Where to buy a good first suit?

[tehuberc]

I'm going to need one for an internship I'm doing this summer. I've been to Macy's and JC Penny but all of their suits, including their "slim" fit suits are cut ridiculously large and it basically looks like I'm wearing one of my Dad's suits. I like the way some of the suits from Nordstrom fit but they were close to $1000. Anybody know of a place that has good SLIM fit suits for close to $500-$600? I don't want anything ridiculously skinny, just something that would fit a normal college kid, not a 40ish year old business man. Any ideas?

Also, anyone know if this site is legit? It seems too good to be true

Custom Suits & Mens Suits | Indochino

[tplyons]

Men's Wearhouse or Jos. A Bank are the sources of all my suits.

They'll usually have pretty good sales from one time to another.

[drummer5359]

I wore suits my whole adult life until I retired a year and a half ago at age fifty.

Mens Wearhouse and Joseph A Banks are both good recomendations. M-W has lower everyday rices, but J A Banks has afew sales a year that are great.

Either place can handle any size and not make you look like an old man like me.


If it seems too good to be true, it is.

[Ziltoid]

At a man's clothes store with professional working there and not just random clerks doing their time knowing nothing about the actual work. Idk about where you are but here's there's a few mom and pop merceries which is where I bought my first suit 2 years ago, I since bought another elsewhere and a sporting jacket elsewhere as well (out of town shopping).

[Sonic_Death]

As someone who is fairly thin, I had to get the notion out of my head that suits will fit exactly the way the rest of my clothes will.

A large portion of dress clothing feels slightly large on me, but I always look in a mirror to verify, and it usually ends up being a pretty nice fit, even if it feels baggy.

Mens Warehouse is good, and I second the sales at Joseph A Banks.. if you get on their email newsletters, they have insane deals every few months. Joseph A Banks is a bit pricey in general though so I would watch out otherwise.

Also, go in person... don't rely on websites for more than just browsing.

[elgecko]

The OP has been here since 2007 so I'm guessing he's on the up-and-up, but damn, this reads an awful lot like a spambot post.

[jp58]

M-W was super nice to me when I had to get everything for graduation (and a tux for prom). I got pretty good treatment, and the prices were on par or cheaper than most of those that I had talked to about it. It still fits me pretty good, even though I'm a little larger. I still frequently wear many of the dress shirts and ties to "dress-up" events on campus.

As others have mentioned, only go in person. Don't do any of that online junk. At a store, you get it custom fit and tailored, online, not so much. The clerks should know how to fit you no matter what size you are.

[MEKer]

WOW! Whoever told you that you need to spend $500-$600 for a good suit?!!!

BTW:
1. Guess what? Nobody gives a #^*# what your suit cost as long as it clean, pressed and fairly conservative. I've seen great looking $100 - $200 suits. Don't fall for the hype, man.
2. What is 1000% more important than the price of your suit is WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE IN IT.

[GregC]

As someone who used to rely on $100-$200 suits, I'm glad I was able to step up a few years ago and buy two suits in the $500-$600 range from Brooks Brothers. (It helps that my company gets a 15% discount at the nearest location.) They look better, and they're so much more comfortable I can't even properly describe it. That's a big deal for me because I really dislike being in a suit all day. (Luckily, I only have to wear suits about 2 weeks out of the year.) They're styled conservatively, so I should be able to wear them a long, long time. And the customer service there is top-notch.

[jmattbassplaya]

Originally Posted by GregC

As someone who used to rely on $100-$200 suits, I'm glad I was able to step up a few years ago and buy two suits in the $500-$600 range from Brooks Brothers. (It helps that my company gets a 15% discount at the nearest location.) They look better, and they're so much more comfortable I can't even properly describe it. That's a big deal for me because I really dislike being in a suit all day. (Luckily, I only have to wear suits about 2 weeks out of the year.) They're styled conservatively, so I should be able to wear them a long, long time. And the customer service there is top-notch.

This. It's worth spending the extra money in order to buy a nice suit. Sure, cheaper ones will work, but they won't be as comfortable or have as much longevity as higher priced suits.

[MJ5150]

Kenneth Cole makes those slim suits you are looking for. As does Ralph Lauren. I am opposite of you. I am tired of finding those darn slim suits all the time.

I would never, ever buy a custom made suit off the internet. Find yourself a good tailor in your town, and they'll take care of you. I wouldn't buy any suit on the internet until you have your tailor lined up and get some recommendations from them on size.

As for price, there are reasons why some are $1-200 and others are $5-600 and it isn't just the brand. Like Greg, I did my time wearing cheap poly suits from K&G or others. They look cheap, don't hold form, and wear out faster. If you mix company with people who wear nice suits, they'll know if yours is cheap.

-Mike

[hrodbert696]

Originally Posted by GregC

As someone who used to rely on $100-$200 suits, I'm glad I was able to step up a few years ago and buy two suits in the $500-$600 range from Brooks Brothers. (It helps that my company gets a 15% discount at the nearest location.) They look better, and they're so much more comfortable I can't even properly describe it. That's a big deal for me because I really dislike being in a suit all day. (Luckily, I only have to wear suits about 2 weeks out of the year.) They're styled conservatively, so I should be able to wear them a long, long time. And the customer service there is top-notch.

When I got out of college, my dad told me to go to the local tailor and order a suit, he would pay (he was a pretty well-to-do attorney). So I did, and when I went back to him and told him it was going to be $300, he looked at me over his glasses and said "Never in my career have I spent $300 on a suit." I had to go back and get a cheaper one. Granted, this was still the 80s and there's been inflation since then. But I'll still say you don't need to spend $500 for a respectable suit.

[iamlowsound]

Cheap suits look cheap, clip on ties look cheap. Spend the money and get a nice suit, get good ties and if you really want to stand out, get French cuffs on your shirt. Learn to tie a few different tie knots and switch it up every few days and for the love of God, please don't wear a double windsor knot to work every day, you will look like a pretentious a-hole.

lowsound

[UncleFluffy]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Find yourself a good tailor in your town, and they'll take care of you.

+1

Ask around, hit up yelp, get some recommendations. Call the top 4-5 on the list, tell them what you're looking for, see what they say.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Alternatively, you could just find a better job.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Alternatively, you could just find a better job.

I think the old adage of "don't dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want" applies here. It is always worth it to spend the money to get a good whatever if you are going to be using it all the time. if you just need it for a job interview, dressing well conveys that you already have some measure of success and are a valuable commodity.

lowsound

[tplyons]

In high school, I had one suit... a black four button that looked great, but didn't last more than a year or two of casual use. I paid $219 for it after alterations. Cheap suits look great at first, but usually hang well, and generally look cheap after a few hours in them, at least from my experience.

My senior year of college, I bought two suits from Men's Wearhouse, something like $750 for two suits, tailored, two shirts, and two ties. I was fully covered for interviews, job fairs, and info sessions with potential employers.

The suits were extremely comfortable, hung well due to being made of worsted wool instead of a poly blend, and with good tailoring, they looked great. Granted, I got a job and have only had to wear a suit twice in the past two years, it's great to go into the closet and have a nice suit ready to wear.

If you have time on your hand, wait for a good sale at Jos A. Bank or Men's Wearhouse... they often do BOGO or Buy One Get One Half Off sales. You can generally get a shirt or two thrown in by one of the bigger shops.

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by tplyons

In high school, I had one suit... a black four button that looked great, but didn't last more than a year or two of casual use. I paid $219 for it after alterations. Cheap suits look great at first, but usually hang well, and generally look cheap after a few hours in them, at least from my experience.

My senior year of college, I bought two suits from Men's Wearhouse, something like $750 for two suits, tailored, two shirts, and two ties. I was fully covered for interviews, job fairs, and info sessions with potential employers.

The suits were extremely comfortable, hung well due to being made of worsted wool instead of a poly blend, and with good tailoring, they looked great. Granted, I got a job and have only had to wear a suit twice in the past two years, it's great to go into the closet and have a nice suit ready to wear.

If you have time on your hand, wait for a good sale at Jos A. Bank or Men's Wearhouse... they often do BOGO or Buy One Get One Half Off sales. You can generally get a shirt or two thrown in by one of the bigger shops.

You bring up a great point about what they are made of, a wool suit is 1000x better than a poly suit.

lowsound

Edit: I will also add that you need to know how to button a suit. If it is three buttons, the top button is sometimes, middle is always and bottom is never. For two button suits, the top is always and the bottom is rarely. Never sit with your suit buttoned.

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by tplyons

If you have time on your hand, wait for a good sale at Jos A. Bank or Men's Wearhouse... they often do BOGO or Buy One Get One Half Off sales. You can generally get a shirt or two thrown in by one of the bigger shops.

BOGO Free on everything in the store just started today at Men's Wearhouse. It excludes tailoring fees, but I go to my own tailor anyway.

I will be stopping by to get some new ties and maybe a couple pair of shoes.

-Mike

[iamlowsound]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

BOGO Free on everything in the store just started today at Men's Warehouse. It excludes tailoring fees, but I go to my own tailor anyway.

I will be stopping by to get some new ties and maybe a couple pair of shoes.

-Mike

Shoes can makes or break a suit and your feet. Grab some really nice ones and you will never need to buy another pair. I have an older pair of Barker's that have been re-soled a few times and they still look amazing and are the most comfortable thing I own that goes on my feet.

lowsound