An incredible swimsuit is in contrast to the rest in your closet—timeless and chic, definitely, but additionally troublesome to get proper. The method of selecting, shopping for and caring for fantastic tailoring is commonly fraught with powerful selections, complicated jargon and conflicting opinions. That’s why we’ve assembled an all-star roster of the world’s most educated menswear specialists to definitively reply all your sartorial questions. Welcome to GQ’s Ask a Tailor.
Except the legal guidelines of physics, just about each different rule ever made—together with the foundations round conventional menswear—is anyone’s opinion. This makes such do’s and don’ts each subjective and, as historical past continues to show, greater than prone to sound ridiculous in a decade or two. That mentioned, there are nonetheless guidelines to know and missteps to keep away from, and understanding them (even when solely to interrupt them) will be the important thing to wanting completely smoldering in a swimsuit.
As ever, figuring out your method round conventions like trouser size (they need to contact the tops of your sneakers), sock alternative (crews in stable, muted colours) and whether or not or to not put on a tie (principally as much as you!) will assist you keep away from among the commonest faux-pas. For a extra complete rundown on the state of the swimsuit in 2024, we tapped our roster of menswear specialists for his or her finest recommendation, from the philosophical to the extremely particular.
Match is (virtually) every thing
A phenomenal swimsuit that doesn’t match correctly goes to look horrible on you. However, when you have an inexpensive swimsuit and tailor who can fit your needs effectively, it’s going to look nice. —Bruce Boyer, elder statesman of American menswear, Ask a Tailor consigliere and jazz fan
Match equals consolation
A bit room in your swimsuit isn’t a nasty factor, it will likely be extra comfy to put on. You’ll be able to’t look good in case you’re not comfy. —Mark Cho, co-founder of The Armoury
Match is subjective
If all people is sporting high-rise trousers and also you’re sporting trousers with a six-inch rise, individuals will say your trousers don’t match correctly. However that’s not about match, it’s about vogue. As an alternative, suppose extra in regards to the line of a garment and the silhouette, which ought to replicate the style of the second in addition to your particular person preferences. —BB
Beware the shrunken swimsuit
“In the event you can see the pockets, keys, cellular phone or change bulging in your pockets, your pants are probably too tight. Likewise, your jacket ought to cowl your seat. Shorter jackets don’t make you look extra informal – they make you appear like you might have a jacket that doesn’t match.” —Matthew Woodruff, inventive director at J.Mueser
Begin with a traditional
“For me, which means a single-breasted, two-button or three-roll-two jacket, most likely with aspect vents, and a not-too-slim-but-not-too-full pair of pants. With the assistance of a trusted tailor, that’s going to get you 90 per cent of the way in which there.” —Sid Mashburn, founding father of Sid Mashburn
