Of course I am speaking about how American men wear their suits. Slouchy jackets, too long trousers, and sleeves that virtually reach one’s knuckles. For such a style obsessed culture, we seem to lose our nerve when it comes to the one article of clothing most often worn for important events – the suit.
Walk the streets of most European cities and guys stroll by looking sharp, fitted, and well thought out. Effort is taken to ensure that clothes fit well. Shoulders actually sit on the shoulder; sleeves are set just so, allowing a ¼, sometimes even a full ½ inch, of shirt cuff to show; and the jacket collar sits flat across the neck.
Maybe it’s a latent fear of dandyism taken to an extreme. Perhaps the dot-com/casual-Friday-every-day movement, now very much on its way out of favor, left us stylistically neutered. Whatever the cause, it is now time to reclaim our place at the grown-up table of men’s clothing.
To my fellow Americans, I say this: there is no shame in looking good. A suit should fit you, it should flatter you, and it should make you look better, not worse. A well-tailored suit will hide your flaws and even out your physical idiosyncrasies. I know that the D.C. fashion ethic tends to favor the “look good, but not too good” approach, but that is not the same thing as looking like a baggy slob.
So, take yourself and your best suit to a good tailor and experience the difference of wearing something actually fitted to your body. Be a man, show a little cuff and invest in a nice pair of
Alden Medallion Tip Bals to highlight your newly visible feet.