Suits - S/D

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I need a tux/ evening wear/ posh suit for an award dinner I'm going to. What sort shall I buy? Pics and prices please.

Johnney B, Wednesday, 28 January 2004 06:29 (twenty-two years ago)

your tailor. $10,000.

the surface noise (electricsound), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 08:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, come on people. I need advice, here. My sartorial taste is minimal - if left by myself, it'll cost me a fortune and be hopelessly inappropriate. Help me ILE, you're my only hope!

Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:34 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.eabsinthe.com/lafee/images/hodge/band_anim1.gif

stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 10:36 (twenty-two years ago)

I agree with the surface noise (you didn't used to be 'the electric sound of jim' on NGs a few years ago, did you?).

Go bespoke, you won't regret it. Unless it's Black Tie, in which case rent.

aldo_cowpat (aldo_cowpat), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 11:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Land's End actually sold a genuinely affordable, nice tux through their catalog, I saw it in November, I swear. Now on their website all I can find are shirts and shoes.

$10,000 is retarded, shop around a few clothiers and see what you can find.
Rental is a good bet if this is a one-time thing but if you need a tux more than two or three times a year it's more cost-effective and better-looking to buy one and get it tailored.

TOMBOT, Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Dan Perry to thread?

TOMBOT, Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:09 (twenty-two years ago)

You can't ever go wrong with a pinstripe suit.

Chris V (Chris V), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Make sure the cut is right for you nothing looks worse than a very expensive suit in completely the wrong cut for the person wearing it. EG. if you are skinny avoid a two button double breasted like the plague, could get away with a narrow 4 button double breasted with short lapels (daring style choice though).

Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 13:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Well make your mind up...is it a suit or a tux? H&M do both in nice designs at H&M prices innit.

CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 14:00 (twenty-two years ago)

Evening wear, so a tux is the way I think, and I'm pretty damn skinny. I thought buying, since no doubt I'll use it agaion before I die, and buying price = renting price *2, from what I can gather.

Johnney B (Johnney B), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 14:56 (twenty-two years ago)

what is the right type of body for a two-button double-breasted? They look silly on big guys too. I think you have to be in the mafia.

teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

You have to be kind os square for it to work at all. see gangsters' heavies in Belleville Rendezvous.

Ed (dali), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 15:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Wasn't there a big suiting thread a while back?

Lee G (Lee G), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:24 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.ifmagazine.com/images/8/8-304-391-2.jpg

teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

New Suit

The Suit.

Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

of all places, banana republic has some very nice vintage-y looking suits. they weren't cheap (about $350 for the jacket, $250 for the trousers) but the fabric was nice and not the sort you normally see in suit shops any more (very faint patterns/striping)

anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 17:39 (twenty-two years ago)

Look for this manufacturer, if you can find them in the U.K. (which seems likely) they are excellent suits, quite posh-looking and surprisingly affordable.

webcrack (music=crack), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 19:59 (twenty-two years ago)

They are also made by Leonard Cohen's family; he worked there as a young man for a while.

webcrack (music=crack), Wednesday, 28 January 2004 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...
Advice, please, gang:

Wearing white dancing shoes with your dinner suit (I'm going for a kind of MJ-in-'Billie Jean'-without-the-leather look for an army ball tomorrow night): C ou D?

Who the hell do you THINK I am? I'm the goddamn Batman! (Barima), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

People will comment on it all night and you will feel self conscious.

Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

Whether or not it works, like, objectively, is way secondary to this. I dunno, you might like that kind of attention!

Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:12 (twenty years ago)

wc I am gonna check them out when next in mntrl!

Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:16 (twenty years ago)

Oh whoa, timely revival. I need my first big girl suit evah for an interview the first week of January.

I am clueless, and figuring to just go to a nice department store and throw myself on the mercy of a sales lady. Because, seriously, I am way clueless.

squirrels-r-FOREVA (pullapartgirl), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

Greg, I am an attention seeker, as well as someone who garners lots of negative attention simply by breathing. I will probably not wear the shoes but will still look 5 times fly.

I mean, I'm only there for the birds (and cause it's me best mate wot invited me).

Who the hell do you THINK I am? I'm the goddamn Batman! (Barima), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:24 (twenty years ago)

this 1970s cream pierre cardin suit is the only suit i like:

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2004/10/17/ariajetwin_wideweb__430x263.jpg

jet guy tips: wear it with white flipflops

sunny successor (katharine), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:26 (twenty years ago)

Bought the greatest suit the other day for a mere £25, thick lovely expensive-feeling material, dark grey pinstripe. Also bought a light brown Crombie, v-neck jumper, three ties, a beautiful Fedora hat and a rapist balaclava (as a comedy xmas present for a pal). All came to just £85. My only advice is to hunt around for the best vintage shop and buy the best stuff and if it doesn't fit, get it tailored.

The shop I went to is in Manchester and I don't want to say where it is because I regularly buy fantastic clothes from there and don't want anyone else muscling in on my territory (though if you're over 6ft or under 5'3 email me and I'll reveal all).

This is another good suit thread: How to wear suits

Bit off the point but my Fedora (fedora?) hat. Can I wear it in the rain? What about if I spray scotchguard on it?

Affectian (Affectian), Thursday, 15 December 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

God that cream one is AMAZING!

I cannot buy vintage/2ndhand suits bcz I am suitsize 36 -> often I cannot even buy firsthand frm posh old-man places!

Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Thursday, 15 December 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

four years pass...

hey guys! i am looking for a slim-cut black suit. any ideas? i realllllly don't want to spend too much money on this. like, really.

i live in new york but i've never shopped for a suit before, so . . . help ?

big (surm), Thursday, 18 March 2010 19:18 (sixteen years ago)

i've tried the H&M suits. i like the fit but the material is eh.

big (surm), Thursday, 18 March 2010 19:18 (sixteen years ago)

bumpers

big (surm), Friday, 19 March 2010 16:37 (sixteen years ago)

I hate wearing a suit, just haaaaaaaaaaaate it.

might seem normal but is actually (snoball), Friday, 19 March 2010 16:46 (sixteen years ago)

ugh me fuckin too

big (surm), Friday, 19 March 2010 16:49 (sixteen years ago)

JCrew suits?

big (surm), Monday, 29 March 2010 16:07 (sixteen years ago)

jcrew suits are really nice, but not a bargain choice.

mizzell, Monday, 29 March 2010 16:11 (sixteen years ago)

you might check out the calvin klein suit separates at macy's.

mizzell, Monday, 29 March 2010 16:20 (sixteen years ago)

i hate suits on men or anyone really with the exception of joel mchale. they always say where his clothes come from either at the beginning or end of the soup.

no more springs no more summers no more falls (sunny successor), Monday, 29 March 2010 22:23 (sixteen years ago)

of course theres always this look

http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Entire_Site/20080417/293.5.McHale.Joel.041708.jpg

no more springs no more summers no more falls (sunny successor), Monday, 29 March 2010 22:24 (sixteen years ago)

i kinda like wearing a suit, as long as it's pants. otherwise i would prob feel stupid.

harbl, Monday, 29 March 2010 22:26 (sixteen years ago)

Wearing a suit ages me by 10 years. 20 if I comb my hair flat.

black jeans stained by (snoball), Monday, 29 March 2010 22:30 (sixteen years ago)

Jcrew or banana will get you an entirely functional suit that isnt too posh or stuffy looking

akm, Tuesday, 30 March 2010 02:11 (sixteen years ago)

eight months pass...

this site is pretty amazing as far as knowledge of suits http://bondclothes.blogspot.com

ice cr?m, Thursday, 23 December 2010 18:05 (fifteen years ago)

thinking abt getting a new suit, clearly no one here knows anything abt them tho so whatevs

ice cr?m, Thursday, 23 December 2010 18:05 (fifteen years ago)

eight months pass...

argh. Need a suit. Thinking brown or blue. Got a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks (non morning suit). The clinch here being that I have very little money and all the cheap suits I've tried on drown me (I'm that sort of build). Guess I need some sort of indie boy skinny suit. Any ideas for cheap places in the UK?

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 11:44 (fourteen years ago)

I bought a slim fit suit in H&M for about £100 once

It hasn't fallen apart yet, I quite like it

MPx4A, Thursday, 1 September 2011 11:47 (fourteen years ago)

TK Maxx. The one at Moorgate's probably best.

A little bit like Peter Crouch but with more mobility (ShariVari), Thursday, 1 September 2011 11:51 (fourteen years ago)

I hate wearing a suit, just haaaaaaaaaaaate it.

― might seem normal but is actually (snoball), Friday, March 19, 2010 12:46 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

ugh me fuckin too

― big (surm), Friday, March 19, 2010 12:49 PM (1 year ago) Bookmark

God, sign me up.

esteenban HOOTez (kkvgz), Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:03 (fourteen years ago)

owenf i had to buy a suit with no money this week |:

next, burton, topman all do a bunch of slim-fit suits in £100-£150 which are, well, you get what you pay for, but not awful. burton are the only ones i remember having a blue but they don't seem to do long-leg trousers in a 30inch, which was a pain. topman go closest to 'interesting' cuts but a sub-£200 suit is probably not the best place in your wardrobe to go 'interesting'

thomp, Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:18 (fourteen years ago)

H&M ones seems to be sort of buy a jacket, match it with something else. I'd really like just a SUIT. All in one.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:24 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.joesportsfan.com/jsfpics/cards/VernRuhle.jpg

Splendid Curving Oasis of Ivory (Latham Green), Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:25 (fourteen years ago)

I was thinking topman but their website seems to be down. Might take a trip to the shops. TBH I not sure when I'll need to wear it again so 'getting what I pay for' shouldn't be a problem.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:31 (fourteen years ago)

Topman suits tend to be made of fairly shiny material which looks cheap.

You can get DNKY suits at most TK Maxx stores at the moment for about 130 GBP. They tend to be slim-fitting. If you get lucky, they might have some Tiger Of Sweden in stock.

A little bit like Peter Crouch but with more mobility (ShariVari), Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:36 (fourteen years ago)

DKNY, rather.

A little bit like Peter Crouch but with more mobility (ShariVari), Thursday, 1 September 2011 12:37 (fourteen years ago)

Second TK Maxx. Charing X Road (old Borders) is okay but Gracechurch St one better. Big Oxford St. TopMan better than smaller stores. As does Marble Arch M&S have a bigger selection.

mmmm, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:18 (fourteen years ago)

Might hit TK Maxx next week. I'm probably more inclined to go with topman even if the material is shiny and nasty just because I'd prefer that over something ill fitting (had problems at TK Maxx before). I've got that weird wiry build that means I look ridiculous in most clothing.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:21 (fourteen years ago)

Didn't see much shiny business in teh big Topman when I looked two weeks ago. Mostly Mod-ish suits with skinny little lapels. Rounded lapels as well if I'm not mistaken with pastel-coloured shirting. I'm mid 30s so its prob a bit diff to pull off for me. I tried on a lovely Dries Van Noten in Liberty but that was £££s.

mmmm, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:39 (fourteen years ago)

I used to hate wearing a suit to work, but now I like having work clothes to change out of when I come home.

This is not helping the original inquirer, but I am guessing that he has found a suit by now.

The New Dirty Vicar, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:41 (fourteen years ago)

http://dresslikepep.tumblr.com/

TracerHandVEVO (Tracer Hand), Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:49 (fourteen years ago)

are brown suits allowed? Girls are telling me NO and guys are telling me FUCK YEAH.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:53 (fourteen years ago)

NO

mark s, Thursday, 1 September 2011 13:55 (fourteen years ago)

H&M have proper tailored suits and a specific dept. for that although that may only be in larger braches. although yes they also have the casual suit - blazer and matching trousers type deal.

jed_, Thursday, 1 September 2011 14:17 (fourteen years ago)

i think brown is ok, i think, with something like a windowpane check, but i wouldn't recommend it for your first or even second suit -- grey flannel or worsted navy should be the starting points

elmo argonaut, Thursday, 1 September 2011 14:33 (fourteen years ago)

I think brown suits are acceptable in the U.S. but not in Europe. When I visited my bro in NY a few years back he said he was considering buying a brown suit. Much hilarity ensued.

mmmm, Thursday, 1 September 2011 15:22 (fourteen years ago)

i think brown is ok, i think, with something like a windowpane check

Best way to get away with this, probably.

esteenban HOOTez (kkvgz), Thursday, 1 September 2011 15:30 (fourteen years ago)

i've never understood about brown suits

thomp, Thursday, 1 September 2011 15:43 (fourteen years ago)

yeah i don't much ascribe to traditional "rules" governing menswear (i.e. "never wear brown in town") but brown really is, as they say, a much more 'country,' casual color for a suit, so it makes sense to have a pattern in there. a solid dark brown suit almost seems like a contradiction to me.

otoh i don't think the same applies for lighter brownish tones like tan or khaki, where i think solids are best.

elmo argonaut, Thursday, 1 September 2011 15:46 (fourteen years ago)

I realise now that people have long been laughing at me and my brown suits. Or maybe in Ireland we do not have the fine ways of our betters in London.

The New Dirty Vicar, Thursday, 1 September 2011 15:51 (fourteen years ago)

Gucci Fall 2011 collection.

mmmm, Thursday, 1 September 2011 16:54 (fourteen years ago)

peaked lapel + double breast + brown? i dunno about this

elmo argonaut, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:18 (fourteen years ago)

Ok. Maybe I'll reconsider the brown. Navy/Charcoal I'm thinking now. Are there any lapel/breasting/trim/check/stripe rules that define people that I should know about. I used to have a couple of quite nice suits (one tailored, a gift) but unbeknownst to my youthful self my tastes were that of wannabe gangsters.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:37 (fourteen years ago)

also I'm not massively keen on a pattern. Probably due to my previous misguided pinstripe affectations.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:39 (fourteen years ago)

If you have no suit atm, then whatever suit you acquire will have to do for all occasions. My advice is to go for a low-to-mid-priced, simple suit in black, in a lightweight wool. Have it altered to fit you reasonably well. You can gaudy it up or tone it down as the occasion requires via your choice of shirt and tie. Then lay out the money you didn't spend on a fancy suit for some very good comfortable dress shoes to go with it (black ones, of course).

Aimless, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:47 (fourteen years ago)

a navy or charcoal suit is much more versatile that a black one imo. also black suits looks amazing if the are slim cut + expensive fabric and quite bad at the cheaper end of the market (shiny black fabric!)

jed_, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:53 (fourteen years ago)

there's something about black suits, lower priced ones anyway, that tend to age and look a bit lived in sooner than charcoal or navy too.

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 17:56 (fourteen years ago)

You may simply adapt my advice by doing a search-and-replace on "black", if that suits you better.

Aimless, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:02 (fourteen years ago)

I'm not cool enough to pull off a black suit anyway

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:08 (fourteen years ago)

http://www.palzoo.net/file/pic/gallery/2323_view.jpg

owenf, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:09 (fourteen years ago)

i think steve shasta posted something in another suit thread about how black suits are the popular standard in many parts of asia, unless you plan on traveling there i'd advise against black too.

elmo argonaut, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:15 (fourteen years ago)

as far as details go -- as far as versatility goes, you probably want a lapel around 2.5-3" wide, notched, single breasted, 2 button, flap pockets, & back vent. trousers should be flat front.

elmo argonaut, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:21 (fourteen years ago)

The regular advice on sartorially minded sites/forums is that black suits are only appropriate for funerals and lower level mafia types. I think they look a little costume-y, but one might also say cinematic.

Spencer Chow, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:36 (fourteen years ago)

Also, I've bought a couple expensive suits over the years, and they did indeed last, but they're hopelessly out-of-date and don't fit exactly right anymore. These days, I'm much more inclined towards something more disposable from H&M or something deeply discounted at a store like Loehmann's or Century 21 (or outlet).

Spencer Chow, Thursday, 1 September 2011 18:40 (fourteen years ago)

there's a nice black fleece suit on gilt right now for $600, not bad if can deal w/ the thom browne vibe. also some nice-ish hickey suits for $500-$600 in reasonably versatile basics.

don't wear a black suit during the day. you'll look like a medical student interviewing for a residency. especially with a red tie. also don't wear a black suit at night because you'll look like eurotrash. or black anything.

suit shopping got way easier with the advent of mobile internet--see a brand you don't know, google it, see if it's garbage. this makes nordstrom rack or w/e much less of a crapshoot.

adam, Thursday, 1 September 2011 20:32 (fourteen years ago)

plenty of people wear black daily in professional settings. I wouldn't make it my first and only suit though.

esteenban HOOTez (kkvgz), Thursday, 1 September 2011 21:35 (fourteen years ago)

"daily" isn't what I meant...I should have said "as part of their regular rotation"

esteenban HOOTez (kkvgz), Thursday, 1 September 2011 21:36 (fourteen years ago)

charcoal

akm, Thursday, 1 September 2011 22:43 (fourteen years ago)

went blue topman suit. Pleasantly surprised! Not as shiny shiny as I thought they would all be and really the fabric isn't all that bad. £150

owenf, Friday, 9 September 2011 14:27 (fourteen years ago)

feel that brown wool is allowable within the 26 counties DV

hipstery nayme (darraghmac), Friday, 9 September 2011 14:45 (fourteen years ago)

I saw a great Myles na Gopaleen piece recently about how suit pockets were rationed during the Emergency.

The New Dirty Vicar, Friday, 9 September 2011 16:45 (fourteen years ago)

we sure do. for instance, we learn that gus likes (liked?) brown suits, and also having gay-style sex (with men).

― of the griffith (del griffith), Tuesday, 6 September 2011 22:18 (1 week ago)

hmmm

owenf, Tuesday, 13 September 2011 10:50 (fourteen years ago)

two years pass...

fwiw Nordstroms now quietly has their suits on even cheaper sale than the year-end mens sale - if you just click the small "sale" button you'll find stuff further marked down. Picked up a pretty nice Boss suit for around $400.

signed, J.P. Morgan CEO (Hurting 2), Tuesday, 7 January 2014 20:08 (twelve years ago)

four years pass...

I realized I need new suits very soon and that my old ones no longer fit me on account of a lot of lifting and a little too much eating. I wound up at Jos A Bank after researching and hearing that their "high end" suits were actually a good value. Got two half-canvassed Joseph Abboud suits (which they call "Reserve") for about $550 each -- slightly conservative but not too boxy, good for my work purposes, nice fabrics, fit very well. Better quality than I expected from them, and actually nicer than my prior suits (which tbf I paid slightly less for).

Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Thursday, 13 September 2018 14:18 (seven years ago)

I don't have to wear them that often. Looked at the prices at Jos. A Banks and went to Macy's instead for a cheaper priced one recently.

curmudgeon, Thursday, 13 September 2018 15:15 (seven years ago)

Yeah, if you're talking about limited use, Macy's is fine. Sometimes you'll get a better cut and it will actually look better on initial wear if the fit is right and the tailoring/alterations are good, you just may not get as much mileage out of it. Most people say a good-fitting cheap suit will look better than an ill-fitting expensive suit.

Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Thursday, 13 September 2018 15:24 (seven years ago)

Jos A Bank does have some pretty cheap suits but I don't like their cheaper stuff. I got one as a groomsman suit once and I appreciated that at least they went cheap, but I really don't like the suit.

Fedora Dostoyevsky (man alive), Thursday, 13 September 2018 15:25 (seven years ago)


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