RECENTLY at a BostonMan Magazine Legacy Club Event, I overheard a group of ladies discussing things they like and don’t like about us men.
Various pros and cons were brought up, but one theme that seemed to resonate with each of these women was that they tend to find a well-dressed man, a Distinguished Gentleman, quite irresistible.
“Honey, if you don’t find your man attractive when he’s in a nicely fit suit,” one of the women announced to the group. “Then you’re NEVER going to find that man attractive!”
The rest of the group all nodded and cackled in approval, and to be quite honest, this is a valuable lesson -a teachable moment if you will- for all of us men to pay attention to.
Ideally, we could all have Chris Cuozzo, Dave Morra, Alan Rouleau, or Ricky Schiappa on speed dial for a custom-fitted with any and all occasions; but the reality is most of our wallets -and their allotted availability- doesn’t always allow for this.
So here are my seven rules, accessorized with a ‘Lil Boss’ tip along with them, that will have you looking and feeling sharp in your suit on any occasion; and will keep you in the ‘approved’ category when the ladies are sizing you up on the red carpet.
Find the Right Shoulder Fit First
Did you know shoulders are the hardest area to tailor on a suit? Avoid the dreaded shoulder divot and instead, choose a suit that fits your shoulders best when shopping off the rack. Your tailor can easily take in the waist and adjust for length, so shoulders should be your primary concern when suit shopping. Let’s face it, we’re not always going to be head-to-toe custom, but that doesn’t mean we can’t look like we are at all times.
Boss-tip: Make sure to remove the stitching on the vents and the label on the left sleeve before wearing a suit out for the first time, or your new suit will look more ill-fitting than ill while you are wearing it.
Tailor Your Suit
A good fit is the first step to wearing a suit well. Without a suit that hugs and hangs from your body in all the right places, you’ll look sloppy and disheveled, no matter how hard you try, or how good looking you think you are.
Invest a few extra bucks in tailoring your suit to get the perfect fit, and you’ll instantly look more polished. Believe me, I understand the challenges of finding threads that fit ideally. I don’t exactly have the everyman body. But find yourself a tailor who is a savage and every fit becomes the ideal fit, no matter your body type.
Boss-tip: The top button of a two-button jacket (or the middle button of a three-button jacket) should fall at or above your navel.
Invest in a Quality Dress Shirt, Belt, and Shoes
Suits are an investment. I feel bad for you fellas that try and flex on the red carpet without one. But what about the rest of your look? A quality shirt, belt and shoes go a long way in tying together both your professional and nightlife look. Don’t be too frugal with these, or you’ll cheapen your suit.
Boss-tip: Dress shirts made from long fiber cotton are more breathable, durable and softer than those made from cheaper, short fiber cotton. By investing in longer fibers, you also avoid that itchy feeling you’ve probably experienced with cheaply made cotton shirts. If unsure which fibers are of what quality, just buy Italian designers. It’s the safest bet.
Be Intentional About the Color of Your Suit
Although black seems like the classic suit color, sometimes it can look a little stark. Unless you’re attending a funeral or another serious event (or trying to give yourself a bit more of a lean appearance, like BostonMan BOSS Matt Ribaudo does when he wears his black suits) opt for a dark charcoal or gray suit.
Navy is another great option you can wear both in the office or at a cocktail reception. Just make sure to check the color of a navy suit in different types of lighting to make sure it doesn’t look lighter than you expected.
Boss-tip: Being intentional about your colors doesn’t mean overthinking a color with an occasion. If you know you look fly in a certain color and feel most comfortable with that option, do what you have to do.
Unbutton Your Jacket Before Sitting Down
You stand up and sit down repeatedly all day. But sitting in a suit is the fastest way to ruin it. Take a moment to unbutton your jacket every time you sit down to avoid stretching it out and potentially popping buttons (the kind of attention you definitely don’t want in a board meeting.)
Boss-tip: Always leave the bottom button of your suit jacket open. The same rule applies if you’re wearing a vest or waistcoat. And especially don’t EVER be photographed with your suit jacket completely buttoned!
Don’t Be Wary of a Snug Jacket
The fit of your jacket is crucial. Although you might want some breathing room, your suit jacket should actually fit quite snugly.
In fact, when placing your hand between your chest and suit jacket, it should have just a little room to move. If your hand has plenty of wiggle room, your jacket is probably too big.
Boss-tip: Become best friends with your tailor. I certainly had to in order to keep my fits snug to this 72-pound frame. A good tailor that takes a liking to you will not only have pride in their work, but will also have pride in making you look good. And don’t be shy about tagging tour tailor on the IG stories when you’re out posing on the red carpet!
Expose Your Sleeve Cuffs Half an Inch
Long jacket sleeves look dated and sloppy. Show your attention to detail by exposing your sleeve cuffs by a half-inch. To get this look, your jacket sleeves should end about a quarter-inch from the top of your hands.
Boss-tip: When wearing a dress tee under your jacket, be sure to have your watch or bracelet very visible to accent your fit. You never want your look to go from jacket sleeves straight to hands without some sort of visual pop in between.
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Soufiane Boutrig, aka ‘Lil Boss’ is the Pose Coach for BostonMan Magazine. Recognized as one of the sharpest dressed men in the city, a resident of the North End, he credits styles from his native Morocco, many famous Italian men, and his favorite hip hop artists with influencing his look.
