Helping your son to choose a suit is a big deal. It might be for his graduation from university, for a big interview, the first day at work, or a wedding (maybe even his own). Whatever the reason though, it’s important to help him get it right. To ensure your son ends up looking, and feeling, great, in a suit that he’ll love and be grateful for, here are some frequent mistakes to avoid.
Buying right
Whether you’re buying from a physical shop, or following the increasing trend of buying a suit online, always aim to get it from a company such as Dobell that has mens suits as its main business, rather than just a sideline to other clothing. You want to know that the place you’re buying the suit knows its onions. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean paying more, but it almost always means better value and crucially, fewer adjustments later on.
Measuring wrong
Unless you’re in the rag trade yourself, chances are that you won’t know exactly what measurements are needed for a full suit, or how to take them. Which, if you’re buying off the shelf, can lead to a badly-fitted suit and the need for tailoring. You will need measurements for the collar, chest, waist, inside and outside leg, sleeve, and the back of the neck to the hemline.
Another thing to bear in mind is that your son’s size may fluctuate quite a lot over the course of a year. Young men frequently go through periods of going out drinking with friends and fast food, followed by intense bouts of exercise to slim down and put on muscle. So if his size changes a lot at the moment, then it’s probably best not to invest too much in a suit that may not fit a lot of the time.
When it comes to trying on the suit, make sure that your son has on the shirt, tie and, most importantly, the shoes, he intends to wear with it. Only then can you truly see if it’s a good fit or if it needs to be adjusted.
Misjudging fashions of today
Now, if it’s been some years since you last dressed your son, your understanding of his tastes may have changed somewhat. You might think he’d look great in a sky blue slim fit number, but he may feel it doesn’t play to his strengths and he’d rather have something in charcoal grey. On this, unless it’s clear he’s really heading in the wrong direction, it’s probably best to let him have his way, since he knows better than you what he’s going to feel comfortable wearing, and that’s the most important thing, really.
The other mistake mums can often make here is thinking that young men in the 21st century would have no interest in dressing like the young men of yesterday, when in fact there are a million and one style lessons to be gleaned from fathers, grandfathers and stars of the silver screen who knew how to dress well, and your son probably knows it! One only has to look at the massive rise in suit-wearing influenced by the success of Mad Men to see that young people look back for their style tips just as much as they do at current trendsetters.
Mistaking name-recognition for quality
If you don’t buy suits, or men’s fashion, regularly, then you’re probably going to be familiar with only a few big names in the marketplace, when actually there is a wealth of choice and quality to be found from little-known but well-respected manufacturers. Assuming that just because a suit has a name you recognise on the label that it will be decent can end with you paying too much for something that won’t last.
Skipping the details
To really let the suit, and thereby your son, reach maximum potential, you need to spend a little more to add the necessary extras. A snappy suit needs at least one snazzy shirt and tie to accompany it. Most will benefit from a folded handkerchief placed in the breast pocket, while you may also want to consider the shoes and belt (must match) and possibly even a waistcoat.
When it comes to buying your son a suit, seeing the complete package from the suit itself to the accessories, is a breathtaking thing. If you buy well and avoid these common mistakes, your son will be able to make a big impression as soon as he walks into a room, giving him self-confidence and hopefully the beginnings of an innate sense of style.
Leave a Reply