I was in a pinch several years ago and needed a couple suits quickly and went with JAB and got the tailored fit because I need slimmer fitting clothes. They are still too baggy on me and I hate them.
My next suit will come from somewhere like Jcrew, Banana Republic or Bonobos.
I'd pass on both JB and MW and shop J Crew, Suit supply or Indochino (sale right now). Also check for a discounted Brooks Brother.
I got a suit at 22, from Nordstrom, per my executive Dad's advice and now wish I'd gotten something else. It's great quality, but looks a bit dated and not to my style (or runners stature for that matter).
D. Douglas Dent wrote:
Neither.
Find a local tailor, look for an immigrant one (turkish, s. american). Pick out a pattern and have your suit custom made.
You may pay a bit more, maybe $550-650, but the suit will actually fit you, and you'll look much better than everyone else in the room. (Then again, if you find a good tailor, you may only pay $450.) A suit isn't hard to make, so it's not like you need some specialized tailor to do it. Heck, kids in 3rd world countries do it.
Most men don't know how to buy a suit, which is why Men's Warehouse and Jos. A. Bank in business. Buying a suit off the rack is pointless - it won't fit you right, and you won't look good in it, even with alterations. You look silly, and once someone shows up with a custom made suit, you suddenly look inferior.
I hear what you are saying, mate, and may take the advice someday. Although I'm not OP.
But what I find is that I need a suit "today". Therefore I'll go with the MW suit, just the 1 and not the free one or the discounted one.
They alter it. I dress it up with French cuffs or a really nice tie. I then look really great in comparison to the others in the room. I'm naturally thin and have a tapered waist and decently broad shoulders.
I think most men that don't regularly wear suits, men that don't have the budget for suits and men that get surprised to wear a suit on a given day - those men would be fine at MW.
The 2nd critique, I would be wary of a JB suit or any custom made suit because I wouldn't want to pay $900 - $1,100 (walk out price, with Shoes, Tie and French cuffs) for a Metrosexual Special where I look like girly, you get the point.
I wouldn't want to pay for "My sisters jean", mate. The shoes are very important too. I might not, not, want to wear wingtips with extra point-y tips, that are a slim shoe. I may want something bulkier that transition to my normal day at the office or on Sunday at Church.
Great thread
Stay away from men's wearhouse, Jo's Bank, department stores, etc.
Like some said, J. Crew has good quality for the price. They frequently have 30-50% off sales.
Suit Supply also has good quality for the price.
Double breasted suits are on their way back in style, or so my friends on the coasts tell me. Try for something like this:
John Varvatos.
Those suits in that photo look like garbage.
Banana Republic
Go sit in the corner for being late.
I am sorry, double breasted suits can be very flattering if the fit is perfect, or at least correct; but these photos are just opposite of “fashion”.
Those guys look like they're about to meet Eric Trump at Dorsia.
Several years late.... I did not pay attention to the post date...
Jokes on me
Brooks Brothers.
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Go buy an ad you pole smoker.
