The Biggest Suit Mistakes Men Make (And How to Fix Them)

A young man wearing a modern dark suit jacket and trousers looking down, perfect for illustrating style adjustments and common suit mistakes to avoid in Orem.

The Biggest Suit Mistakes Men Make (And How to Fix Them)

Menswear is full of unwritten rules. If you have never been explicitly taught how a suit is supposed to function, it is incredibly easy to make a few minor errors that instantly downgrade your entire look.

The good news? The most common suit mistakes have absolutely nothing to do with how much money you spent on the outfit. They are simple wearing errors that take about ten seconds to fix. If you want to look sharp, intentional, and perfectly put-together for your next wedding or business meeting, here are the top mistakes to avoid—brought to you by the styling experts at Jack's Choice Formalwear in Orem.

1. Leaving the Vents and Pockets Sewn Shut

When a high-quality suit arrives at our shop, the manufacturer has loosely stitched the back vents (the flaps at the bottom rear of the jacket) and the front pockets shut. This is done purely to help the garment keep its shape during shipping.

  • The Mistake: Guys will buy a suit, put it on, and walk out the door with a giant "X" of white thread holding their jacket flaps together. It restricts your movement and looks ridiculous.

  • The Fix: Take a small pair of scissors or a seam ripper and carefully snip the "X" threads on the back vents. You should also snip the threads holding your pockets shut so you can actually use them!

2. Leaving the Brand Tag on the Sleeve

This is the ultimate rookie mistake, and we see it at weddings all the time.

  • The Mistake: Leaving the little rectangular brand label stitched to the cuff of your left sleeve.

  • The Fix: That tag is not a flex; it is essentially a barcode meant to help store employees organize inventory on the racks. It is held on by a few loose threads specifically so you can cut it off before you wear it. Snip it off immediately!

3. Buttoning the Bottom Button

Suit buttons are not like shirt buttons—you are not supposed to use all of them. Suit jackets are tailored to flare out elegantly at the waist, and buttoning the bottom button completely ruins the silhouette.

  • The Mistake: Fastening both buttons on a two-button suit jacket. It creates an ugly pulling effect and makes the jacket bunch up when you walk.

  • The Fix: Memorize the classic "Sometimes, Always, Never" rule. On a three-button suit: Sometimes button the top, Always button the middle, Never button the bottom. On a modern two-button suit, the rule is even simpler: Always button the top, never button the bottom. (And remember to unbutton your jacket entirely when you sit down!)

4. The Visible White Undershirt

There is nothing wrong with wearing an undershirt to protect your dress shirt from sweat, especially during a hot Utah summer. However, no one else should know you are wearing one.

  • The Mistake: Wearing a high-collared white crew-neck t-shirt under your dress shirt and leaving your top dress shirt button undone. That visible triangle of white cotton instantly makes your suit look like a school uniform.

  • The Fix: If you are not wearing a tie and plan to leave your top button undone, you must wear a deep V-neck undershirt (preferably in a heather grey or skin-toned color, which hides better under a white dress shirt than a pure white undershirt does).

5. The "Box Set" Tie and Pocket Square

We have all seen those cheap, plastic-wrapped boxes at department stores that include a matching shiny tie and identical pocket square.

  • The Mistake: Wearing a pocket square that is made from the exact same fabric and pattern as your tie. It looks incredibly amateur and forced.

  • The Fix: Your pocket square should complement your tie, not duplicate it. If you have a navy tie with red polka dots, wear a solid red pocket square, or a classic white linen square with a red edge. When in doubt, a crisp, white, straight-folded pocket square goes with absolutely everything.

Stop Guessing, Start Looking Great

If you want to avoid all of these mistakes entirely, the easiest solution is to stop buying off the rack and hoping for the best.

When you get your suit from Jack's Choice Formalwear, our experts walk you through every single detail. We will measure you perfectly, remove the shipping threads, show you exactly how to button your jacket, and help you select accessories that coordinate flawlessly.

👉 Click here to explore our Formalwear Collections and book your professional fitting today!

📍 Come let the pros style you: 155 W 400 N, Orem, UT 84057

📞 Have a question about your suit? Call us: (801) 226-7681