Men’s Suit Size & Style Guide

From measuring and tailoring to shopping and styling, finding the right men’s suit can be tricky—but we’re here to help with a men’s suit guide that takes you through every step. Before buying a suit, you’ll want to take accurate measurements, follow a reliable men’s suit size guide and learn the various suit fits and styles. When you’ve got your suit all picked out and tailored to fit, the styling opportunities are endless.

For the holidays, a bold and bright patterned suit makes a festive statement. For date nights and work events, try a neutral-toned classic fit. And of course, tailored tuxedos are perfect for weddings or formal festivities. You always need at least one great suit at the ready, but we recommend owning several. Belk makes shopping for high-quality suits a breeze, with men’s suits in a wide range of fit types, styles, materials and colors to match the occasion. Keep reading our suit fit guide to learn more.

 

 

Men Suit Fits & Styles

Don’t just take the plunge on the first sophisticated-looking suit you come across. Like jeans, suits are categorized by fit, with men’s suit fit options ranging from skinny and slim to classic and regular. Learn more about the various suit fit types to discover the subtle differences in the silhouettes. Our suit fit guide covers the basics to help you find the fit you need. From there, check out our suit sizing guide for measurement and sizing tips—then the styling is up to you.

 

 

Skinny Fit Suits

Skinny fit suits are a modern take on men’s formal attire. How should a skinny fit suit fit on the body? Skinny fit suits are slim through the shoulders, with narrow sleeves and extra slim trousers that taper towards the ankle. Lapels and pocket tabs also tend to be narrower. These modern cuts feature sharp lines, with little to no excess fabric for a tighter fit that creates a streamlined silhouette. If you prefer a super sleek and tailored look, this might be the fit to go for.

 

Slim Fit Suits

 

Slim fit suits are well-loved, and for good reason. A nice, trim suit will always look good. How should a slim fit suit fit? These suits are narrower through the chest and shoulders (especially on the waist), with higher armholes and fitted trousers with a narrow leg opening. This sleek fit is not as tight as a skinny fit suit—it’s a great option for men who like a close-fitting suit that hugs the body while allowing a little more room for movement.

 

Classic Fit Suits

 

When in doubt, you really can’t go wrong with a classic fit suit—it’s a wardrobe essential with a timeless, versatile cut that is slightly loose without being baggy. Classic fit suits are wider through the chest and shoulders, with fuller trousers that leave lots of room for movement. The side seams are cut straight, and there isn’t any noticeable tapering at the waist. While there’s some extra fabric involved with this cut, it should still be well-tailored to the body.

 

Regular Fit Suits

 

The regular fit suit is a slightly more tailored version of the classic cut. Landing somewhere between the classic fit and the slim fit, this cut tapers in both at the waist and along the line of the leg without clinging to the lines of your body. If you like your suits to be comfortable and flexible for movement but still look slightly fitted, this one might be for you.

 

How to Measure for a Suit

 

When the occasion calls for a sharp suit, choosing the right size is essential. Not sure how to find your suit measurements? Our men’s suit size guide simplifies the process with need-to-know tips and measurement information.

Start with your chest measurement, which is arguably the most important for your suit jacket size. With your arms at your sides, have someone measure around your upper body, making sure to reach under your armpits and over the fullest part of your chest and shoulder blades.

Next, get your over-arm measurement. With your arms at your sides, have someone measure around the broadest part of your shoulders and upper arms. If your over-arm measurement is over 7 inches larger than your chest measurement, you’ll want to choose a suit that’s one size larger than your chest measurement indicates. To get your sleeve length, bend your arm slightly and measure from the center point of the back of your neck, across your shoulder, down to your elbow and to your wrist.

For the best fit on your suit pants, try bending to one side, which helps you find the natural crease where you’d normally wear your pants. It should hit slightly below your natural waist. Measure around this point to get your waist size, inserting your forefinger between the tape and your body to ensure a little bit of ease in the fit. You may notice that the pant size options are based only on your waist measurement, in which case you’d have them hemmed to your desired length. If the pant sizes are based on both waist and inseam measurements, get a pair of pants that fit you well and measure along the inseam, starting at the crotch seam and ending at the bottom of the hem. This will give you your most accurate inseam measurement.

Even with accurate measurements, finding a suit that fits perfectly off the rack can still be difficult. If you don’t get that just-right fit, it’s easy to have a suit tailored.

 

Suit Size Chart

 

With your measurements in hand, check out our men’s suit size chart to help find the best size and fit for you. Our suit size chart contains average measurements, but remember that some brands may differ in size. Look for additional fit and sizing information on each product page to help determine which suit coat and pant size you should purchase.

Generally, suit or sport coat sizes are noted by your chest measurement and sometimes one descriptive word that refers to the length of the jacket (like 38 Regular, 40 Short or 42 Long). Check where your height falls on our suit length chart. If you’re buying your suit pants separately from the jacket, go by your waist measurement as shown in our suit size chart.

Buying a suit set that contains both a suit jacket and pants? Suits have what’s known as a “drop,” which is the difference between the jacket size and the pant size. For classic fit suits, the drop is typically about 6 inches. For example, a size 40R jacket would be paired with a size 34 pant. Keep in mind that slim fit and skinny fit suits may have a slightly larger drop (often at least 7 inches). Suit designers tend to leave enough extra fabric at the seams to allow pants to be let out by 1" to 2", but sometimes it’s easier to just size up and get your suit taken in if needed.

 

 

Types of Suits for Men

Other than the fits and sizes, there’s still more to learn about the different types of suits. There are endless variations when it comes to material, with fabrics like wool, cotton and polyester being common—and you can also choose between button styles, like two- and three-button or double-breasted. Pocket arrangements, venting details and suit fit types are also considerations. All of these options aside, there are three basic types of suits, including classic two-piece suits, formal three-piece suits and tuxedos. Here’s how to tell the difference.

A two-piece suit, consisting of a suit jacket and matching trousers, is an absolute essential in every man’s closet. Whether you’re heading to a job interview or dressing up for date night, this versatile suit looks sophisticated and put-together without being too formal. A three-piece suit, on the other hand, consists of a matching suit jacket and trousers, but with the addition of a vest (also called a waistcoat). These suits are still timeless, but they’re much more formal and work best at weddings, special occasions and big work events.

Tuxedos, also known as dinner suits, are the most formal special-occasion suits consisting of a black or dark navy blue dinner jacket with just one button, a pair of matching trousers and a bowtie. If the event you’re attending calls for black-tie attire, you’ll need a tuxedo.

 

 

How to Wear a Suit

There are no hard and fast rules for how to wear a suit, but a little help can’t hurt. When you’re getting dressed for work or suiting up for a formal occasion, you might want to opt for a dress shirt in a light, neutral color. If the dress code is more relaxed, you can go for something less understated, whether that’s a bold color or eye-catching print—but make sure the rest of your outfit is more subtle.

When considering how to dress in a suit, don’t forget the fit of your undergarments. The sleeves of your dress shirt shouldn’t be too baggy, and you want the shirt to be just long enough to tuck in comfortably without puffing out. Let the shirt cuffs just stick out from the ends of your jacket sleeves when your arms are down at your sides. If you decide to wear an undershirt, make sure it isn’t visible underneath your dress shirt.

When picking out a belt, try to match it to the color and material to your dress shoes. When in doubt, it’s hard to go wrong with a simple black leather belt and Oxfords or loafers. Want to add a pop of color to your otherwise neutral look? Reach for a pair of socks in your favorite hue, or opt for a bold tie and a colorful (but not matching) pocket square in your chest pocket. You’re all set with sophisticated suiting that makes a statement.