NFT: Good place to buy a suit at a reasonable price

and when you say not looking to spend $500, you mean that little right?

Brooks Brothers 1818 line are around $775 on sale right now.

Classic fit and look, they tailor it for you with the suit purchase.

Does Macy's? I looked there once and thought their tailoring was either a hassle or they didn't do it at all stores.

If you plan to wear it regularly I'd go with a good name and spend a decent price, most of the cheap places like Men's Wearhouse and the cheaper "models" from Jos A Bank you can wear a couple times then they lose their shape/form, etc.

Probably get a few sports coats as well. I think I can get quality suits for $350, I'm looking in that ballpark.

finding everyday wear suits.

So I'm interested in others opinions.

Even when I spend more at Brooks Brothers if I rotate 10 - 12 suits they don't last more than a few years.

they just look better longer IMO.

Right now I'm in a sales role and I only travel to customer locations a couple times a month. So I can spend more and the suits last longer.

was a client facing position and I had a bunch of suits. The last one I bought was Banana Republic and I got it for like 250(50% off because spring line just came out). The suit was great and is still in great condition. I wear it as a suit or separates and I love the fit.

You can find high quality brands for slashed prices. Canali, Boss, RL, Zegna, Barbara etc
It's hit and miss depending on stock but I've gotten some really nice suits for a third of their price.

Paul Fredrick, Men Wearhouse, and Indochino will have suits in that price range. Also K&G or Century 21 will occasionally have something nice but you will have to really search for it.

In comment 13358393 CaptSehorn said:

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You can find high quality brands for slashed prices. Canali, Boss, RL, Zegna, Barbara etc It's hit and miss depending on stock but I've gotten some really nice suits for a third of their price.

Those are almost certainly made for outlet pieces. But some are still very nice.

In comment 13358395 Deej said:

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In comment 13358393 CaptSehorn said: Quote: You can find high quality brands for slashed prices. Canali, Boss, RL, Zegna, Barbara etc It's hit and miss depending on stock but I've gotten some really nice suits for a third of their price. Those are almost certainly made for outlet pieces. But some are still very nice.

not so. Majority are cycled from saks main stores when new stocks come in.

I mean majority of the quality items I mentioned are cycled from Saks and Lord and Taylor (owned by same parent company)

The majority of outlet suits are crap or a sub level of a quality brand. You have to hunt.

I guarantee it.

you'll thank me later...

They had some decent suits for $199. I got a Zenga for about $350. I think it was half $800 and they had another 15% off. It's a very nice suit for the price.

J.crew factory is the best place to buy a quality, grown up suit that won't make you look like an asshole.0

jackets like Chaps and Croft&Barrow for ~$60...look for their big sales and coupons...Macy's for cheaper suits like Kenneth Cole Reaction line ~$125 for 2-piece suit... as a matter of fact, right now Amazon has decent Stacey Adams suits for $99.

:-)

rec is probably your best bet. It's a pain in the ass, because you have to go hunting for the right fit, but you can find a very good, typically much more expensive suit for under $300.

Some of the others - I like the J.Crew suits, but I've never been in one of the factory stores, if they're the same as the retail locations that would be my first stop. You couldn't pay me enough to go in a Men's Wearhouse in Manhattan, they've got the worst salesforce known to man. I thought the Macy's suits were cheap looking and poorly made, even though they also came highly recommended to me by a friend.

Where do you live?

I have a guy in CT who I've used exclusively, as he has always hooked me up with great prices, and has a great tailor in store, they will even tailor shirts for you. If your close to the western/southern CT area I'd recommend it.

but there's no way I'm spending $770+ for a suit.

I mean, can't you get nice quality clothing at a more economical price?

In comment 13359538 BillKo said:

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but there's no way I'm spending $770+ for a suit. I mean, can't you get nice quality clothing at a more economical price?

I think that's a fair price for a good suit. I mean it's not Armani level and it's not shit level. I'm a firm believer in if you do your research you get what you pay for. Sure you can get cheaper suits and they'll look good for a while, but in my experience they don't last. Everyone has their own experience.

If I can get two suits for $1500, which is usually what I do every year, I'm fine with it.

and I retire a couple suits from my closet that are older.

I'm in sales and appearance matters. If I wore a suit a couple times a year then I'd go a cheaper route probably.

Went to the mall today, looked into Macy's, Mens Warehouse and some other store I forgot the name of. Nothing fit me well in that price range. Mens Warehouse was ridculously overpriced. Either too small in the chest or too big in the belly. In some suits I'm a 44regular, some 46regular. I need to find 44R slim fit for the right fit in most suits.

In regards to suits, you can certainly get a good quality suit that's a step above the JosABank stuff in the 250-350 range depending on time of year and sales. You have to get wool though. There is def a difference in quality when you go to the next level of 500-750 per. Personally, I would never buy something off the rack for that much. If I'm spending that much, it's going to be custom which will be a perfect fit.

In comment 13359543 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 13359538 BillKo said: Quote: but there's no way I'm spending $770+ for a suit. I mean, can't you get nice quality clothing at a more economical price? I think that's a fair price for a good suit. I mean it's not Armani level and it's not shit level. I'm a firm believer in if you do your research you get what you pay for. Sure you can get cheaper suits and they'll look good for a while, but in my experience they don't last. Everyone has their own experience. If I can get two suits for $1500, which is usually what I do every year, I'm fine with it. and I retire a couple suits from my closet that are older. I'm in sales and appearance matters. If I wore a suit a couple times a year then I'd go a cheaper route probably.

I hear ya on that, I'm just surprised these garments wear out so quickly.....is it from the dry cleaning?

The materials, but how well it fits you. Thus you should be looking for the store with the best tailors. Want the suit to look nice? Lose the paunch or find a tailor who can do something about it.

In comment 13359579 BillKo said:

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In comment 13359543 pjcas18 said: Quote: In comment 13359538 BillKo said: Quote: but there's no way I'm spending $770+ for a suit. I mean, can't you get nice quality clothing at a more economical price? I think that's a fair price for a good suit. I mean it's not Armani level and it's not shit level. I'm a firm believer in if you do your research you get what you pay for. Sure you can get cheaper suits and they'll look good for a while, but in my experience they don't last. Everyone has their own experience. If I can get two suits for $1500, which is usually what I do every year, I'm fine with it. and I retire a couple suits from my closet that are older. I'm in sales and appearance matters. If I wore a suit a couple times a year then I'd go a cheaper route probably. I hear ya on that, I'm just surprised these garments wear out so quickly.....is it from the dry cleaning?

Partly, I think it's the dry cleaning and the travel. I'm on planes and trains all the time and my clothes get stuffed into roll aboard suit cases then thrown in a pile until they get to the cleaners, I just think it takes a toll on clothes.

and maybe a little get-off-my-lawn-ish they don't make things like they used to.

The fit is definitely the most important thing, whereas the fabric and how well it's put together are secondary concerns, but still important.

I haven't tried them myself, but I'm pretty intrigued. Handmade suits, you can order online, or they have a few retail outlets.

you will find for the price anywhere. Gonna be $500 but well worth it for the fit, style, and quality. Will last you a very long time.
SuitSupply - ( New Window )

I bought a suit there, nice fabric and make.
i had to have it remade as the fit was not great.
second time the the waist had to be take in, i went to a tailor and they reimbursed me.
they were extremely accomodating but if you cannot get to the store, I would not do my own measurements.

without knowing how it fits on my shoulders. It really does differ from brand to brand. Macy's had some nice suits, but the only one that fit me well on the shoulders was made of polyester.

indochino is custom online. So you do your measurements and they made the suit.

great service. And the fit really is the most important thing. Most suit makers now a days are pretty good when it comes to quality. The key is to get the fit right.

that guy is all about the fit.

You did good coach.

I want a rotation of different suits for at least 10 business days...don't want to wear the same shit everyday...but it gets expensive...I'll throw in an expensive suit into the rotation once in a blue moon.

How many suits do you have in the rotation right now? I feel like 6 is a good number with a plethora of shirt/tie/pocket square options.

that's glued together. Fabric is number two, 80' 90' 100's wool
do the research, fit very important need good tailors, Brooks brothers has them. Also for an athletic build you might want some Lycra woven into the fabric for give say 2 to 3 % again Brooks Brothers. better suits have canvas floating chest pieces for fit and comfort. the Italian brands have some fine fabric but are not well constructed, don't buy for name.
Martin Greenfield suits are hand stitched even the button holes but you won't get that for $500 although the suit can last a lifetime if cared for well

In comment 13359972 Keith said:

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How many suits do you have in the rotation right now? I feel like 6 is a good number with a plethora of shirt/tie/pocket square options.

I have 8 legit that I can wear and look good in, it stretches to 10 if I need to, but the 10th one looks like I'm wearing the suit from my high school prom. a little fat-guy in a little coat going on, but I have had no choice on one occasion to wear it when every other suit was at the cleaners together after a long stretch on the road.

Normally now I don't travel for long stretches, short but frequent trips, which is better for my rotation. I could 90% of the time get by with 5 suits if I had to.

I almost never wear a tie anymore. Even with financial services customers/insurance companies in NYC who had been among the most conservative companies on the planet for a long time. Maybe first time I meet them I wear a tie, but after that no tie - if they don't all wear ties. I have a ton of ties but generally wear the same few, solid ties or striped, conservative looking.

I have never worn a pocket square. I'd kick my own ass before wearing one of them unless I was in a wedding party and then I'd kick the grooms ass for forcing that shit on me.

never ever match the tie to a pocket square

3 or 4 suits. If you're changing up your tie and shirts no one is ever going to pay attention to what jacket you're wearing.

I've gotten a lot of good suits from Macys - this time of year they're usually on sale. Haven't spent more than $200 on a suit and they've lasted.

I've gotten some on clearance too - which I think is the best way to go. The clearance suits are usually just awkwardly sized (no one fits them). For a reasonable price a decent tailor (outside of the store) can make them fit perfectly.

I went into the store in NY.
I would never trust my own measurements.
I also have Tom James that I won on a raffle.
It is a decent suit but not sure I would buy at full price.

black, grey, navy...throw in a brown, olive, tan...some different patterns like pinstripes and window panes...it helps stretch the dry cleaning cycle, too.