Business Suit Tips

What you wear is the first thing people notice about you and one of the primary ways they form an impression. As you move through your career, more than likely you’ll need at least one business suit that fits properly; complements your body type and coloring; and is tastefully professional.

Our experts agree, that both men and women should have at least one black suit as well as other neutral colors such as grey and navy. Suits should be made from worsted wool as it wears and looks better than less expensive fabrics like polyester. When buying a suit, always buy the separate pieces – jackets, pants and skirts – together. If the suit is not lined, leave it in the store. A lined suit will hold up longer and look better than an unlined suit.

Choosing Suits:

• Jackets should lie smoothly over your shoulders and across your back and be long enough to cover your entire back down to the beginning of your leg.
• Sleeves should end at the point where your hands meet your wrists, allowing about ½ -inch of your shirt cuff to show. Your arms should move freely and the back should never be taut. A good test is to lift your arms straight out in front of you to see if your freedom of movement is limited.
• Collars should hug the back of your neck and allow ½-inch of your shirt collar to show.
• Pant and skirt waists should be loose enough for comfort, but not so loose that the clothes fall off.
• A straight leg is the best look for a professional environment with the hemline falling just above the floor. Skirts should fall one to two inches above the knee when seated.

Caring For Suits:

• Always unbutton your suit coat when sitting, and pull your slacks up slightly at the thigh to reduce stress on the seams.
• Hang suits on a curved wooden hanger, with the curve going forward to preserve the shape of the jacket. Leave space between your suit and the other garments hanging in your closet. Never store your suit dirty.
• When your suit gets wrinkled or soiled have it professionally cleaned and pressed at Flair. Clean suits after wearing one or two times. Shirts should be cleaned after every use. When stained, bring the garment directly to Flair as soon as possible. Always dry clean all pieces of your suit together to avoid fading inconsistencies.