Suit Yourself: Your First Big Boy Suit

SUIT YOURSELF Your First Big Boy Suit So, you've got a job interview. Armed with your resume, talking points, and confidence, you know this economy has no mercy for the unprepared. But if clothes help make the man, what does that make you? Picking out one's fırst suit is a rite of passage for most all young men, and we're here to help. Whether you're coming off four years of college or four seasons of Mad Men, chances are, you've seen your share of suits-dapper and dashing, empty and ill-fitting alike. With so much out there, we turned to our resident sartorial savant, Dan Trepanier of TSBmen.com, for some color (and style) commentary. Because, as you'll find, only the sharpest survive. Featuring tips direct from TSBmen.com's Dan Trepanier (Although being smart helps, too.) 100% The Fabric of Your (Work) Life The Cut Dan's Pick: 100% Wool Even if it fits like a Aim for: Super 110s-130s (That's glove off the rack, have an expert tailor take a look at it. the fineness of the fibers used to weave the cloth. The lower the number, the more durable the cloth; the higher the number, the more delicate.) Self-Test: The jacket should hug the shoulders without any pulling across the back. Vents Dan's Pick: "Double over single, because it can be cut slimmer in the hips and you don't have to sit on your jacket tail." Single-breasted. No exceptions. Within Dan's Protip: Arm's "A longer jacket makes you look slimmer, a shorter Reach jacket makes you look taller. In any case, like a good lawyer, a jacket should cover your ass." Have the sleeve length tailored to show 1/2" of shirt cuff. Trouser Length? Gimme a Break! Dan's Protip: Solid Navy For your first suit. Why? "It's business appropriate, flattering on just about any skin tone, works with most shirt and tie "For a first suit, I recommend a light break, hemmed at a slant (front slightly shorter than back) so the back hits about halfway down the back of the shoe (not including the heel)." combinations, can be styled as separates, and can be worn three days a week without any coworkers taking note." More Break Makes you look shorter and more conservative. Less Break Makes you look taller and younger. Back (away from)Black “Black should be reserved for semi-formal occasions and funerals," says Dan on this classic rookie mistake. "It's too stark and formal for business." For Your Next Suit Your Best Feet Forward Socks (or Those "My Suit's at the Dry- Cleaners" Days). For navy and grey suits: Pair with black or brown shoes. Therefore, for a first suit, go with dark chocolate. Go one shade darker than the trousers. Grey (medium, light or charcoal) Mixing it Up "If you're new to pattern-mixing," says Dan, "Start with the 2-out-of-3 rule, meaning two of the items (suit, shirt, or tie) should have some kind of contrasting pattern (stripe, check, dot/repeat) and one should be solid. The two patterns should have an obvious contrast in scale and boldness." Navy with a very subtle neutral pinstripe Gillette Fusién. PROGLIDE visual.ly THE HUFFINGTON POST STYLER BRAUN POWERED BY