Have you ever bought something for an occasion last minute? Maybe you rushed into the first store tried something on and thought this will do. Bought it and got it home only to realize it didn’t fit properly in certain places. The fit of your garments is a reflection of quality. Even if you spend a lot of money on clothing items such as a suit or dress if it fits you poorly it will look cheap. We often think that clothing should fit off the rack. However ready-to-wear clothing were not made with your measurements in mind. 

This is where alterations come in. It is not unusual to need alterations to ensure garments fit well. Most menswear stores usually include the price of most alterations in the cost of the clothes because they anticipate some will be necessary; women’s stores usually charge extra. 

Here are 10 guidelines to take into consideration when you are next trying on clothes.

• Avoid clothing that fits too tight or too loose as this can make you look bigger than you are. Instead wear clothing that skims your body silhouette.
  
  
• Fit clothing to the largest part of your body. For a suit or coat the fit of the shoulders is your first priority. For a skirt or pants, if your hips are bigger than your waist you would fit your pants or skirt to your hips and get it altered to fit your waist. 
  
  
• The collar of a suit jacket should fit impeccably. It is much easier to make changes in men’s collars because their suits jackets are constructed with alterations in mind where as women’s are not.
  
  
• Consider made to measure if there is a large discrepancy between your upper and lower body. Some stores do offer separates where you can order a top of one size and a bottom in a different size.
  
  
• Make sure your pants are long enough. When wearing low shoes, they should end just above where the heel meets you shoe in the back and have a crease in the front, so that when you walk they don’t ride up too far. When wearing wide pants with heels, the bottom of the hem should come to the middle of your heel.
  
  
• Wear jackets in proportion to your height. If you are tall you can wear longer jackets further down your body, if you are shorter wear a shorter jacket higher up your body. 
  
  
• Ensure sleeves are not too long or too short. Jacket sleeves should usually come past your wrist bone to the first joint on your thumb. Shirt sleeves should be .6 to 1.25 cm (1/4 to 1/2”) longer.
  
  
• If you tuck your shirts in they should be long enough to stay in place during normal movement. 
  
  
• Make sure your garments cover your body and underwear when you bend over and reach up. When you are out shopping and trying on clothes, if possible stand in front of a three-way mirror to see if the back of the garment hangs well. 
  
  
• If you live in a cold climate, make your outerwear a priority not an after thought. When the weather is cool your coat is the first garment that people see. 
  

Keep these guidelines to take in mind when you out shopping for new clothes.

Would you like more information on professional attire? Get my free checklist 10 Essential Items Every Professional Should Have In Their Wardrobe,