Style / 3 minute read
The art of a perfect suit fitThe art of
a perfect suit
A well-fitting suit sits naturally at the shoulders, shows a little shirt cuff and falls neatly to your shoes. Here’s how to check the fit, choose your jacket length and measure at home.
How should a suit fit?
Start at your shoulders
The seam where the sleeve joins the jacket should sit at the edge of your shoulder. The fabric should fall smoothly, without hanging beyond your shoulder or pulling across it. If it feels tight when you move, try another size.
Show about 1 cm of shirt cuff
With your arms relaxed at your sides, aim to show about 1 cm of shirt cuff below the jacket sleeve. Your shirt cuff should finish where your hand meets your wrist. The jacket sleeve should sit just above it.
Find the right trouser length
Try your trousers with the shoes you’ll wear. For a classic finish with dress shoes, aim for the hem, or bottom edge, to sit about 1 cm above the top of the shoe’s heel at the back. At the front, a small fold over the shoe is called a break. A shorter hem can meet the shoe without this fold. Avoid fabric bunching at the ankle.
Fractional fitting
Find your jacket length
Chest size and jacket length are two separate choices.
Fractional fitting gives you Short, Regular and Long options in the same chest size. Each option changes the length of the jacket body and sleeves. Start with your height, then check that the jacket covers your bottom and the sleeves leave about 1 cm of shirt cuff showing.
A shorter jacket body and sleeves.
173–175 cmOur standard jacket and sleeve length.
183 cmA longer jacket body and sleeves.
188+ cmHeights shown are examples, not cut-offs. Your torso and arm length matter too.
How to measure
How to measure for a suit
Use a flexible tape measure over a light shirt and ask someone to help. Stand naturally, keep the tape snug without squeezing, and record your measurements in centimetres.
01 / Body measurement
Chest
Pass the tape under your arms and around the fullest part of your chest, across your shoulder blades. Keep it level all the way around. Relax your arms and breathe normally, without puffing out your chest.
02 / Body measurement
Trouser waist
Measure around your body at hip height, where the waistband of your trousers sits. Keep the tape level and comfortably snug. Use this measurement with Peter Jackson’s trouser size guide.
03 / Body measurement
Sleeve
Let your arm hang naturally at your side. Measure from the point at the outer edge of your shoulder down to your wrist, where your hand begins. Ask someone to help hold the tape in place.
Measure your body, not clothing you own. A jacket or pair of trousers includes extra room to move, so its measurements will differ.
View the size tablesSelect the image or press Space to pause or resume the animation.
Your fit, considered
Find your suit size
Choose a precise estimate using your height and chest measurement, or a quick estimate using your height and weight.
Your estimate is a starting point. Body shape and personal preference can affect your final fit.
No tape measure? Use your height and weight for a quick starting point.
Let us help you find your fit
We couldn’t estimate a size from these details. Our team can help you find your best fit in store.
Get the final fit right
Walk, sit and move in your suit. The waistband should feel secure without digging in, and the jacket should feel comfortable across your shoulders. Visit a Peter Jackson store for help with size, length and alterations advice, including for a suit bought online.