Buying a Suit

[DavidB]

Hey guys, have you noticed that suits are going "Old School"? Solid black suits with thin lapels and narrow ties are back. Seems right in style with the new Bing Crosby restaurant here in San Diego. The Rat Pack is back!

Anyway, I love the feel and look of a great suit. I don't know about you, but I find it difficult to find a half decent sales rep, so it pays to understand how to buy a suit that will fit you properly as well as fit the occasion.

I found some pretty good guides that will help you through the suit buying process, including how to get fitted, which styles to choose and how to deal with the salesperson (and more importantly, the tailor). Speaking of the tailor, I have my own guy in town. I never use the tailor in the mens store, and lately I have started buying my suits over the Internet.

HOW TO BUY A SUIT: THE COMPLETE GQ GUIDE: GQ Fashion on men.style.com
ExecStyle | Buying the Perfect Man's Suit Online
SoYouWanna buy a men's suit? | SoYouWanna.com
AskMen.com - Buy a suit
How to Buy a Man's Business Suit | eHow.com
Men's Suits and Ties
Recommendation on Buying Mens Suits | Essential Mens Dress Suits
How to Buy or Rent a Tuxedo Formal Wear

[JasonC8301]

I am waiting for my suits to come in from a Hong Kong suit maker. The guy took about 1/2 an hour or so to take down all my measurements and go over styles. Then spent another 15-20 minutes going over fabrics and what not. I went with two super 180's suits. Although I wanted the 220's I figured it'll be a good yard stick to see if this guy knows what he is doing, if so, gonna get some 220's later down my career.

Glad to see and spend time reading all the links provided David, Thanks!

[DavidB]

Jason,

One of the best suits I've ever owned I had made on my first trip to Hong Kong. I got married in that suit and it lasted another 10-12 years after that. I love the suit makers in Hong Kong... come to think of it, I like Hong Kong, period!

[frostydog]

I think you nailed it David. A good tailor is worth their weight in gold, though they're getting harder and harder to find.

[Accumulator]

Gotta admit I just love going through fabric swatches. And yeah, finding a good tailor is just *so* important. My best guy retired a loong while back and I still miss him. My current fave is a fairly young eastern European woman who's almost as good, and yeah, I initially had agist/sexist reservations.

But I really wear sport coats and blazers more often than I wear suits these days. [Heck], I probably wear tuxedos more often than I wear suits...for me, in my area, a suit is more or less a business uniform (and I'm retired). Other than marryin'-and-buryin' there just aren't all that many occasions where it's the only appropriate choice. And IMO at resorts/etc. (and even some restaurants) it can be a downright *inappropriate* choice.

Heh heh, I do like my black suits, but I sometimes think I look like a well-tailored version of somebody from a Tarentino movie in 'em.

When it comes to the durability of quality clothes, I'm reminded of a line I heard a long time ago- when asked where he buys his suits a guy said "I don't buy suits, I *have* suits".

Anybody else here have a thing for functional/"surgeon's" cuffs on their jackets? I simply love 'em (form follows function). I have an equally strong *aversion* to people who leave one button undone so everybody sees they're functional

[bert31]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Gotta admit I just love going through fabric swatches. And yeah, finding a good tailor is just *so* important. My best guy retired a loong while back and I still miss him. My current fave is a fairly young eastern European woman who's almost as good, and yeah, I initially had agist/sexist reservations.

But I really wear sport coats and blazers more often than I wear suits these days. [Heck], I probably wear tuxedos more often than I wear suits...for me, in my area, a suit is more or less a business uniform (and I'm retired). Other than marryin'-and-buryin' there just aren't all that many occasions where it's the only appropriate choice. And IMO at resorts/etc. (and even some restaurants) it can be a downright *inappropriate* choice.

Heh heh, I do like my black suits, but I sometimes think I look like a well-tailored version of somebody from a Tarentino movie in 'em.

When it comes to the durability of quality clothes, I'm reminded of a line I heard a long time ago- when asked where he buys his suits a guy said "I don't buy suits, I *have* suits".

Anybody else here have a thing for functional/"surgeon's" cuffs on their jackets? I simply love 'em (form follows function). I have an equally strong *aversion* to people who leave one button undone so everybody sees they're functional

Between your exhaustive car detailing procedures, you strick diet and exercise regimen, you dress shoes that shine more than patent leather and your particularity in your dress, you crack me up in your perfectionism. I wish I could be as disciplined as you are. You must drive your wife nuts.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by bert31

..you crack me up in your perfectionism.. You must drive your wife nuts.

Heh heh, I/we hear that a lot Actually, Accumulatorette finds me pretty *easy* to live with as I simply TCB regarding all sort sorts of stuff. It's not like I expect her to be the same way I am about things; she respects my values enough that she doesn't make things *harder* on me, and that's all I ask for.

Oh, and I wouldn't say my dress shoes shine *better* than my patent leather formal shoes, just similarly

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

Oh, and I wouldn't say my dress shoes shine *better* than my patent leather formal shoes, just similarly

Yeah, it's like the difference between a nice Carnauba shine and a good sealant!

[Accumulator]

DavidB- Actually, yeah, that's a great analogy

[DavidB]

Originally Posted by Accumulator

DavidB- Actually, yeah, that's a great analogy

When I'm wearing a tux or my dress uniform, you can't beat the patent leather shoes. Nothing else looks right. With a regular suit or my khakis, I love the spit shine on a good dress shoe.

[Accumulator]

DavidB- Yeah, "horses for courses". Nothing ruins the appearance of a tux faster than the wrong shoes. IMO it's worse than buttons instead of studs and cufflinks.

[DavidB]

Hey, that gives me another idea for a resource list... cuff links! I have a nice collection. I love the stuff from the 30's and 40's.