7

There are times when we can’t help but make mistakes; even in the Fielding and Nicholson offices it happens. Forgetting a birthday, pressing snooze one too many times and we’ve even seen mismatched shoes…

We’re only human, so this type of thing is bound to happen; especially when it comes to our wardrobes. There are so many faux pas to be made with our suits it’s so easy to fall victim at some point. Lucky for you, we’ve put together a list of the three most important things to watch out for with your wardrobe:

Rule Number 1) Fit
There’s a good chance you’ve heard this one before, but just to reiterate: If there’s extra cloth in your suit, it doesn’t fit. If your suit has an “X” shape in the button, it’s too tight. Just because it fit once, it doesn’t mean it does now… the “X” never lies. This isn’t just a suit rule either, its an “everything” rule. A shirt billowing at your hips, or a cuff covering your whole hand can ruin a perfect suit. If your budget wont allow a bespoke suit, get your off the peg suit altered for a few extra pounds. If you change shape, you can alter your suit as you go. Just make sure it fits!

Rule Number 2) Pressing
Be it your suit, shirt, chinos or T-shirt; always make sure your clothes are pressed. Why have a suit hand cut from the finest cloth only to watch it crease beyond recognition? You can have suits pressed for you for a small fee. Not every week by any means, every 2-3 months – or after traveling with the suit. Ironing a shirt takes all of 5 minutes, a pair of trousers 10 minutes – or even better (for you and your trousers) invest in a trouser press. As is repeated often in the tailoring world: “the devil is in the details” and pressing is no exception.

Rule Number 3) Proportion
In the 80’s an oversized lapel was all the rage. The early 2000’s then saw the rise of pencil thin lapels with tiny ties. The common ground here is that they are both fashion fads. Much like diet fads, they came about through somebody pushing their idea to make money. Forget the fads. Without taking into account your shape, a lapel can either dwarf you or make you appear larger. As a rule of thumb: if you’ve got a 48” chest, don’t have a tiny lapel. Instead, choose a mid to wide width; 3” is the slimmest we’d recommend. If however you’ve got a 34 chest, a 3” lapel will likely drown you. Opt for a narrower lapel to compliment your body shape.

Three rules. Nothing particularly taxing I’m sure you’ll agree, but enough to completely turn your wardrobe around. You’ll look better, feel better and looking after your clothes will lengthen their life span, so your wallet will thank you in the long run. Now, when was the last time you pressed your suits…?