How a Tuxedo or Suit Should Fit
The Ultimate Guide to Formalwear
When it comes to formal wear, nothing quite matches the elegance and sophistication of a well-fitted tuxedo or suit. Whether you’re preparing for a wedding, a black-tie event, or a formal business meeting, knowing how a tuxedo or suit should fit is crucial. Here’s a comprehensive guide for those who are new to the world of formal wear.
Please judge the fit of your tuxedo/suit while standing straight with your arms relaxed, down at your side. Do NOT make sizing judgements with your arms raised up in the air.
Your Preferences are Important
While we strive to provide the best fit, we recognize that individual comfort and style preferences vary. If you have specific needs or preferences, we are here to help ensure you feel comfortable and confident in your attire.
Jacket
Shoulders: The edge of the shoulder pad should end where your natural shoulder does.
Front button: You should be able to comfortably button your coat without appearing too loose or too snug. If the coat creases when buttoned, it’s too tight. If the coat has a large gap between the button and your stomach, it may be too big.
TIP: For our customers who have a larger midsection, we recommend prioritizing a proper fit in the shoulders, instead of focusing primarily on buttoning the coat. A well-fitted shoulder will give you a tailored look. If you cannot button the coat without the shoulders being oversized, consider leaving it unbuttoned for a more comfortable and flattering fit.
Coat sleeve length: The sleeves should end where your wrist meets your hand, allowing about a half-inch of your shirt cuff to show.
Waist: Your pants should stay up without a belt, but the waistband should not be uncomfortably tight.
Tip: All of our tuxedo & suit pants feature an adjustable waistband for minor adjustments.
Pant length: Some prefer a shorter look, while some prefer a traditional break. Traditionally, the bottom of the pants should rest on the front of the shoe, but never cover the heel. However, with formal wear trends constantly changing, the pant length is completely up to your personal preference.
Pant leg width: This is completely up to you and your personal preference. While slim and skinny pant fit pants are becoming increasingly popular, we understand that some prefer a more traditional pant fit. If you don’t like how your pants fit when they arrive, just let us know.
Shirt sleeve length: The sleeves should end where your wrist meets your hand, allowing about a half-inch of your shirt cuff to show when wearing a jacket. Make sure to use cufflinks or the shirt buttons to secure your sleeve in place.
Neck/Collar: The collar should sit comfortably around your neck without being too tight. You should be able to fit one or two fingers between the collar and your neck.
Tip: If you can button your shirt but feel that you need a little more room for comfort, please use the “Button Extender” included in your order. This is a small, plastic piece that acts as a fake neck button and can give you 0.5” more neck room, without changing the overall shirt size.
Buttons: The buttons should not strain or gape when fastened. If there are any noticeable gaps between the buttons, the shirt is too tight.
Fit: The shirt should lie smoothly across your chest and torso without pulling or billowing. There should be enough room to move comfortably, but not so much that the shirt looks baggy.
Tip: For our customers with larger-than-average necks, the shirt body may sometimes be larger than preferred. This is a common issue, as the neck size contributes to the overall shirt size. We recommend using button extenders on smaller shirts when possible or wearing a vest to manage any extra shirt body fabric.
Fit: The vest should fit closely to your body without gaping and all buttons should fasten comfortably without pulling.
Tip: Take advantage of the adjustable waistband located on the back of your vest for minor adjustments.
