3 Things to Consider When Buying a Suit

Buying a bespoke suit is a uniquely personal process. The fact that the suit is meant to fit you like a second skin is just part of the equation - there are many other decisions to make from the width of your lapels to the colour of the buttons on your cuffs.

Because of this, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the process. You might think that each decision really doesn’t matter and you will end up with a great-looking suit in the end if you just play along.

At Modello Bespoke, our suiting professionals are there to point you in the right direction. But our process works best if you have a few key ideas worked out in your head when you visit for your measurement and customization appointments.

The important thing is that these aren’t complex topics. Your ideal suit comes from your personal preferences, style, and the examples that come to mind when you imagine what a sharp-dressed man looks like. 

Read on for our top 3 things to consider when buying a suit.

Finding Your Ideal Fit

A bespoke suit isn’t just meant to look good. Function is much more important than form. Whether you wear it every day at the office or once a season for an important event, your suit should be there for every big moment.  

The first step is to inform your suiting professional where you have had problems with off-the-rack or custom tailored suits in the past. Be clear about what makes you uncomfortable, so that your consultant can focus on these areas first. 

Think about how your body will change over time. This can include differences in diet and workout regimen over the course of the year. It is often better to allow for a bit of wiggle room in the case of gaining weight as opposed to using your suit as motivation for last-minute slimming. The tailor’s needle can accomplish more than a keto diet. 

Younger men need to be conscious but wary of trends. Even though you will see many athletes and celebrities donning cropped trousers and increasingly slim suit cuts, we recommend going towards more of a timeless style. Consider your bespoke suit to be an investment that will outlast certain trends and offer comfort years into the future. Many younger men aren’t aware that a tailored suit jacket should be able to be comfortably buttoned while sitting, or that it isn’t normal for trousers to get caught halfway up your calves when you rise from a seated position.

Consider The Occasion

Having the right suit for the occasion is essential to getting the most out of your bespoke suit. In Vancouver, suits are less common than the comparably business-oriented vibe of Toronto or New York, meaning some men can get caught thinking that if the occasion calls for it, any suit will do. But this is not true.

Think about where you will be wearing your suit the most in the next five years. If you see yourself attending more networking events than dinner banquets, think about selecting a suit fabric that can work as a blazer.

Talk with your suiting professional about the differences between dress codes. They will be a great resource for you, since they see where trends are moving in office style and event formality, which will help you get the most possible wear out of your suit in the next several years. 

Showing Your Personality

It may seem that the points we have raised so far are meant to make you look just like everyone else. We want you to know that there are still ways to show your personality while following some timeless style rules. 

If you want to show some personality, a splash of colour is a great way to do it. The lining of your jacket is only visible when you want it to be and we offer everything from flat colours to eclectic patterns.

Other details are more subtle. Contrasting button colours and pick stitching are markers of a well-made bespoke suit, and attract the eye without causing too much of a fuss.

Be sure not to go overboard with these customizations. More colour and customization do not mean more personality. Personality comes from the fit of the suit, and how it embellishes the best attributes of your body.

A suit with a timeless design can be accented by custom dress shirts, ties, pocket squares, and other suiting accessories. But once you have a loud, colourful suit, you can’t do anything to mute it.

Finding The Perfect Bespoke Suit for You

We hope you have caught on to the common threads in this blog post - that a custom suit doesn’t need to be flashy to say a lot about the man who is wearing it. 

So don’t stress the small details, think about function over form, and don’t be afraid to ask our suiting professionals about what they think will work best for you.

We have a wealth of information from dressing some of Greater Vancouver’s most stylish men, and we can use this experience to help you find the ideal suit.

Get in touch with us for a consultation or measurement appointment. We can’t wait to hear from you.