How to buy a great suit under any budget

A suit is a fantastic thing to wear, as long as you know how to do it well. Suits can look great and get you a leg up in the competition at work, or make you look great no matter where you are. 

Know what size you wear. As easy as it sounds, most men do not seem to know what size they wear. Get these steps right and you'll be on your way to a better looking suit.

Shoulders: The shoulders of a suit should hug yours, not hang off of them. Make sure the padding does not extend past your own shoulders.

Chest: Make sure that there is not too much room between you and your suit. It should not be tight, but there should only be about a fist's worth of room between you and your jacket.

Length: With your arms to your side, you should be able to cup your fingers around the sides of the suit jacket, no longer, but in these modern times suits can be shorter.

Buttons: Now that it is no longer the 90s, you should stick to two-button suit jackets. And also, leave the one-button jackets for tuxedos.

Vents: A suit jacket should have vents. Vents are the slits in the back of the jacket. Do not buy a suit without vents. A center vent is more of an American traditional style, while the two side vents are a bit more European and modern.

Lapel: Notch lapel or peak lapel? Notch lapel is the standard, seen on most business suits. This is the one that has the triangle shaped cut to it. Peak lapels have, obviously, a peak in the lapel. Either way, as long as it's widest point is about the same as the tie and the color, you're golden.

Pants: FLAT FRONT PANTS. Do not have pleats anywhere on your suit. That includes your shirt. 

A suit jacket should have vents. Vents are the slits in the back of the jacket. Do not buy a suit without vents. A center vent is more of an American traditional style, while the two side vents, shown on the right, are a bit more European and modern. 

Notch lapel or peak lapel? Notch lapel, shown to the right on Ryan Gosling, is the standard, seen on most business suits. This is the one that has the triangle shaped cut to it. Peak lapels have, obviously, a peak in the lapel. Either way, as long as it's widest point is about the same as the tie and the color, you're golden. 

Whether your suit costs $200 or $2000, it needs tailoring. Most tailors are used to doing jobs for guys who have no idea what they want, but you won't be the same. An average tailoring job will cost you an extra $100-150, and it will make your suit look as if it were a million bucks. Here's what you need done:

Sleeves: Most do not even think of this, but have the sleeves of your suit narrowed. It makes a dramatic difference. 

Cuffs: If it isn't already the appropriate length, have then shortened. Insist on a quarter-inch to a half-inch of your dress shirt to show past the suit sleeves with your arms hanging down. 

Body: Have the jacket brought in at the waist to give it that v-shape. 

Pants: Have the pants narrowed just as you had the sleeves of the jacket. Then have them shortened, to where there is very little or no break. 

If you can afford that expensive Prada suit, good for you. If you are looking to buy a suit that doesn't cost you a fortune, check out department stores or stores like J. Crew, H&M, Zara and Uniqlo. Even though these suits are cheaper, they will still look great as long as they fit you perfectly. One last tip, ignore anything the sales guy says to you.