Our experts offer no nonsense advice for buying, wearing, and caring for your new suit. We pay special attention to dressing for a job interview and making a good first impression. Cutting edge industries and emerging fields have brought a new spirit of creativity to the workplace, and the suit has changed right along with the rest of the business world. The rules have changed, but the game is the same. We'll help you play to win.

COLOR:

• Your first interview suit depends in large part on the type of job for which you're interviewing, but charcoal gray and navy blue are always appropriate. Whether pinstriped, plaid, solid, or herringbone, these colors always represent a professional look and are ideal for more conservative fields like accounting, law, and medicine. Two-button, vented, and softer shoulder garments in medium to dark tones are ideal for these types of interviews.

• If you're interviewing for a position in marketing, advertising, high-tech, service industries and other more creative or casual fields, you can go with the above options or with a more fashion-forward suit, such as three- or four-button models in earth tones or possibly even black. Add houndstooth and more textured fabrics in lighter to medium tones to the above options, as well as non-vented jackets with extended shoulders. Here's a general rule of thumb: the more creative the work environment, the more creative your options for the color and style of your attire.

FABRIC:

• Look for suits made of 100% "worsted" wool. The worsting process involves selecting long wool fibers and twisting them into tight and resilient yarns. Worsted wool yarns create year round, wrinkle resistant and durable fabrics. Wool is a natural fiber that breathes, which means you'll be more comfortable, you'll perspire less, and the fabric will travel well.

• Look for suit jackets that are fully lined and pants that are lined to the knee. Lining increases comfort and reduces wrinkling.

• Adding a crotch liner to your suit pants will reduce the abrasion between your thighs and the fabric. Crotch liners help your pants last longer.

STYLE:

• A single-breasted suit is appropriate for all fields of employment. Single-breasted jackets come in a variety of styles, including the classic two-button and modern three- and four-button styles. Always leave the bottom button on a single-breasted jacket undone.

• When wearing a single-breasted suit with more than two buttons, you may button just the top, just the middle or all of the buttons—except, of course, the bottom button.

• You may prefer a double-breasted suit for your interviews. They usually have two columns of visible buttons on the front of the jacket and one hidden anchor button inside of the overlap. Always button the anchor button so that the right and left sides of the jacket hang evenly. This takes practice.

• Most suits come with pants that are either double- or triple-pleated. Whether you go with a cuffed or plain hem is a matter of personal preference. The weight of a cuff helps pleats to hang smoothly and gives the pants a stylish drape. Suit trousers fit differently than jeans and casual pants. They should feel fuller through the thigh and should be worn at your waist, not on your hips.

• Jacket pockets are sewn shut to prevent the wearer from using them and potentially disfiguring the drape of the jacket. However, should you choose to have open and functional pockets, just ask your Wardrobe Consultant or Master Tailor to remove the tack stitching.

• Always use curved hangers for your suits, with the curve going forward, and leave space between garments in your closet. Cedar hangers will absorb moisture, retain the shape of your jacket, and repel moths.

• When sitting, pull your slacks up at the thigh to reduce stress on the fabric and seams. Make sure to pull up your socks; no skin should show when you cross your legs.

• Always unbutton your suit coat when sitting; when you're in a car, make sure you hang it up rather than wear it.

• If you must put your garment bag in an overhead bin when flying, wait until others have put their items in first, and lay yours on top.

• Of course, there will be times your suit will get wrinkled. Men's Wearhouse will press your suit free of charge - forever – at any location. This not only saves you money on dry cleaning, it also increases the life of your suit.

• FYI: You only need to dry clean your suit when it is dirty. Suits worn regularly usually only need to be dry cleaned a few times per year. Natural fibers become brittle when dry cleaned too often, and brittle fibers break. So if your suit's just wrinkled - but not soiled - have it pressed. It'll last much longer!

• No matter how beautiful or costly your suit, if it doesn't fit well, you're not going to look good. That's why we have Master Tailors in every store that will customize your fit.

• First rule: your suit should feel comfortable. Take a few deep breaths and relax. Take a stroll around the store and practice shaking hands in your suit.

• The jacket collar should closely follow the silhouette of the neck - with no gaping.

• Your suit jacket should lie smoothly over your shoulders and across your back.

• The length of your suit jacket should be long enough to cover up your entire seat and look proportional to your physique.

• Your jacket sleeves should fall just at or below the break of your wrists. A traditional look is to show 1/4 to 1/2 inch of shirt cuff below your jacket sleeve, but it is really a matter of personal preference.

• The waist of your trousers should be just at or slightly below your navel and should fit snugly without feeling tight. A standard suit waist size is generally six inches smaller than a suit's jacket size. However, there are different cuts created by suit manufacturers such as European (smaller waist) or Executive (larger waist). With our wide selection of clothing and the expertise of our Master Tailors, we can accommodate most any physique.

• If we've previously altered any seam on your suit, Men's Wearhouse will re-alter that seam free of charge if your weight changes.

• White shirts are best for your first interview. Observe other employees' shirts during your interview to judge the appropriateness of other colors for your second interview. When in doubt, wear white!

• One hundred percent cotton works best for shirts for the same reasons that wool works well for suits: it breathes, so you perspire less and feel more comfortable.

• A tee shirt worn underneath your dress shirt gives you added protection against noticeable perspiration and will help your shirt last longer.

• Button tab collar and point collar shirts work well with all styles of suits. Never wear a button-down collar shirt with a double-breasted suit. Tip: Ask your Wardrobe Consultant for free collar stays for all of your point collar shirts.

• Ask your dry cleaner to hang, rather than box, your laundered shirts so that you won't have to press them again later.

• A shirt should look as good, and fit as well as your suit. It should be smooth around the neck and allow for an index finger of breathing room in the collar.

• There is no such thing as a short-sleeved "dress" shirt. Always wear a long-sleeved dress shirt to your interview and for all business occasions.

• Your tie should make you appear businesslike and complete a professional-looking package.

• All of our ties are 100% silk, which assures the best knot. They can also be dry cleaned.

• Refer to our animated How To Tie A Tie tutorial to improve your knotting techniques.

• Wear jewelry sparingly for your interviews. In some settings, it may detract from your professional appearance. Limit yourself to one ring per hand, and leave earrings at home.

• When coordinating colors, remember, leather to leather and metal to metal. Always match the color of your belt with your shoes and the color of your belt buckle with your watch.

• If you're having trouble keeping your pants at your waist, try braces. They look like suspenders, but are less damaging to your slacks because braces button inside of your waistband, whereas suspenders clip onto your waistband.

• Never wear both braces and a belt!

• Here are some additional items to have handy (in your car, perhaps): lint brush, extra shoelaces, collar stays, mirror, fingernail clippers with file, comb or a brush, and breath mints.

• Comfort is key. If your feet hurt, you will be miserable!

• Lace-up shoes look professional and work especially well with suits. We suggest choosing either wing tip, cap toe or split toe styles.

• Black or burgundy shoes can be worn with navy blue or gray suits for a professional image.

• Brown shoes are a wardrobe must, but are not recommended for interviewing.

• Cedar shoetrees not only help keep the shape of your shoes; they also absorb perspiration and keep the leather supple.

• Be sure your shoes are shined, that the edging is not fading (a magic marker can sometimes work wonders,) and that laces are not broken or frayed.

• You can remove water stains from leather shoes with a bit of leather lotion on a clean cloth.

• If your shoes have any loose thread, don't pull or cut them -- use a match or lighter to burn them off. Be sure to take your shoes off before doing this, and be careful not to burn the leather.

• Never wear a penny loafer or a casual loafer with a suit.

• When trying on new shoes, they may feel slightly stiff. Leather often needs time and body heat to conform to your feet, so allow about 6-8 hours of "break-in" time before your interview. Tip: If you wear shoe inserts, bring them to the store to insure a proper fit.

It's very likely that your first interview will be followed by a second, so be prepared by having at least two suits with a different shirt and tie combination for each one. A budget savvy option is to buy a navy blazer and slacks for a second interview. This will add versatility to your wardrobe and give you a different look for your second or additional interviews. You'll also find that a navy blazer is the centerpiece of your sport coat wardrobe.

Although we can't guarantee you'll get that job or land that account, we will guarantee that we'll help you dress for success and that you're going to like the way you look!