Entering the room with the look that would would make James Bond grimace requires a certain amount of preparation. If you want to stride into that board meeting looking like you do have that licence to kill, you’ve got to take a moment to make sure your kit is primed and ready for action. Preparation is the cornerstone of the well-dressed, successful man.

Proper preparation can be divided into two-steps:

1. Inspect your Suit prior to wear

Remove the suit from its garment bag and hang it out to air.

Check the integrity of the stitching and lining, inside and out. Look for any shiny spots on the outside fabric, which is caused when fabric fibres flatten out, causing them to reflect light. Note any other marks and creases, and do a quick sniff test near the armpit region.

Lines and stitching:For any lining or stitching issue, your suit is temporarily out-of-order until such time that it can be repaired. Wearing it will only cause more damage.

Shiny spots:Unfortunately there is no known fix worth mentioning. Over dry cleaning your suit will accelerate its wear and cause a listless, shiny appearance. Proper Suit Maintenance including regularly brushing your suit is the best prevention.

Marks/Stains:More often than not a suit brush can remove marks found on your suit. If you come across a stain you can try to gently blot it with a damp white cotton napkin or towel. If this does not work, it is probably a job for another time or a professional cleaning service.

Creases and Odours:Airing it will remove most lingering odours or moisture. Steam is also an effective odour remover - it not only helps remove odours, but it also removes creases and help rejuvenate the fibres. Some men take their garments into the bathroom when they shower, with varying degrees of result. A garment steamer is more effective.

{CAUTIONARY NOTE: When using a garment steamer, it is important to be very careful around areas that have been shaped through careful pressing and ironing, such as the chest area. Excessive steam may cause these moulded areas to lose their shape.]

2. Ensure the suit fits you correctly

If your suit has passed inspection it's now time to field-test it. An ill-fitting suit should be avoided at all costs; sometimes you just want every little thing to be perfect; but at minimum, use our tips below as a guide (also, see this greatvisual guidebe Real Men Real Style):

The shoulder seams of the jacket should finish at the end of your shoulders – where they start curving down to your arm. There should be no depressions or wrinkles in the shoulders anywhere.With the top button done up, the jacket should feel like it is lightly hugging your midsection. If the jacket is pulling at the bottom and creating an X, it means it is too tight.The length of your jacket should not fall below the bottom of your fly (zipper).There should be no gap between your jacket collar and your shirt. In turn, the shirt should rest comfortably against the back of the neck.Your shirt collar should sit comfortably above your jacket (about 0.6cm).Your shirt cuffs should be exposed from the jacket sleeve (about 1.3cm).Your pants should sit comfortably at your waist and drape naturally down your leg. There should be no need for a belt to hold them up.The leg (or hem) should sit nicely just atop of the shoes.

Preparation thus plays an important part in proper Suit Maintenance. Getting into the habit of inspecting your suit prior to wear allows you to capture small problems when they arise, such as a lose stitch or a small stain, and deal with them quickly, easily and, more often, inexpensively. Your suit will thank you for it.

In the next instalment of the Suit Maintenance series, we show youhow to properly brush your suit- one of the most critical yet neglected rituals of proper suit maintenance.