Grooming:Suits: Get a perfect fit

Obituaries
Suit

Heather R

Gentlemen, it has been a while, but I had not forgotten about you. In the time that I have been focusing on the ladies, I have been observing how Zimbabwean men dress. A lot of men’s dressing is average. It is not head-turning but it is no disaster either. Then there are those who attempt to stand out and are successful and those that fail dismally. This particular article will address the men that fail to dress; hopefully with a few changes, their dress sense will improve and get them to become at least average dressers.

THE SUIT The Fit The first thing you want to ensure is that the cut is right for your frame. If you are slim, a one-button suit is best and you should also go for a slim-fit suit, which is available on the local market. Make sure that the sleeve begins where your shoulder ends. You do not want to have drooping shoulders as a result of your sleeve beginning half way down your arm. The trousers should cover the back of the heel of your shoe and be just above the ground so you do not step on the hem. If your shoulder is sitting in the correct position but the sleeves are too long, take the jacket to a tailor who knows what they are doing, for alterations. If the waistline of your trousers fits perfectly but the trousers are too long, have the length altered. If they are too wide, have them taken in at the seams. Be sure to not have them altered too tight, lest they fit like hipsters. If you have a huge frame, you can wear a suit with two buttons or more, always leave the bottom button undone. If you are slim, an over-sized suit will not make you look bigger, it makes you appear smaller and gives the impression that your clothes are too heavy for you. Wear the perfect size for you. The colour of the suit and the fabric used are also very important. Nowadays, there are suits that shine, made from fabric that looks as though it would make good curtains. If you insist on the shiny suit, restrict it to the evenings, preferably an evening wedding instead of a cocktail party. Some colours are just unflattering, regardless of whom they are on, for example, the mustard coloured suit.