How far should suit sleeves go?

Jacket Sleeve Length

“A half-inch of linen” is a good, old-fashioned guideline for the relationship between a suit jacket and the shirt worn under it — about half an inch of the shirt cuff should be visible beyond the jacket cuff.

Similarly one may ask, where should suit sleeves fall?

Answer: Your suit jacket/blazer sleeve should end right above the top of your wrist bone (or the hinge of your wrist). However, in order to show the proper amount of dress shirt cuff based on the correct suit jacket sleeve length, your shirt sleeve length must obviously fit correctly.

Also Know, how much of your shirt cuff should show? To recap: Suit sleeves should fit so that they are, on average, four inches from the tip of the thumb. If you only wear French cuff shirts then going a little shorter, four and a half inches, is acceptable. Button or barrel cuffs should show a quarter to half an inch out from the bottom of suit sleeves.

In this regard, should you be able to lift your arms in a suit?

Even a bespoke suit does not give you endless reaching power. You have a suit jacket that is made to your dimensions, made to sit flat across your shoulders and the neck of the jacket is tight without a collar gap. Raising your arms over your head is going to make even the best bespoke jacket rise up if it is buttoned.

How do you fix a long sleeve on a suit?

There's a quick and simple fix called “The Rubberband Trick”

Grab 2 rubberbands.
Remove your jacket, if it's on.
Tug your shirt sleeves up until your cuffs hit your wrist (this is the appropriate sleeve length).
Repeat for the other arm.
Throw on your jacket, adjust as needed and you're ready to go!

35 Related Question Answers Found

Should shirt sleeves show under suit?

Jacket Sleeve Length

“A half-inch of linen” is a good, old-fashioned guideline for the relationship between a suit jacket and the shirt worn under it — about half an inch of the shirt cuff should be visible beyond the jacket cuff. That said, it's a general guideline, and you don't need to get too obsessive.

How do you know if a jacket fits?

The Shoulder Seam Check

If the shoulder seams are halfway down your bicep, either the coat isn't your size or that particular style has a different cut. As expected, a proper fitting coat will have the shoulder seams that line up with your shoulders.

How much does it cost to shorten suit sleeves?

Here is a list of common, average prices for standard alterations on a variety of garments: Shorten dress-shirt sleeves: $19. Shorten jacket sleeves: $23 (without buttons) to $28 (with buttons) Take in the body of a jacket: $40 (two seams) to $52 (three seams)

Should I buy a coat one size bigger?

Yes, you should buy a winter coat one size bigger! If your coat is too big, there will simply be too much room and space for warm body heat to escape. When it comes to finding the best fit for your warm winter jacket you may need to try several styles and brands on before you find THE ONE!

Can suit sleeves be shortened?

A suit jacket's length can be altered. However, it cannot be made longer – only shorter. It's a risky alteration because the spacing of the pockets and button holes cannot be changed and if a jacket is shortened too much, you run the risk of compromising the balance of the garment.

Are men's suit jackets getting shorter?

Suit jackets are shorter than they were a decade ago, but you don't want your entire ass showing, either. If you hang your arms loose at your sides, your fingers should be able to easily cup the bottom hem of your suit jacket. Any shorter and you'll look like a doll.

How long should a suit last?

Given these assumptions, an average suit should last around 250–400 washes (dry-cleaning only).

How do you know if a suit is too big?

Here's how to tell if your suit is too big:

The shoulder – the shoulder of your suit jacket should conform to the shoulder on your body.
The sleeve – with your arms hanging at ease the sleeve of your jacket should end where your thumb meets your wrist.

How tight should a suit feel?

The 'X' in your jacket means that its too tight. The lapels shouldn't be hanging too loosely over your body, nor should the suit jacket be flaring up (too tight). As a general rule of thumb, your flat hands should be able to slip into your suit under your lapels, with your top button or middle button fastened.

How many suits should I own?

With this in mind, our foundational recommendation is that every man should own a minimum of three suits: one each in navy, charcoal and black. This combination is appropriate for all occasions. Black is formal and the others are standard business colors that match a multitude of accessories.

How do I know my suit size?

With arms at your sides, measure around your upper body, under your armpits and over the fullest part of your chest and shoulder blades. Bend to one side to find the natural crease of your waist. Measure at this point, keeping the tape comfortably loose around your waist.

Can Suit shoulders be altered?

Shoulders. When you first try on a suit jacket off the rack, you're mainly checking for a fit in the shoulders. Virtually any other jacket alteration is possible and not terribly expensive. A properly fitting shoulder is one of the most important parts of fitting a suit.

How much should you be able to move in a suit?

Also, when your jacket is buttoned, you want to be able to pull it a little bit and have about two inches of five centimeters of room. Sometimes it can be a little less but you don't want it to be too tight otherwise it's uncomfortable; and if it's too wide, you get puddling creases.

Should a slim fit suit feel tight?

"If a slim-fit suit's trousers fit well, you should have about two inches of fabric to pinch in the thigh when you're standing up, and a couple more inches around the bottom of your ankle. (A skinny suit, by contrast, would be tight at the ankles.)

Can suit armholes be raised?

Yup. But the armholes can rarely be raised, which limits the amount you can shrink the circumference of the top of the sleeve.

How much cuff is too much?

Many menswear guides claim that the proper amount of cuff to show falls between between 1/2″ (1.25 cm) to 1″ (2.5cm). Most guides, us included, agree that anything more than 1.25″ (4cm) is too much cuff to show; it makes the junction of your two sleeves look like you haven't considered how they will go together.

How do I measure sleeve length?

To measure your sleeve length:

Measure from the center back of your neck (at your spine) to the end of your shoulder at the top of your arm. 2. Measure from your shoulder to just past your wrist bone to where you would like your shirt cuff to sit. Always slightly bend the elbow when measuring to allow for extra ease.