1. Make sure your suit fits.
This is one we can’t say enough. If you own a beautiful, top-of-the-line suit, but it doesn’t look good on you, then it doesn’t do you any good. When you purchase a suit, consider your body and what would look best on you. If you are a bit shorter, find a single-breasted jacket to make you appear taller; if you’re a bit heavier around the middle, find a jacket that buttons lower to make you appear longer. Make sure you have full range of motion in the suit jacket, and make sure the hem on the shoulder hits you right at your shoulder joint. Your vest should fit comfortably and hit just below the waistband of your pants. Find a reputable tailor to help fix any minor fit issues or better yet, consider a custom suit.
2. Remember your buttons.
Believe it or not, there is a proper “suit-buttoning etiquette” that you need to know. First, always button all of the buttons on your dress shirt, including the buttons on your shirt cuff. Make sure the center of your button-down shirt, your belt buckle and your pants fly are all in a straight line. If you’re wearing a jacket with two buttons, button only the top button, but if you’re wearing a jacket with three buttons, always button the middle, and if you want, the top button. Never button the bottom button on any jacket.
3. Accessorize appropriately.
There are many suit accessories to choose from, but picking the right accessories in the right color is very important. Pick a tie that complements your suit and your personality and sense of style. Always match your belt and shoes – typically black goes with everything, unless you’re wearing a khaki-toned suit, in which case you should choose a brown belt and brown shoes. The hardware on your belt buckle should also match your watch, and your socks should be in the same color tone as your pants.
4. Steam or press your suit.
Nothing looks sloppier than a wrinkled suit. Take the time to have your suit steamed or pressed at a dry cleaner or a tailor, or do it yourself. If you choose to do it yourself, make sure you know what you’re doing so you don’t ruin your suit. A freshly steamed or pressed suit helps you look clean and polished.
5. Groom yourself the day of the event.
The first thing people look at is your face so if you want to look your best, you have to make sure you take care of a few hygiene items. In addition to the things you should do daily, like taking a shower, using deodorant and brushing and flossing your teeth, also trim and clean any facial hair, removing stray hairs not only from your beard or goatee, but also from your nose, ears and eyebrows. Clip and clean under your nails to make your hands presentable, and always use cologne sparingly, because too much can be off-putting to others.