5 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT JACKET

Precisely fitting shoulder pads

Pay attention to the shoulder pads. These should sit right on your shoulders and the side seam should directly follow the bend where they fold into the arm. If the seam extends over the shoulder, causing the sleeve to wrinkle, you’ve gone for a size larger than you really need. If, on the other hand, the seam slides too much towards the neck, try a jacket one size larger.

^{Source: with the permission of Metropole Zličín}

Turn it on

Maybe this advice sounds trite, but some people really forget to try on the jacket with it on. But don’t make that mistake, try buttoning the jacket and check that the fabric around the buttons doesn’t pull too far back or that it’s not too tight when buttoned. If so, it is small and it is better to try a size bigger. If you can fit both palms between the buttoned jacket and your body, it is, on the other hand, too big. It will make you look big and wide, which you definitely don’t want from the perfect jacket!

^{Source: with the permission of Metropole Zličín}

TIP stylist: Most of us tend to roll them up even with the right sleeve length. And that’s good! With this little trick, you will optically slim your figure and stretch your arms. And if you don’t like the fact that the sleeves have a life of their own and keep sliding back down, just take two ordinary hair elastics (ideally in the color of the jacket), put them on the beginning of the sleeve and roll it up to the desired height. The rubber band will keep your sleeve in one place and bring your outfit to perfection.

A collar that doesn’t strangle

A perfectly fitting collar should precisely frame your lower neck. If the collar deviates too much from the neck, the jacket will flap unnecessarily and the elegance is gone. But if you have the opposite problem and it’s too tight, definitely go for a bigger size. Do not forget that the jacket should be comfortable for you.

Sleeves up to the wrist

For a men’s jacket, the sleeve should end slightly higher than the wrist so that the shirt cuff can be seen. But this, at least in most cases, does not apply to women’s jackets. There, the length of the sleeve can be left identical to the length of the shirt, i.e. up to the bend of the wrist. But if you want to show off your new watch, feel free to shorten the length of the sleeve a bit according to the men’s rules.

^{Source: with the permission of Metropole Zličín}

Lining: not visible, but watch out for it

Even though she can’t be seen, it doesn’t mean that the rules don’t apply to her. Like the outer fabric, the lining should not wrinkle or gather too much anywhere. If, when wearing a jacket, you feel that it is pulling you from the inside and you cannot straighten it in any way, the jacket is too small. Also check the bottom hem, which should stay straight. If it starts to curl or fold inward, again, it means you went for a small size. If, on the other hand, the lining starts to accumulate in some place when you wear it, which happens especially when you move, the jacket is too big for you. Of course, the lining gets a lot of wear and tear, but exposing it to the public eye is a real faux pas.

TIP of Metropole Zličín stylist: If you are going to buy your first jacket, be sure to start with black. It’s a timeless classic that will go well with most formal outfits, but you can also use it in your casual wardrobe. Look for a slightly fitted, single-breasted jacket that ends 2 to 3 inches below the hip line. You can easily match them with trousers, skirts and dresses and believe me, you won’t want to put them down.