Buying suits on a college student budget

[geckojohn]

Go to Hong Kong.. i went there last year and bought a nice suit for $50!

 

[shopbruin]

Originally posted by: Reel
If you end up going to men's wearhouse, they try to sell you extra stuff like shoes or ties that you might get cheaper elsewhere. So keep an eye on their pushing tactics.

so freaking true. we just wanted to see what they had, tried on one suit, and the guy was bringing out shirts, ties, shoes, on and on.... we left because we didn't know they'd be that pushy.

 

[brigden]

I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

WTF, he's working in an office not modeling for GQ. The idea is to look professional, be comfortable and not go into debt doing it. IMO Clothes Horses who look like Dandies usually seem out of place in the work enviroment unless they are Salesmen.

 

[SuperTool]

Burlington Coat Factory?
I bought one suit at Mens Warehouse. It got very light use. Just for interviews.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents. There's a big difference between trendy and quality. $200 is not quality, dipshit.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

You called $400 a "budget" suit dipshit. Its the norm. Most business professionals wear $400-500 suits. Not $800+ ones.

 

[SuperTool]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents. There's a big difference between trendy and quality. $200 is not quality, dipshit.

I wear shorts or jeans and tshirt to work. If I wear a polo shirt and khakis, people ask me what's the occasion. 😀 Being an engineer rocks.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

Buddy, a $400 suit isn't expensive. Really.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

Buddy, a $400 suit isn't expensive. Really.

I didnt say it was. You said it was budget, when its actually the norm.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

Buddy, a $400 suit isn't expensive. Really.

I didnt say it was. You said it was budget, when its actually the norm.

Exactly. If you're on a budget while shopping for a car, you buy a basic Toyota, Mazda, Ford, or Chevy. You don't buy a Kia.

$1200 is a lot of money for a suit. $200 is nothing. You should be buying $400-500 suits.

 

[Geekbabe]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents. There's a big difference between trendy and quality. $200 is not quality, dipshit.

You can buy a lot of very nice suits in consignment shops as long as you check them carefully for damage and stick with classic tailoring.

Better a couple good but gently used suits over 1, "omg he wears the same suit all the time" new suit.

 

[mcveigh]

mens wharehouse.
I just bought one there lst month, great service

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

Buddy, a $400 suit isn't expensive. Really.

For you maybe. Different poeple have different price ranges. Jumpr can't spend 400 dollars on a suit or a 40 dollars on a hair cut. You can do it because you have the money , but not everyone has what you have.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

So true.

As long as the suit looks good, it looks good. 200 bucks can get a good looking suit and you can go up from there. Personally I buy 1000 buck suits when they are 80% off so I win both ways.

I've worn one everyday for about 10 years so hopefully I can offer real world experience and not what one reads in magazines. Because nobody wears cuffless flat-front pants. nobody. Only folks in GQ magazines trying to sell you a 1000 dollar so that it somehow completes the consumer wear them.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

HAHAHA. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You're judged every second of every day based on your appearance. If you disagree with me, you're straight up an idiot.

I'm not advocating $800 suits for the OP, I was simply offering my two cents.

Yes you are judged on appearance, but they dont give a sh!t if you are wearing high end suits. You can look good without forking over alot of money. The VAST VAST majority of those end the business world do not wear expensive suits. Nor do they wear cheap ones.

Buddy, a $400 suit isn't expensive. Really.

I didnt say it was. You said it was budget, when its actually the norm.

Exactly. If you're on a budget while shopping for a car, you buy a basic Toyota, Mazda, Ford, or Chevy. You don't buy a Kia.

$1200 is a lot of money for a suit. $200 is nothing. You should be buying $400-500 suits.

The problem with that is, most college students, especially those without parents paying for it, cant afford $400-500 suits. He can get by a summer or two with 3-4 $200 suits, you can find some pretty decent ones if you shop around. Hell if you look at those that work on Capital hill most wear some pretty awful suits(the exception are the interns).

Oh and you you will most certainly need suits, its pretty much a requirement for almost EVERY intern on capital hill. Living in Texas wearing wool suits in hot weather isnt that bad because you are inside almost all the time.

 

[brigden]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

So true.

As long as the suit looks good, it looks good. 200 bucks can get a good looking suit and you can go up from there. Personally I buy 1000 buck suits when they are 80% off so I win both ways.

I've worn one everyday for about 10 years so hopefully I can offer real world experience and not what one reads in magazines. Because nobody wears cuffless flat-front pants. nobody. Only folks in GQ magazines trying to sell you a 1000 dollar so that it somehow completes the consumer wear them.

Go ahead. Buy pleated pants - look like a dickhead. It's your money.

Spidey07, I'm very sorry to hear you bought pleated pants, but please, don't try and pass off your misfortune as advice.

Pleated pants look great if you're 100 lbs over-weight.

 

[Red Dawn]

Originally posted by: brigden

Go ahead. Buy pleated pants - look like a dickhead. It's your money.

Spidey07, I'm very sorry to hear you bought pleated pants, but please, don't try and pass off your misfortune as advice.

Pleated pants look great if you're 100 lbs over-weight.

No they don't, nothing looks good on you if you are a 100 lbs overweight

 

[Krk3561]

Whats wrong with pleats?

Brigden, you are a stuck up snob. Not everyone can afford to buy a $400 suit.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: brigden

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: digitalsm

Originally posted by: brigden
I forgot how much you guys knew about clothing and fashion. Why do I bother?

:roll:

The business and professional world doesnt give jack sh!t about fashion. The only people wearing highend suits are those trying to be trendy.

So true.

As long as the suit looks good, it looks good. 200 bucks can get a good looking suit and you can go up from there. Personally I buy 1000 buck suits when they are 80% off so I win both ways.

I've worn one everyday for about 10 years so hopefully I can offer real world experience and not what one reads in magazines. Because nobody wears cuffless flat-front pants. nobody. Only folks in GQ magazines trying to sell you a 1000 dollar so that it somehow completes the consumer wear them.

Go ahead. Buy pleated pants - look like a dickhead. It's your money.

Spidey07, I'm very sorry to hear you bought pleated pants, but please, don't try and pass off your misfortune as advice.

Pleated pants look great if you're 100 lbs over-weight.

People who buy and sell suits for a living say otherwise. For business professional attired they recommend pleated pants with cuffs. Flat front hemmed pants are a recent trend, and only those people trying to be trendy, typically younger workers, wear them. The only people that should NEVER were pleated pants are those that a extremely skinny.

 

[Spikesoldier]

CHEEEEEP SOOOOOOOOOTS

 

[abc]

Originally posted by: brigden
You're going to have a hard time finding decent suits on a $200 budget. Despite what you're being told, $200 is about half what one should spend on a suit when on a budget. However, you've established that as your budget, so that's what I'll offer advice with.

I suggest single-brested, three button jackets. (Remember, when it comes to buttoning your suit, from top button to bottom: sometimes, always, never.)

I'd look for flat-front pants with no cuff, but that's personal preference.

There are many different materials to choose from, but keep in mind what you're going to be doing while in the suit. Linen creases easily, so if you're sitting all day you may wish to avoid it. I recommend at least one 100% wool suit for cooler days and durability.

As for colours, I'd recommend staying away from black. Black is inappropriate for your workplace. I suggest navy, grey, and brown and variations of. Pinstripes are OK if subtle.

When picking shirts, stick with subtle stripes and patterns. You're can't go wrong with several good-quality white shirts. If you're going to go cheap on the suits, try to spend some money on the shirts and ties. Have a look through GQ for inspiration.

If you're going to buy used designer suits, check them over very carefully and make sure they fit. Don't buy something because of the label.

Good luck. If you need more advice, just PM me.

I agree, $200 entry point for a suit doesn't get you much... the 4-500$ point gives you better fabrics and suit build. However you do have to shop, as some 500$ suits aren't worth any more in terms of build quality, than a lesser name branded suit that doesn't have the markup.

To the OP, how about buying 1 nice suit, and a couple cheaper ones.

Or a nice suit jacket, then a collection of dress pants.

I also agree, 3button is more contemporary these days, 2 is more generic. BUT if you're rather short, 3button is not going to look right. If you're heavy, 3 button looks better. For 3 button, I understand the middle button is to be buttoned.

When I was around college intern age, I would shop around cK and Barneys suits (warehouse)... the Barneys internal brand suits were decent. I would by cK or Kenneth or Tommy or Liz for a suit anymore. I rather consider HugoBoss... maybe RalphL, maybe Armani if I'm in that whole fashion circle thing...

But I'm much happier with BrooksBrothers these days, more of a TRUE suit seller than fashion house... however not everything in Brook's is worth it, so still shop, feel the fabric etc.

As a working dude, I rather pay 500-600 to get a custom suit (they can run 1000$ I know) than 500$ for off the rack suits.

Depending on what industry you work and whether you're corporate or not, dictates to what extent your suit attire is on the upper scale or lower scale. It CAN matter.

I had wondered about getting suits from Asia...as long as their fabric is good and their workmanship is good, I don't care if I got a 'made in China or HK' suit... They are tailor and textile experts... Made in Italy could mean it was made in a ghetto part of Italy too, why not. What I'm concerned about is deciding on which shop, as once you go there China/HK, there are dozens of shops I'm sure... Can you guys give me more details as to which place you went? PM me if possible.

 

[abc]

Originally posted by: geckojohn
Go to Hong Kong.. i went there last year and bought a nice suit for $50!

where dude? pm.

 

[RandomFool]

goodwill! i got one for 10 bucks there.