Your Guide To Properly Fitted Clothing

By Matthew Stefanson
[Men's Fashion]
What’s the hardest part of a suit to size properly?  Matthew Stefanson illustrates the importance of proper fit in men’s fashion.
Most guys walk around in a stupor.  This is true of most things in life, but especially of fashion.  The majority of males are wearing clothes that either should not exist or should just not exist on them.  The most common offense among the male fashion community is ill-fitting clothing.  For some reason, most men don’t understand how to dress themselves properly.

Maybe they have no idea how their bodies are shaped, maybe they don't know what they look like or maybe they have no notion of space.  Whatever the excuse or deficiency, men are the worst type of villain when it comes to improperly fitted clothing, so we're going to spend some time explaining the methods one should use to get the best threads.

Pants

First and foremost, your pants have to come to your waist and stay there by their own power.  You're not in high school, you can't have your damn jeans riding somewhere around the level of mid-thigh.  That's embarrassing.  It's how hobo clowns used to dress in silent movies.

The numbers on the label should be followed religiously.  This is true no matter what style you're going for.  Different sensibilities spawn different approaches:  some of the more urban aspects of our culture balloon out a bit, some of the rock radio type tend to shrink wrap themselves into their denim, but you should try to at least approach your proper waist size.  If you insist on looking like Akon, you can still have a pair of baggy jeans that look stylish without having to clutch the front in your fist all the time.

The price of pants is also an important factor in how they fit and how they look, but probably not how you would expect.  Obviously the highest tier in price is also the highest tier in quality, at least aesthetically, but as you go down in price there's a divergence from the price = value algorithm.  The lower end chain stores that still offer a reasonable price are a better deal all around than stores for the trendy urbanite such as Hot Topic or American Apparel.  You won't spend as much and you'll look good.  If you're going to spend a load of money to look good, then go to a boutique or a major designer shop.  Going halfway doesn't get you anywhere.

Lastly, minimize the amount of junk in your pockets.  Do not keep a fat wallet in your back pocket.  Don't carry a mound of keys and a cell phone from the 90s in your jeans.  It ruins the line of your pants, especially with dress pants, it's unattractive and it's less comfortable.  Try to carry as little as possible.

Shirts

In the wrong shirt, all of the problems of your body type become apparent.  If you are a fellow who is anything less than sleek and toned, you have to be careful about what you wear.  If you are in fact in shape, you're still not off the hook.  A lot of men with very developed muscle structure wear things that are too small for them too highlight their superior physique, but it ends up being gross.  You shouldn't be constricted by your clothing.  You should be able to wear it easily and comfortably.  Go to a pool, a gym or the beach if you want to show off your pecs.

Colour is an important factor; light colours highlight body shape, since you can make out shadows and folds more clearly, while darker colours mask them.  A fellow of gravity in a white shirt is a very obvious, very sad thing indeed.  If you're a heavy guy, you're pretty much given the best opportunity in the world to buy button-up dress shirts, since they are all made for big people.  Skinny men have a heck of a time finding dress shirts that actually fit them properly and they usually end up having to pay more for them, but they have to do it because they can't walk around in a dress shirt that is pillowing and puffing out on them.
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