Tuxedo Tips

Jackets to suit his body type

In choosing a tuxedo or suit for that special day, at least as important as rolling with the latest trends is choosing a style and cut that suits your shape. Here’s some tips to help you choose your perfect jacket.

Tails: As long as you have longer legs in proportion to the rest of your body, this highly formal choice will be a fantastic look. If you don’t, the strong break between the front and back of this tuxedo can be unflattering on short or round men.

Cutaway: Also known as a morning coat, this style with its swallowtail lines looks good on just about anyone, but it’s especially useful for creating a look of height on shorter men.

Single Breasted (Three-or Four-Button): The unbroken line and slim fit of these high-buttoning jackets look terrific on tall, slimmer men, but thicker-chested guys should avoid as they may look as if they've been stuffed inside them.

Single-Breasted (One- or Two-Button):This most classic jacket style, looks great on nearly every body shape. Two-button is better for taller men, one-button on shorter ones. Why? It’s all about clever optics: more shirt showing means a longer visual line, making the man in the jacket look taller. Generally, for both jackets and vests, the higher the buttons the narrower and taller the guy should be.

Double-Breasted: Traditionally, if you’re short or stout you’d be told to stay far away from these boxy jackets. Actually, a double-breasted jacket can do a great job tactfully hiding some things you’d prefer not to show – especially now that fitted double-breasted styles are more common.