The right suit highlights your physical upsides and downplays your shortcomings….does yours? If you don’t get Esquire, here’s an easy cut-out they did a while back that kinda hit the nail on the (proverbial) head ~ we tweaked it a bit but the bones remain.
| You are… | You want… | You should avoid… |
| Long & Lean (e.g., Barack Obama) | horizontal lines to create breath/broadness; three-button jackets that match the scale of your torso | vertical lines (they emphasize your height); tight suits and jackets (they highlight your thinness/lankiness) |
| Short & Lean (e.g., Tom Cruise) | two-button suit jackets in proportion to your torso; thicker fabrics that add heft | anything baggy or loose (brings attention to your size); all black (draws you “in” and diminishes stature) |
| Shorty & Stocky (e.g., Danny DeVito) | single-button suits with a deep v at the chest to create a longer torso; anything v-neck adds length | horizontal lines or plaids (which create more girth and lessens height); wide pants or cuffs (creates weight) |
| Big & Tall (e.g., Andre the Giant) | pants with cuffs (to break up the length); pants with shallow pleats; dark suits | horizontal lines (highlight your girth); vertical lines (they make you appear even taller) |
