Three-Piece Suit

Three-piece suits are traditional suits with classic appeal. Made up of trousers, a jacket, and a vest or waistcoat, three-piece suits can up your style points instantly and add a completely different air to your professional dress.

The Jacket

The Collar
The collar of your jacket should fit against your neck, but without any of that buckling and pulling.

Shoulder Pads
Much-maligned shoulder pads can help you look more muscular. You can look trimmer overall, so while extreme shoulder pads don’t look good, average ones will.

Lapels
Choose high or low notch depending on what flatters your personal shape. Be sure that the lapels lie flat against your chest and don’t buckle uncomfortably.

Sleeves
Your sleeves should end where your wrist ends and your hand begins. A quarter inch of your shirt sleeve should show below the sleeves, but just check and make sure that you are comfortable. Stretch your arms out and bend them to verify that you’re comfortable moving in your suit.

Buttons
Use your buttons as a way of flattering your particular body shape. You should always leave the bottom button undone, and if you have an athletic build, you should have a low button stance below the lapels. Otherwise, try a high button stance to disguise any roundness.

Vents
Side vents can disguise a larger behind, while a single vent can work with most average body types and is a lot easier to find!

The Suit Waistcoat or Vest

The vest of your three-piece suit will commonly have a back adjuster so you can get just the right fit on yours. You can also use two side adjusters, which may be located on suits that are either hand-tailored or ones that have an original or unusual design. The vest should be adjusted so it fits smoothly against your torso, but make sure it’s comfortable for a full range of movement. Try your vest both sitting and standing to make sure that it doesn’t balloon or bind.