When wearing a suit, the key to carrying items without disrupting the garment's clean lines and tailored fit is to minimize bulk and distribute weight evenly. To carry things while wearing a suit, you want to avoid bulky items, and try to keep any bulk even on both sides of the suit.
Strategies for Carrying Essentials in a Suit
The primary goal is to maintain the suit's silhouette. Bulky pockets or uneven distribution of items can cause sagging or lumps, detracting from the sharp appearance. This means rethinking how you typically carry your everyday items.
Here are some common swaps and practices based on effective suit-wearing strategies:
- Slim Down Your Wallet: A traditional thick wallet is often too large for suit pockets.
- A slim wallet or card holder will fit well in an inside breast pocket. These pockets are designed to hold flat items without creating noticeable bulges on the chest or front of the jacket.
- Manage Your Cash: Carrying loose cash or a thick stack in a wallet adds significant bulk.
- Put your cash in a money clip in the pants pocket to keep the wallet thin. This separates your cards from your cash, distributing the load. The pants pocket can often handle a money clip without distorting the suit trousers significantly, provided it's not overly full.
- Utilize Interior Pockets: Suit jackets are designed with various interior pockets. These are the best places for essentials like a phone (if slim), card holder, or pen, as they place items against your body rather than against the outside fabric of the jacket.
- Minimize What You Carry: Only bring the absolute necessities when wearing a suit. Leave non-essential items like excessive keys, bulky keychains, or extra gadgets behind or in a bag (briefcase, messenger bag) carried separately.
By following these principles – avoiding bulk and balancing items – you can carry your essential belongings discreetly while preserving the elegant drape and structure of your suit.
