Wear a suit, tie, and dress shoes for more than an hour in the hot Texas sun and your skin will begin to itch and wrinkle.
The same goes for wearing these garments inside too.
We’ve all been there — trying to impress at a wedding or get ahead at work — only to find that the suit feels too tight, doesn’t feel comfortable on us, or just plain makes us want to crawl out of our own skin.
So the question is: why are suits uncomfortable? And most importantly, what can you do about it to make them more comfortable?
In this article, we’re going to answer everything you need to know about why your suit is uncomfortable and how to fix it.
Let’s go.
1. The fabrics
It’s no secret that cotton and wool are the most uncomfortable materials to wear.
Due to all their nooks and crannies, wearing a suit or anything made of these materials will cause friction between your skin and the clothes, causing discomfort.
The truth is:
Usually, if your suit is cheap and it is made of wool, then it’s going to be heavy and uncomfortable.
This is not ideal, especially if you live a hot climate.
However, this doesn’t mean that linen is good or silk is great- just that they’re better than cotton or wool.
The solution? Look for a suit that’s made of linen/cashmere, which are much more comfortable than wool.
Look:
It might be a little more expensive, but the extra expense will improve your comfortal level.
If your suit is made out of cotton or wool, don’t expect it to be all that comfy.
2. Your suit is too tight
Sometimes it’s hard to decide on the right sizes, fitting, and fabrics of your suit.
But what happens when your suit is too tight?
It can really feel uncomfortable.
When an item of clothing feels too tight, it pulls on the fibres in our skin and causes friction between the materials.
That friction can cause sweating, which will only make the situation worse.
The solution? It’s easy- get a bigger size!
The problem?
I’m sure you’ve been told that a tighter suit looks better, but if it’s so tight that it is uncomfortable then it’s not worth it.
You should still be able to find a size that fits you and is comfortable.
The trick is to make sure that you can lift your arms horizontal to your shoulders.
If you can, it should be comfortable. if you can’t, it will likely be too tight.
3. Your skin doesn’t react well to wool
If you have sensitive skin, especially if it’s red or irritating, wearing a suit of wool isn’t going to feel good.
Wool is responsible for a lot of rashes, dry skin and itching.
The solution?
It’s pretty obvious but look for a suit that’s made out of cotton or linen/cashmere instead.
As mentioned above, your suit may also be too tight which is irritating your skin even more.
If that’s the case, get a better-fitting suit!
4. It’s too hot!
This is an obvious one: suits are heavy, they’re made out of heavy material and they’re not supposed to be worn in hot weather.
But when the heat gets too extreme, your suit can get really uncomfortable.
When it’s too hot, you’ll begin to sweat more, which will make your suit stick!
The solution?
Wear a lighter-weight suit in warmer weather or simply stick to a fashionable shirt.
You don’t always need a suit. Sometimes a shirt can be stylish.
5. You’re wearing it wrong
If you don’t know how to wear a suit, you can make your suit uncomfortable in the process.
Things like: where you carry your arms, how tight the necktie is, and even the way that you hold your briefcase in your hand can cause friction between your skin and the garment.
These things happen when you’re not wearing a suit properly or as intended so take care when dressing for work or a special occasion.
If you think this might be the case, then you might want to improve your posture and get lessons on how to walk like a man.
6. Your shoes are uncomfortable
There are a lot of shoes that don’t feel good and cause you to be uncomfortable.
When you’re wearing a suit, you’ll want to make sure that your shoes work well with your suit, which is why we recommend getting shoes specifically for the suit.
Many people make the mistake of wearing their favorite stylish shoes with a suit, and they’re just not
You don’t want to use athletic shoes because they’re more relaxed, but also because they won’t be comfortable when you’re at a special event or business meeting.
The solution? Get smarter shoes that are more formal, but are also comfortable.
7.You buy cheap suits
This is a big one that needs to be addressed before you go out and buy new clothes.
Most guys think that just because a suit is cheap, it will be comfortable and easy to wear.
Wrong.
Cheap suits are cheap for a reason: they’re made of cheap fabrics and they’re not very well constructed.
The end result? Uncomfortable clothes that you’ll never want to wear again.
8. You’re not wearing a correct under-suit
It’s easy to think that because if you’re wearing a suit, you don’t need to wear an undersuit or you can weae multiple shirts under your suit.
That’s not always the case and will always make you hotter.
In fact, there are some undersuits that help keep your body temperature regulated and will provide you with a good fit.
When it gets too hot, then your armpits will be sweating and that can be uncomfortable.
The solution? Wear an undersuit that’s lined with a moisture-wicking material, which will keep your body cooler in those hot weather and sweat.
Or if you wear multiple shirts under your suit, make sure to only wear one that is light!
That’s it!
9. You’re wearing it too much
Have you ever worn a suit or a shirt for 9 hours straight?
Chances are that you get uncomfortable after a while, right?
It’s the same thing with suits- especially if the fabric you’re wearing isn’t designed well.
The solution? Don’t wear it too much and if you do, then make sure that you take breaks or wash it before you wear it again.
10. You don’t know how to wear it
Your suit should be comfortable. If it’s not, there is one of two problems:
1) The suit doesn’t fit you
2) Or you’re wearing it wrong
But there are some people out there who aren’t very good at putting on a suit, which can cause them to be in pain or uncomfortable for hours.
The solution? Don’t overthink it and just learn how to put on a suit.
You’ll be surprised at how comfortable you’ll feel and that you could even start liking the experience.
How To Wear A Suit
- Make sure you know how to tie a necktie properly
- Don’t wear it for too long at a time, or in very hot conditions
- Stand up straight and don’t slouch all of the time.
- Don’t slump when you walk!
- Make sure the material is high quality, and not thick
- You need to know how to walk like a man.
- Consider taking lessons for a better posture.
- Wear clothes that are appropriate for the job you’re doing and the weather you’re in
- Make sure you’re wearing light clothing underneath
- Properly care for your suit and it’ll last a long time.
- Remember that even though suits are heavy, they’re not supposed to be worn in hot weather
- Always make sure you have a way to hang up your jacket before you leave the house
- Wear shoes that work well with your suit and will be comfortable when you get hot
- Look at yourself in the mirror while dressing and make sure you don’t make any mistakes