One of the best things a man can do to dress well is to wear clothes that fit. It is easy to pick a shirt or pair of pants off the shelf in what is roughly the correct size, but the modern teenager really should know what to look for in clothing.

The cardinal virtue of good fit is a general lack of bagginess. This is especially true when looking at shirts tucked in at the belt. If the shirt fabric is swells over the sides, the shirt probably isn’t the right fit. Also watch for billowing sleeves, which can make the wearer look juvenile, something no teenager wants. In pants, bagginess is most clearly shown when the waistline is far too wide, and must be wrangled in with a lot of belt. It isn’t a good look. The educated dresser should also look into which fit of pants best goes with his frame. Slim fit or classic fit tends to look best on skinnier men while taller more built men may look for a less trimmed fit.

Of course one must also guard against the opposite of bagginess: tightness. It is not in the style of a gentleman to wear a dress shirt so tight that upon any real movement, buttons become a projectile hazard. Tight fits are much easier to recognize than baggy fits. Really, it becomes too tight when the garment is a struggle to button or feels restrictive in areas. Simple as that. Excessive tightness must be watched for however. It detracts from appearance, lifespan of attire, and overall fashion.

Fit is one of the few universal elements of style which should be obeyed by any man dressing up. To really understand it and practice it, find out proper measurements, make use of a good tailor to make sure clothes fit to an individual’s custom body type, and enjoy the dressing up.