How To Buy a Suit - by Josh Stone

How To Buy a Suit - by Josh Stone: "The men's business suit: ubiquitous, ingrained, versatile, mandatory, and a staple of industrial age attire for over one hundred years. Considering how fashion trends normally fluctuate wildly even in the space of twenty years, it is amazing how little the basic business suit has changed. About the most variety offered is the color scheme, which varies through navy blue, gray, khaki, and camel. Here's a quick, easy guide to picking out the clothing ensemble which you'll spend a good portion of your life wearing:

Choosing a jacket style: The two-button, single-breasted jacket is a popular style, but three or four button jackets are also available and are usually seen in colder climates. Only thin men should wear formal double-breasted jackets, which tend to add bulk to your figure. They have to be kept buttoned at all times, or else the jacket hangs awkwardly.

Select a fabric, its color, and pattern. If you opt for a patterned fabric, check to see that the patterns line up at the shoulder and lapel seams. High-quality worsted wool is the most seasonally versatile fabric. Cotton and linen are better for summer wear. Avoid blends that are made with too much polyester, as they don't breathe well and look too cheap. The days of the polyester leisure suit are long dead, in places other than coastal California. Crumple the fabric to make sure it bounces back instead of wrinkling. You want a durable fabric that will go without dry-cleaning and pressing as much as possible."