No body is PERFECT

No individual body is perfect. And no great-looking suit on a mannequin looks great if it's on the wrong body. The groom needs to do a body assessment.

He should start taking care of himself at least six months before the wedding with a balanced diet and regular workouts.

When a groom has done his best to be his best, good tailoring can do the rest.

Note the length

Jacket length: The jacket should be long enough to cover a man's seat, about one to two inches lower then the bottom of the seat when standing.

Pant length: A pant with or without a cuff should be long enough to just slightly break over the shoe.

Pockets: The usual pocket in a tuxedo is a flap pocket.

Shirt Sleeve: French cuffs are the accepted style of the formal shirt.

Pumped-up shoulders

Big muscles, especially across the shoulders, push a jacket up, and this results in the neck looking shorter then it really is. This also can cause creases across the back.

Broad chest

His build looks great in swim trunks but can be a minor problem in formal dress. A buttoned jacket, improperly fitted, can cause the lapels to lie less then flat, so that the jacket looks as if it's stretching.

Curved back

Even a slim man can have a back that is not ramrod straight. This type of body should avoid a jacket that is too short and collars that are too loose. A man with a rounded back needs more length in the back then is usual in a standard jacket. If the collar is too loose, the jacket will tend to shift toward the back.

Strickly personal

• Check out the material of the suit. Wool is the preferred fabric.
• Check the construction good workmanship is clearly evident.
• Pay attention to what style works for your body type.
• Check the mirror carefully. Look for creasing, pulling or sagging.
• A stocky man should avoid a slim silhouette.
• A man with a larger girth should avoid a double vent because this puts the emphasis on the hips.
• A short man should avoid double-breasted suits and cuffed pants both tend to make a body seem shorter.
• A standard style that has stood the test of time is the three-button, single-vented suit.