How to Buy an Off-the-rack Suit and Make it Look Custom

So you need a suit. Whether you’re graduating (congrats!), interviewing for a job (good luck!), or attending your beloved aunt's funeral (our sincere condolences), you’re gonna want a suit that looks good and fits great. And while we’re all for high-end designer shops on the one hand, and ultra-trendy fast-fashion houses on the other, sometimes hitting up your local department store is your best bet. They’ve got loads of inventory, often deal in separates (that’s for you, guy with gigantic shoulders and a tiny waist), and will get you in and out without spending a zillion dollars. But the department store is not without its dangers: Commission-savvy salesmen, two-sizes-too-big jackets, and trousers with yards-long inseams will pop up at every turn. To defeat them—and to find a matching jacket and pair of pants that look really, really great—here’s our no-fail, painless, step-by-step guide to buying an off the rack suit.

Originally Appeared on GQ