School me on suits

[Exterous]

I don't need anything fancy or expensive since I only wear it a few times a year. Since I rarely wear it I am hoping to keep it on the cheaper side. I have pretty wide shoulders but an average waist and I think that caused some issues with tailoring my last suit. (Not entirely sure - its been a long time). Any recommendations on what to look for and where to buy?

 

[IronWing]

Here's a simple flow chart:

Is there a corpse in the room?
Yes - suit required
No - no suit required
Finish.

 

[Imp]

1-button suit = hipsters
2-button suit = "modern"
3-button suit = old

black = funerals
stripes = business

*Not responsible if you believe me.

 

[cbrunny]

Call TridenT. He's the resident suit pro.

 

[Newbian]

It's an ok show with some great hotties but it should had ended awhile ago...

 

[dullard]

Most important rule is about the buttons:

1 (Top) Sometimes (if present)
2 (Middle or Top) Always
3 (Bottom) Never

https://www.google.com/search?q=alw...active&tbm=isch&q=sometimes+always+never+suit

 

[Jeeebus]

While we're painting with a broad brush... how do you feel about colors? Tell me about food. What are good clothes to wear?

Maybe provide some additional info like budget, intended use, etc.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Solid Fuschia or Lime Green for funerals
Orange/Chartreuse plaid for weddings.
Plum and Lilac pinstripes for business

 

[dullard]

If you need more than one quality suit, it is probably cheaper to fly to Hoi An Vietnam to get custom suits than to buy them here (and that includes airfare, hotel, and food). Just be sure that they understand you want one with more room since American cuts are more generous (for sitting) than Asian cuts (for standing).

 

[TwiceOver]

Go to men's whorehouse and buy 1 get 3 free. Have them all pressed and wear 1 for each occasion per year where you need one then have all 4 pressed again, repeat.

 

[Exterous]

Maybe provide some additional info like budget, intended use, etc.

Budget: $. Intended use: Covering my nakedness

I'd give a budget but I have no idea what a non-shitty suit will cost. Are the ones at Kohl's going to fall apart in 3 months? No idea. Intended use would be weddings\funerals\job interviews but thats about it

Most important rule is about the buttons:

1 (Top) Sometimes (if present)
2 (Middle or Top) Always
3 (Bottom) Never

Thats about the only thing I do know about suits. I remember being very surprised that there was a button on it that shouldn't be used.

 

[IronWing]

Thats about the only thing I do know about suits. I remember being very surprised that there was a button on it that shouldn't be used.

It matches the pockets that aren't really there.

 

[NoCreativity]

I'd try Men's Warehouse or Jos A Bank. They get you a decent suit for a reasonable price. Macy's has some nicer suits but you will spend more.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Here's the deal. You can buy a suit for $100, for $600, for $1500, or for eleventy-billion dollars.

If you're in the <$400 range, go to Men's Warehouse and talk to those guys. They'll help you out, answer your questions, and lead you in the correct direction.

If you're looking for a $500-$2000, go to Nordstroms. They'll help you out, answer your questions, and lead you in the correct direction.

When I was in junior high or high school, I got an off-the-rack, ill-fitting suits for like $120 at the base exchange, and I wore that until about junior year of undergrad. After that, I went to Nordstroms, bought off the rack and had them tailor it to me (it took about two go-arounds). After that, I had something tailor made for me while overseas. I'm really wide in the shoulders and chest, so any suit off the rack is going to need to be seriously altered to fit me.

I'm an R&D engineer. My of my customer meetings are specifically "no ties allowed" (as dictated by the customer). I wear suits like once or twice a year

 

[thecoolnessrune]

It matches the pockets that aren't really there.

Suits are just another thing that makes me roll my eyes every time I hear people talking about how sensible and logical they are. Suits are just one of the many examples of how people blindly ignore logic in preference to ridiculous tradition. Hopefully, we will one day have a generation that accepts how silly they are and reject them. But it will require multiple generations of managers and executives to die out first. Just like smoking.

 

[dullard]

Suits are just another thing that makes me roll my eyes every time I hear people talking about how sensible and logical they are. Suits are just one of the many examples of how people blindly ignore logic in preference to ridiculous tradition. Hopefully, we will one day have a generation that accepts how silly they are and reject them. But it will require multiple generations of managers and executives to die out first. Just like smoking.

It all makes perfect sense. Men (who are often hot and sweaty) get to wear a full suit including undershirt, shirt, suit jacket, and strangulating tie to a function. Women (who are often cold) wear much less to the same function. What is there not to get?

 

[jman19]

Price limit / range here really matters.

 

[jman19]

Suits are just another thing that makes me roll my eyes every time I hear people talking about how sensible and logical they are. Suits are just one of the many examples of how people blindly ignore logic in preference to ridiculous tradition. Hopefully, we will one day have a generation that accepts how silly they are and reject them. But it will require multiple generations of managers and executives to die out first. Just like smoking.

This is a silly sweeping statement.

 

[Svnla]

Dark navy suit plus white or light blue dress shirt with a black or dark tie = very much suitable for almost all the occasions. Pick the 2 buttons classic cut. Then pick a nice black belt with matching black shoes and black socks - you are done.

Need more info from OP about price range of the suit. I wait for suits to go on sale/discount and pay in the range of $500-$1,000.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

This is a silly sweeping statement.

Your feelz about it mean little towards the reality.

 

[Kaido]

IndoChino + local tailor

http://www.indochino.com/

 

[dave_the_nerd]

1) Cut:

Are you fat? Double-breasted
Are you normal? Single
Are you thin? English cut


1b) Buttons:

There are 4 buttons. Which means there may be three. It's been "proper" to leave the bottom one unbuttoned since... oh, hell, like the 19th century maybe. Was King Edward the fat guy with the sex chair? It's his fault.

2) Source:

Are you rich? Tailored
Are you normal? Buy off rack and have adjusted by a good tailor.
Are you poor? Goodwill and have adjusted by a good tailor.*

*Good tailors do not have to be expensive. Seriously.

3) Brand:
Do you work with people who can identify a suit's maker by sight? Are you a vain asshole? Do you work in finance? Just shop where your boss shops but don't buy anything nicer than what he's got. You will probably end up with Armani, Boss, etc.
Are you normal? Whatever Kohl's stocks is fine. Nobody cares. You're only wearing this to funerals and Christmas/Easter church services anyway.

4) Other:
- More buttons on sleeves is usually the manufacturers indication or relative quality, but not a guarantee. Look at seams, quality of material, etc. Knowing a thing or three about how stuff is built is manly. Even if the stuff in question is clothes.
- Wool, not polyester.
- For god's sake, not Sears Sucker. Unless you're a used car salesman and that's your gimmick.

 

[jman19]

Your feelz about it mean little towards the reality.

Well substantiated, thanks.

 

[TridenT]

Call TridenT. He's the resident suit pro.

Yep yep... It's true.

If you have the time, want a decent fit, and they have a B&M store near you, Indochino ain't the worst. $500 on a sale will get you a decent 3-piece suit. I wouldn't do it unless you are near one of their B&M stores. Took me a few visits to get the right fit.

 

[SKORPI0]

related ATOT thread... https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/buying-a-suit-and-such.2455170/

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