauren button-down isn’t necessary, but it is an option that will require you to get measured by a tailor beforehand.
An easier, much cheaper route is to opt for a shirt that follows the basic S, M, L, XL sizing system most young men are accustomed to and take it to the tailor afterward, which will save money and yield almost identical results.
A tailor can make adjustments, not do magic tricks with your clothing, so finding clothes that fit as well as possible off the rack is imperative.
For shirts, the main things to focus on are the collar and the sleeves. When trying on a shirt, the sleeves should not be billowy in any way. They should end about a half-inch short of your hand and fit snugly into your armpit.
In the dressing room, put your index finger between your collar and your neck. If this is difficult, or causes you to choke at all, the shirt is too small. If you can pull the collar more than a centimeter away from your neck, it’s too large.
As for slacks, the waistline shouldn’t cut into your side, but a belt shouldn’t be entirely necessary to keep them on. The legs should have a slight break at the top of your shoes. The break should not be a wrinkle by any means, but the leg shouldn’t hover above your shoe when you’re standing (Note: this means you should bring your dress shoes with you to try on slacks).
In any case, buying clothing that’s a little bit too big is more manageable than buying clothing that’s a little bit too small. The tailor will have a much easier time taking your clothing in than letting it out.
Once the clothing is purchased, a trip to the tailor is almost always necessary, and knowing what to tell him or her will save your investment from being a waste of time and money. The key is walking away with clothing that hugs your body but isn’t skin-tight. Even a man with a slight weight issue will benefit from clothing that conforms to his body. Baggy clothing doesn’t hide anything — it adds visual weight.
Make sure to speak up and tell the tailor to focus on the sleeves, the shoulders and the collar and chest of shirts and jackets, and the waist, length and crotch of slacks. This can go for just about any clothing that doesn’t fit perfectly — not just dress shirts and slacks. Don’t be afraid to get jeans hemmed.
Dressing well doesn’t have to be hard, but it takes some work, which will pay off. After all, “Every girl’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man.”
This columnist’s views do not represent those of The Daily Reveille.
