A well-fitting suit sits flat on the shoulders with the seam ending at the edge of your shoulder, buttons without pulling, shows about 1–1.5 cm of shirt cuff, covers your seat, and has trousers that break lightly on the shoe. Check these points before buying any suit.
The 8-point suit fit checklist
- Shoulders — the seam ends exactly where your shoulder ends; no dimples or overhang. Shoulders are the hardest part to alter, so get this right first.
- Chest — the lapels lie flat on your chest without bowing out.
- Button stance — the jacket closes without an “X”-shaped pull around the button.
- Jacket length — covers your seat; with arms relaxed, the hem sits around your knuckles.
- Sleeves — end at the wrist bone, showing 1–1.5 cm of shirt cuff.
- Collar — the jacket collar touches your shirt collar with no gap at the back.
- Trouser waist — sits comfortably without a belt doing all the work.
- Trouser break — a slight or no break on the shoe for a modern look; a full break for a classic look.
What can be adjusted — and what cannot
| Easy to adjust | Difficult or impossible |
|---|---|
| Sleeve length | Shoulder width |
| Trouser length and hem | Jacket length |
| Waist of jacket and trousers (small changes) | Chest that is too small |
| Trouser taper | Lapel width |
How to measure yourself
- Chest: measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms.
- Waist: measure where you normally wear your trousers.
- Sleeve: from the shoulder edge to the wrist bone with the arm relaxed.
- Inseam: from the crotch to where you want the trousers to end.
Always try a suit on with the shirt and shoes you plan to wear with it — they change how the sleeves and trousers sit.
Fit by cut
An Italian-cut suit should feel close to the body, while a classic suit should feel comfortable with a little more room. Not sure which cut you need? Read Italian cut vs. classic vs. double-breasted.
You can see the full range online or try it on in person at any of the LORD branches in Cairo (Heliopolis), Mansoura, Damietta, New Damietta and Istanbul — open every day from 12 PM to 12 AM.
Frequently asked questions
The shoulder seam should end exactly where your natural shoulder ends, with no overhang and no dimples in the sleeve.
About 1 to 1.5 cm (around half an inch) of shirt cuff should show below the jacket sleeve.
A suit jacket should cover your seat. With your arms relaxed at your sides, the hem should sit around your knuckles.
Shoulders are the hardest part to alter and usually cannot be fixed well, so choose a jacket that fits the shoulders and adjust the rest.
The break is the fold where the trouser hem meets the shoe. No break or a slight break looks modern; a full break looks more classic.
