Buying a suit for interviews: OK to buy from banana republic?

[phatj]

I was close to buying a suit from Banana Republic this weekend... All black, 100% wool. However, a couple of friends I was with insisted that department stores will have higher quality suits that will wear better...

I don't know anything about buying suits... but I'm assuming a few of the thousands of ATOT'ers out here do. So do you have any tips?

The suit at BR was about $200 out the door (jacket and pants). I found a niiiice one at Brooks Brothers, but that was way out of my budget.

Thanks!


edit: I should add that I'm pretty thin, and the thing I liked about the BR suit is that it fit really well - but of course, I could always get the suit tailored.

PS: 2-button or 3-button for conservative interview?

 

[jme5343]

I've had good luck at the JC Penny stores that have a tailor on hand as well as Mens Wearhouse... Getting the right fit is something that's hard to do right off the hanger.

 

[Spooner]

nothing wrong with banana republic. i'm sure they have some very fine suits

 

[TwiceOver]

Tailored. Men's Whorehouse isn't bad. You can usually find a good combo deal to stretch the use of a single suit.

 

[slsmnaz]

all depends on what it looks like. If it's an interview just keep it more conservative (don't know what BR suits look like)

 

[aphex]

I like BR, but always have a problem with their buttons cracking off on all my shorts and pants from them...

 

[amdskip]

I got mine at mens warehouse, couldn't tell you what brand it is but it works for me.

 

[Connoisseur]

Originally posted by: phatj
I was close to buying a suit from Banana Republic this weekend... All black, 100% wool. However, a couple of friends I was with insisted that department stores will have higher quality suits that will wear better...

I don't know anything about buying suits... but I'm assuming a few of the thousands of ATOT'ers out here do. So do you have any tips?

The suit at BR was about $200 out the door (jacket and pants). I found a niiiice one at Brooks Brothers, but that was way out of my budget.

Thanks!


edit: I should add that I'm pretty thin, and the thing I liked about the BR suit is that it fit really well - but of course, I could always get the suit tailored.

If it's a traditional colored black suit and it fits well, then go for it. Nothing wrong with BR suits. If you have to wear suits every day, on the other hand, look into the aforementioned Men's Wearhouse/Macy's etc for tailoring. They might look slightly better with adjustments and have more variety but will cost you $250-300 minimum.

 

[Nerva]

what is your range?

 

[lokiju]

I've always gotten mine from Men's Wearhouse personally.

They have some decent prices at times.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

BR can do alterations for you btw. At least the one my sister works at.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: phatj
I was close to buying a suit from Banana Republic this weekend... All black, 100% wool. However, a couple of friends I was with insisted that department stores will have higher quality suits that will wear better...

I don't know anything about buying suits... but I'm assuming a few of the thousands of ATOT'ers out here do. So do you have any tips?

The suit at BR was about $200 out the door (jacket and pants). I found a niiiice one at Brooks Brothers, but that was way out of my budget.

Thanks!


edit: I should add that I'm pretty thin, and the thing I liked about the BR suit is that it fit really well - but of course, I could always get the suit tailored.

I am with everyone else. If it fits good and looks good go for it. As far as quality goes it's not like you are playing football in it, you wear it every once in a while and get it dry cleaned, there shouldn't be any problems from any well known company.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I just got my first real suit yesterday...its pretty nice

I got it at Joseph A. Banks, they have some really nice suits, shirts, ties and so forth..

Keep an eye on them cause they are expensive but then they always have crazy sales.

 

[teclis1023]

Brooks Brothers FTW

 

[Nerva]

charles tyrwhitt has a huge sale on suits right now if you are in new york. 450 for a nicely made english wool suit. throw in another 100 for a nice shirt and tie. you will look spiffy for the interview

 

[LegendKiller]

Black? For an interview? You interviewing for a funeral home director?

 

[V00DOO]

BR makes some nice suits. They are expensive at regular price.

 

[EvilYoda]

BR has some decent stuff, especially now that they have the men's Heritage and Monogram lines, but I wouldn't buy a suit from them unless it was heavily discounted. If you only have a few hundred to spend on a suit, go to a major department store as they always have some good sales this time of year. If you can squeeze a bit more out of your budget, the discount high-end department stores (Nordstrom Rack, Sak's Off Fifth, Neiman Marcus Last Call, Loehmanns, etc) always have great suits usually somewhere between 35%-50% off. Might be more difficult to find a suit you like in your size, but if you do, it's definitely worth it.

And remember that it will never fit perfectly off the rack - I usually add in another $100 or so for a proper alteration done by a tailor. I've never had a good alteration done by a "free" department store tailor, not compared to other tailors.

 

[phatj]

Thank you everyone! Just to reply to everyone's post.. my budget is $300 MAX... I'm a broke college student... and yes it needs to be black (interviewing for very conservative position, not funeral director though).

jb

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: phatj
Thank you everyone! Just to reply to everyone's post.. my budget is $300 MAX... I'm a broke college student... and yes it needs to be black (interviewing for very conservative position, not funeral director though).

jb

Black is best for a versatile suit, don't let legendkiller get you down.

If it looks decent on you, go for it. That's all that matters right now.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: phatj
Thank you everyone! Just to reply to everyone's post.. my budget is $300 MAX... I'm a broke college student... and yes it needs to be black (interviewing for very conservative position, not funeral director though).

jb

I have interviewed at many "conservative positions", including hedge funds, i-banks, consulting firms and others. I have *always* been told to never wear black suits at interviews. That's from high-end headhunters, interviewing consultants, etiquette classes in grad school and common sense. Wearing a black suit is a major no-no on interviews, it sets too somber of a tone. Every person I have sat in on an interview with at my bank has always worn dark grey.

I always wear a dark grey suit, white shirt (cuff links) and usually a nice red tie. It's a combo that has never failed to get me at least a 2nd round interview, if not a job offer.

My main interviewing suit is one I got from Men's Warehouse 3 years ago. I bought one of their better suits and paid to have it tailored by somebody else. It's stood up really well over the years and has landed me all 3 of my professional jobs. In the last year I bought 2 Brooks Brothers suits, black and another dark grey, which will now become my interview suit. THey are far superior to the MW.

Don't skimp on a tie, I'd go buy a nice 50-60 tie. It should be reasonably thick, several folds. I love BB ties, own probably a dozen since I have to wear them every day during the fall/winter/spring time (I also love Thomas Pink ties, but they are more expensive). You can always tell the difference. Buy a nice pair of shoes, spend ~100, shine them up well beforehand.

 

[LegendKiller]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: phatj
Thank you everyone! Just to reply to everyone's post.. my budget is $300 MAX... I'm a broke college student... and yes it needs to be black (interviewing for very conservative position, not funeral director though).

jb

Black is best for a versatile suit, don't let legendkiller get you down.

If it looks decent on you, go for it. That's all that matters right now.

Maybe 3cho, who is in a similar position as I am, has heard something different. There's no more a conservative place than Wall St., as far as dress goes.

Frankly, black or dark grey are going to look good on anybody, provided you aren't a corpse. It's not you who you are trying to impress, it's the interviewer. Sorry to be a bit Borg-ish, but there are certain conventions and wearing black to an interview violates one of those.

A nice dark-grey suit is just as, if not more, versitile as a black one. It's not like I am suggesting a Miami-ish tan suit.

 

[Nerva]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: phatj
Thank you everyone! Just to reply to everyone's post.. my budget is $300 MAX... I'm a broke college student... and yes it needs to be black (interviewing for very conservative position, not funeral director though).

jb

Black is best for a versatile suit, don't let legendkiller get you down.

If it looks decent on you, go for it. That's all that matters right now.

Maybe 3cho, who is in a similar position as I am, has heard something different. There's no more a conservative place than Wall St., as far as dress goes.

Frankly, black or dark grey are going to look good on anybody, provided you aren't a corpse. It's not you who you are trying to impress, it's the interviewer. Sorry to be a bit Borg-ish, but there are certain conventions and wearing black to an interview violates one of those.

A nice dark-grey suit is just as, if not more, versitile as a black one. It's not like I am suggesting a Miami-ish tan suit.

i wore black and black patterned suits for my current position. but i think it matters little for me because i am too junior and people tend to cut you slacks. besides, i met with pretty much all junior people for interviews (1vp, 6 associates), they werent even wearing suits so i was ok.

but to err on the side of caution, wear either dark charcoal or navy blue suit. although i have recently seen black suits with large faint checks of various color, those look pretty trendy too. try to wear a white shirt, especially in the US, gold, red, blue ties are usually acceptable.

if you are interviewing for more senior positions, where a cuffed shirt and nice cufflinks, but then you need to make sure that the sleeves of your suit is cut slightly shorter than usual.

i dont like cuffs on my pants, dont wear brown shoes. make sure your shoe color matches belt color and watch belt color (if leather straps). you can get any color as long as they are all black.

get a spread collar shirt and tie a nice wholesome full windsor. everyone else will wear their boring button down collar shirt with a small knot, you will stand out this way.

i can go on all day...

edit: one other important thing, get a 3 button single breasted, double side vented suit. and have them tailor it so it's somewhat of a tight fit in your waist area. the problem with american suits is that they are all so freaking huge.

 

[Dubb]

the best ties:

http://www.cyberoptix.com/shop.php

 

[BHeemsoth]

I buy all my dress shirts and suits at the Brooks Brothers outlet.

You can get some great deals if you catch them at the right time. I believe I got 2 suits, 3 shirts, and 3 ties from them for $600 last year.