Happy Man Day!  Ok, I’m one day late–but I have a good excuse—working like crazy to prep clients for these inaugural ball and parties….

Since the new year has begun, this would be the perfect time to update your wardrobe.  Let’s first discuss buying new suits, shall we?

When looking for a quality suit, keep this checklist handy:

1. Check the stitching on the jacket.  If there is only one single thread in a wavy pattern, it is hand sewn and the stitches are much more resilient than a suit with the two thread chain-like, machine patterned threads.  Custom, hand-made suits are the best! New word for your verbal rolodex: bespoke….
2. Scrunch the suit material in your hand.  If it bounces back without wrinkling, it is quality material.  I know you all cringe when you see a man in a cheap, wrinkly suit.
3. When you try on your shirt, if it bunches up between and across the button holes, it is too small.  it is akin to the shirt “gap” when we women wear button-down blouses that are too small.  But, some of you all actually like that for that sneak peek effect.  We, on the other hand, do not really find that attractive on a man.
4. Your shirt buttons should be shiny and hard.  The closer to mother of pearl, the better.  Have you seen a man with broken buttons on his shirt…tres horrible!
5. Have your trousers tailored to a one-inch break over your shoes so that they just cover the top of your shoes.  You don’t want to have on “high-waters” or “bottom-scrapers.”
6. Make sure to buy shoes only in the AM.  Your feet swell during the day and you could have a case of “fat feet’ and not fit nary a shoe in your size.  We women know this all too well….also, bend a leather shoe before you buy it.  If it doesn’t wrinkle and goes back to smooth, it’s probably pleather.

Thanks to January 2009 issue of Esquire for the additional resources.

Stay tuned for future “How to Buy” installments just for you!

Keep it strictly stylish!