How to Pick your First Suit

So you want to pick your first suit?  Weebee the Great is here.  Ideally you want it custom made- and you can get this done in many custom tailor places in the United States, or take a trip to Hong Kong, Thailand, or another big "suit" place.  Of course if you live in other areas where you don't have access, go to the nearest store and look for these things.

Ideally, your first suit should have certain characteristics.  This will maximize the use of the suit- here they are below (you can jot this part down before you head to the store) with a more detailed explanation of why below. 

Color/Colour: Navy or Dark Grey. 

Material: 100% Wool. 
Number of Buttons: 3 buttons. 
Side Vent or Center Vent: Side Vent

Double Breasted or Single Breasted: Single Breasted
Cut: American or British
Stripes or No Stripes: No Stripes
Cuffs: No cuffs, unless you're 6 feet 4 or above
Ticket Pockets: No ticket pockets
Pleat: No Pleats

Color/Colour: Navy or Dark Grey.  
Best option because it is the most flexible, from weddings to interviews, to going out.  Dark Gray will probably stand the test of time.


Material: 100% Wool.  Polyester does not breathe as well.  When you get wool, there may be this fancy 150's super, and higher numbers.  While a higher number is more finer (and hence more expensive), don't go for that.  Stay with the 110-120's number.  Weebee's owner has had many suits made, and really the higher numbers ar enice, but really they don't last as long.  Actually a "lower" number is actually better, because the suit is harder and lasts a lot longer. 

Number of Buttons: 3 buttons.  Don't button the bottom one.  Remember the rule from top to bottom: Sometimes, always, never.  For two buttons then you just button the top one and not the bottom.  Get 3 buttons because you can always change it to 2 if you don't like it, and it gives you more flexibility if you are cold.

Side Vent or Center Vent:  Side vent.  This means that there is a flap in the middle, with two slits in the back.  This is great because in the old English days you would ride in a saddle and back would just go over it.  Today it has the unique advantage of looking good, as well as keeping your butt not exposed when you put your hands in your pocket.  A center vent is fine too, but you'll notice that when you button and up and put your hands in your pocket, your butt will stick out.  Not ideal.

Double Breasted or Single Breasted: Single Breasted.  Double you have to keep buttoned ALL the time, while a single breasted you can unbutton and wear open as well if its hot.  Better use overall.

Cut: American or British.  There is Italian, but it sort of has that mafia look.  Looks good if you ARE Italian and can pull it off, but this should not be your first suit.  You may not be able to spot the difference, but basically the Italian is the big and boxy and you should avoid them.  U.S. Presidents generally wear American cuts (think Ivy League), while Europeans tend to go for the British or Italian.

Stripes or no Stripes: No stripes.  Pinstripes (either deep chalk or faint) can enhance an outfit (make you look taller, make an outfit stand out, but not for your first suit.

Cuffs: No cuffs, unless you're 6 feet 4 or above.  That's basically the bottom part of your pants that has an extra cuff. Don't get it as it will make you look shorter, unless you happen to be really tall (6 feet 4 or above).


Ticket Pockets: No ticket pockets.  Ready to wear suits don't have it anyway- rarely.  Only if you are super tall.

Pleat: No Pleat.  some old tradition British suits have it, but today no one really wears them!

That's all folks- good luck!