ᐅ Top Tailoring Tips for Menswear

You can often make or break an outfit based on how well you take care of your clothes. Follow these tips the next time you’re at the suit alteration tailor, and get the best fit possible.

While it might feel like a lot of work sometimes – altering clothing is rewarding because it means getting better-looking clothes that fit well without spending too much money on new ones. Whether it’s sewing new buttons on yourself or having someone else adjust something slightly bigger for you, alterations will make any outfit look fantastic if done correctly.

1) Know Your Style

Before taking anything in, think about what style you are trying to achieve. Are you looking for a slim-fitting modern look, or are you trying to replicate something out of “Mad Men”? The way that your clothes fit should reflect what sort of impression you want to leave with people when they see you wearing them.

2) Know What Fits You Best  

As rules go, well-fitting clothing is generally considered to be the “one size fits most” rule. Clothing should skim your frame without hugging it too closely, but also not hanging loosely from the body. Experimenting with different styles will help you find what works best for your shape and height – and in turn, that knowledge can really help when you’re looking to get something tailored.

3) Learn What’s Too Tight & Loose

To know when something fits properly, you need to know what a proper fit looks like in the first place. Be sure your clothes aren’t too tight or loose before taking them in to make sure that they actually do need altering and not just hung on a hanger incorrectly! Trying them on when making the purchase, if you are able to do so, is also a great way to figure out this sort of information.

4) Get the Right Fit in the Shoulders

Getting properly fitted shoulders will allow you to have better fitting everything else so it is worth spending time on them. The front should be higher than the back, making sure that your chest doesn’t show in the V shape in between your arms in most cases.

5) Have Your Waist Taken In

Having excess fabric around your waist makes you look bigger everywhere else – and once again, not flattering with tops or jackets. Knowing when it’s too tight can also be hard to determine, however, so be sure you’re looking at a mirror or taking someone else’s word for it!

6) Make Sure the Pants Don’t Sag

When you sit down, do your pants immediately start sagging? That means they are too long and will need to have their length adjusted. Having too much fabric bunching up around your ankles is also a bad look. Keep this in mind when buying new pieces as well – perfectly fitted pants with a cuff will always look better than slightly longer ones that drag along the floor behind you.   

7) Pay Attention to Lining & Details

In most cases, menswear alterations should be simple enough – but there are some cases where having something repaired rather than simply shortened can make a huge difference. Look for fabrics that are improperly sewn together, or if the lining isn’t properly attached to garments – anything like this can be very distracting when you’re wearing them, so do your best to avoid them in the first place!