4 things every guy should know before going to a tailor for the first time

Going to a tailor can be a daunting experience for a young man.

Many questions are likely swirling through your mind: "How do I know what to ask for?", "How do I know if I'm getting my suit tailored the way I want it to be?", and "What do I even ask for?"

Well, worry no more. Here's your cheat sheet.

Know what tailors can actually do.

A tailor is not a miracle worker, and there are only a few set common alterations a tailor will be able to make to your suits and shirts.

According to Primer, here they are:

• Shortening suit jacket sleeves.
• Hemming pants to make them shorter.
• Adding or removing pant cuffs.
• Slimming the arms or sides of a suit jacket.
• Slimming the rear and legs of the pants.
• Adding darts to make a dress shirt fit slimmer, and shortening the cuffs.

Familiarize yourself with the tailor's approach.

Tailors are not a one-size-fits-all affair, according to Men's Journal. A traditional Wall Street-style tailor is going to tailor the suit a little more conservatively than one that specializes in the more modern, closer-fitting style.

Know what your tailor is known for, as you might need to give additional instructions to get exactly what you want.

Learn the language.

It's simple: It's a lot easier to ask for what you want if you know how. Chances are, a good tailor will already know what needs to be done, but it will never hurt to be more specific. The three most important terms to know are:

• Let it out (you want more fabric here).
• Take it in (you want less fabric so it fits closer to the body).
• Break (how your pants will drape over your shoes).

With these three under your belt, you'll likely sound like you know what you're talking about, even if you really haven't a clue.

Know what's in style.

In order to be certain that what you're asking for is appropriate, you need to know what the current trends are for men's suiting.

• For shirt cuffs, you're going to want between 1/4" and 1/2" showing.
• Pant breaks should be kept to little or no break so that the pant flows seamlessly into the shoe with little extra fabric draping over.
• Jackets should be kept slim-fitting, with only the slightest hint of tugging at the front when buttoned.
• Pants should be relatively slim fit and flattering, with a slight taper to your ankles.