STEP 2: Fit Matters

Trends come and go. Baggy, slim, “how’d you get those on, now how do you get them off,” sound familiar? Whether you’re an accountant or a movie star, the surest way to always look your best is to have items that fit well, and that you feel comfortable in. The small details of how an item fits can take your look from mundane to sartorial quicker than Drake can go from 0 to 100. And that’s real quick, real f…. you get the idea; it happens quickly. The two most important items regarding fit are 1) flatter yourself, and 2) don’t be afraid to find a tailor near you.

Buy and accumulate articles that flatter you.  A nice pair of straight-leg or tailored jeans, and a perfect fitting Oxford or chambray shirt can last you for years, and always be considered in style. Don’t be afraid to spend up for these items, as you want to find consistent, flattering and confidence boosting articles. Treat these items as investments. There’s nothing better than a good quality item broken in so well it becomes a part of you. This should be our goal with every item we collect for our perfect wardrobe. What is flattering is relative, so find articles YOU BELIEVE complement you. If you feel uncomfortable in an item, it’ll show.

When shopping, try on different sizes until you find the appropriate brand and/or fit you are most pleased with. Even if you despise shopping, biting the bullet for one day to at least gain awareness of your body measurements and complementing brands is well worth it in the long run. You’ll then be able to revisit that brand’s store or website quickly and without hassle, knowing the product offered is always going to give you your desired fit. This is why it is important to pay attention to different brands’ cuts (styles, models, i.e. “Slim fit”) and sizes. These sizes and cuts can vary dramatically from brand to brand, so to make life easier, have an idea of which ones suit you best when shopping in-store or online.

As an athlete, I know it is tough to find pants and shirts that satisfy specific and abnormal body dimensions. Visiting a local tailor to get your body measurements taken is a great way to not only learn more about what sizes to be aware of when purchasing items, but also in fixing minor problems to make articles more personal and adaptive to you. For example, to help fight the ballooning at the waist on tucked in button down shirts (one of the biggest annoyances in trying to find a good fitting dress shirt off the rack) you can get them darted at a your local tailor for around $10.00. The same goes for pants. Waist lines that are a tad too big, or hems that are too long can be brought in and brought up to satisfy your desired fit. Pants can also be tapered to give your leg a little more shape. Befriending and utilizing a tailor is an easy way to take some of your favorite articles now, and give them a fresher, and more personal look. If you want to take it up a notch, opt for a few bespoke and custom articles. There are plenty of companies that offer great deals on custom items such as jeans, shirts, and suiting with good quality fabrics, for a fraction of what a Jermyn Street bespoke shop in London would cost you.

As you begin to get a handle on what your sizes are, begin to pay closer attention to how items drape and contour to your body (specifically tees, casual button downs, sport coats and jackets). Note which items create flattering angles. This is something particularly evident in women’s fashion, and attention to these minute contouring details helps you to create desired shapes and defining silhouettes. Also, begin looking at how individual items are supposed to fit. For example, the appropriate length of the arms of a sport coat or suit jacket. We will discuss more of these minute details when we get into STEP 3; however, it should be noted now due to how quickly it can take your style game from infancy to maturity.

The main thing to remember regarding fit is that if you feel uncomfortable or unsure about an item, don’t get it. There is always another store, brand, size or tailor, that has or can create that perfect item for your perfect wardrobe.

Featured Brands:

DL Denim

Levi’s

J.Hilburn

Scotch & Soda

Clarks

Nixon

Ray-Ban