# How many suits should I own? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 22, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355 "2008-12-22T19:38:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355/21 "2009-01-07T18:05:15Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > Hello. I hate to revive an old thread, but I don’t think creating a new one is really necessary, as this has turned into an omnibus of “suit Q&As.” > > Anyways, I just purchased a suit, had it tailored, and was really excited to wear it. In fact, today is the first time I’ve worn it out. However, it happened to be raining quite hard, and although I tried shielding myself under an umbrella, the jacket got pretty soaked. > > Fears had crossed my mind as to whether or not the rain would somehow damage the fabric. As it dried, it didn’t leave any marks, but the area where the sleeve meets the shoulder looks a little misshapen. I have no idea what the fabric is, but it’s definitely not in the same condition as it was pre-rain. For future reference, should I not wear suits in the rain? My slacks, which were equally wet, show no noticeable deformation. > > I’m kind of worried that I ruined my new suit. Can this be fixed somehow? Via pressing maybe? I don’t even know what the hell “pressing” is. Help me, please! It sounds like some of the internal structure of the shoulders got wet and a bit misshapen - your pants have no such infrastructure, so are fine. Get the jacket pressed to dry out the internal components in a way that they “set” in the proper shape. Getting a suit pressed is simply that - a form of ironing. By Dry Cleaners have pressers that are the correct shape - they load the jacket onto the mannequin shape, press a button and voila. Do not try this at home… ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355/22 "2009-01-07T18:51:48Z")
[Ask Andy](http://http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/index.php) is a great place to educate yourself about all matters sartorial. Great advice, and discussions galore. A quality suit can last a long time, and is therefore worth the money, if you can afford it. Look up “full canvas construction”. Suits made that way tend to look good even at the end of the day, and day after day. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355/23 "2009-01-07T20:07:23Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > It sounds like some of the internal structure of the shoulders got wet and a bit misshapen - your pants have no such infrastructure, so are fine. Get the jacket pressed to dry out the internal components in a way that they “set” in the proper shape. > > Getting a suit pressed is simply that - a form of ironing. By Dry Cleaners have pressers that are the correct shape - they load the jacket onto the mannequin shape, press a button and voila. Do not try this at home… Thanks for the info. Ugh, I really hate shoulder pads. What is the point? To make my shoulders look broad and disproportionate with the rest of my body? Ok, so maybe it doesn’t look that bad, but without them, I’m guessing I wouldn’t have the wet-misshapen jacket problem. I’ve heard suede can’t get wet, so I was just wondering if any other fabric that might be common in suits reacted the same way when wet. You’ve reassured me, though, that my suit is not irreversibly damaged. _breathes heavy, relieved sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2009, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355/24 "2009-01-07T20:40:39Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > You’ve reassured me, though, that my suit is not irreversibly damaged. Do not, however, put your suit in the washing machine. It will come out smaller and fuzzier. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-suits-should-i-own/478355.md?page=1)