The Foursome’s in-house tailor helps customers find the perfect fit. Photos: Spencer Barrett
An expert shares how to find the suit that suits you.
Emphasis is often placed on a bride’s dress, but that doesn’t mean that a groom’s attire should take a back seat. From custom liner fabric to heirloom cufflinks, suits and their attending accessories can similarly hold important sentiment to the wearer.
Michael Engel is a co-owner of The Foursome, a family-owned menswear store in Plymouth that carries everything from athleisure to suits (plus an ever-expanding selection of womenswear) and has been helping men get wedding-ready since 1935. And while suit trends have come and gone during its 90 years of business, what hasn’t changed is what makes for a well-fitted suit. “It should look like it flows with the body,” Engel says.
At The Foursome, that process starts with finding the right suit size, which is achieved with a chest measurement over a T-shirt. Armed with the right size, a suit is donned, and the pins come out. The Foursome has an in-house tailor who helps create the perfect fit for the big day. “We want to get it to where the customer feels comfortable,” Engel says.
This suit showcases a modern fit that is a bit trimmer through the body and leg of the pant.
Coat sleeves are adjusted to allow a bit of shirt sleeve to peek out from beneath (and showcase any special cufflinks) while making sure the shoulder is a good fit. “The sweet spot is when the edge of your shoulder meets the edge of the coat shoulder,” Engel says. “It should hang nicely but not have too much fabric.” The coat may also be taken in for a slimmer look or to prevent fabric from bunching around the collar. “We want it to lay flat along the back,” he says.
When it comes to the pant, Engel says there should be a little fold in front that hits the shoe. “The pant should be about 2 inches off the ground, depending on the shoes,” he says.
Some of the tailoring choices will come down to personal preference, Engel says, but in the end, it’s about fitting the suit to your body. “We thread the needle between being comfortable but looking your best,” he says.
Suit Styles
“I prefer to think of them as classic, modern and slim,” Michael Engel says. Generally, an American style suit (classic suit) is roomier with a boxy fit that tends to be more comfortable and is suited for the average body type. A British suit (what Engel would consider modern) is a good option for most men and includes structured tailoring, thicker fabric and a more formal fit. The European suit (slim suit) fits closest to the body with thinner fabric to produce a trim look.
The Foursome
Instagram: @shopthefoursome
