General Tips for the Well-Dressed Man

Business Casual
At Despos Tailoring we’re not fond of the expression “dress down days” and the term “Casual Fridays” really sets us off. Many take advantage of these phrases. Even if you are not wearing a suit to work or dress trousers, your clothing still makes a statement about you. A good rule-of-thumb is dressing in the top third of your work place. If you look around the office and you are in the bottom-half, it is time to enhance your wardrobe.

Your shirt should fit well and look nice – not too large around the waist and it should start the day wrinkle free. Pants should also be worn at the waist and fit well. The waist should be firm before putting on a belt. The hem should hit at the top of the sole of the shoe or just slightly higher – no dragging and your socks should not show.

Suits
Sleeves: The jacket cuff should fall at a point where your wrist meets your hand. Also, be aware that your arms may be different lengths.

Trousers: Pants should break on the front of your shoe, and your socks should not be visible when you walk. If your trousers are cuffed, the standard length is one and a quarter inches.

Shirt: We always want to measure to get your exact collar size. Buttoning the top button should not be a struggle, and you should be able to slide two fingers between the collar and the neck. A properly fitting collar will be comfortable to wear. The shirtsleeve should extend ¼”- ½” past your jacket sleeve.

Coat Length: It’s now acceptable for coats to be longer than in the past, but if a coat is too long, it can make you look short. A good rule of thumb is that the two-button jacket should cover your seat by 1".

Miscellaneous: Your tie should always hang just below your belt. Speaking of your belt, its color should always match your shoes.