A comment about men's store sales staff

In the spirit of the men's fashion part-motive Leo had for starting this blog, here's a short story...

I went to Jos. A. Bank today because some of the suits were 60% off, including a seersucker. I get there, and of course they don't have my size. I am a 38L (the Boss suit in my picture on the side is 38R though, and I'm close to that in other brands). I could probably even use the equivalent of a 37 sometimes. I am an odd size... 6'1", about 155lb, longish arms, etc. 

So what does the woman at the store tell me? Well, I start off in a 39, and she claims it too small! She has me go up to a 40. I was swimming in the 39, but it wasn't as bad as the 40, obviously. Shoulders were just a little big in the 39, and of course the problem got worse in the 40. What does she say? Yes, I need a 40! Tells me the lapel is supposed to lay flat on my chest, and it didn't do so in the 39 because it was too small. That's funny...all my other suits, suits that fit me, don't have that problem. 

How did we make the lapel lay flat on my chest in the 40. Well, instead of my shoulders back, chest out, proper posture I had on display when looking at the jacket in the mirror, she grabs the jacket by the lapel and pulls it forward. This made me look like Tessio from the Godfather - tall, gangly, round-shouldered - basically horrible. But hey, the lapels were now flat to the chest!

I said, "well, I don't think this fits. I prefer less fabric around the body, and much tighter in the shoulders. The shoulders are not going to wear well in this jacket." Of course I'm wrong... "Well, this is how it's supposed to fit." 

"Are you sure?" I said, knowing she is terribly wrong.

"Of course, I sell suits for a living."

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Moral of the story to all 23 of our readers. Avoid salesmen, women, etc. like the plague. Read up about how suits are supposed to fit for your bodytype before you go to the store. Oh, and never shop at Jos. A. Bank. It really is a horrible store. Overpriced, bland, crappy suits, and foolish staff. Also, same holds true for Men's Warehouse. I've had two bad experiences there as well. They're just looking to sell you the suit, they don't really care how it looks.