Are You Wearing The Wrong Suit?

The Mens Shop

In order to take your looks to the next level, you, our AskMen readers, deserve the most custom, practical and concrete advice possible. To provide you with the specific information needed to solve your fashion dilemmas, we present our new weekly Style Q&As.

Q: I’m about 5’5″ or 5’6″ and am having a hard time finding a suit that fits me well as a shorter guy. Any suggestions on buying a suit that fits well without having to pay for a tonne of alterations?

A: Every off-the-rack suit needs a nip and tuck, even if you’re perfectly proportioned. Fortunately — for those of us with less than stellar stats — there are dozens of mainstream designers to check out. Ralph Lauren — for example — is known to cut for shorter-statured men. Perhaps that’s because he’s just 5’6” himself.

Q: I’m looking to buy new eyeglass frames and I always end up buying the same kind of style every year. I like the way the style looks on my face but I also know that every year there’s a new “hip and cool” style of frames that are in. Should I buy frames that are in right now or just go with what I feel looks best on me even if they’re outdated? 

A: Elvis Costello based his entire career on frames from another era. The curious thing about covering your face in wire or acetate of various shapes is that it’s a uniquely personal choice with little regard for trends. Change is always welcome, but this is one time when sticking with a signature style for the long haul is strongly suggested. Next Page >>