Suit Advice

[SiKeS]

Hey everyone, I was wondering if you all could give me some suit advice...

Just graduating from HS, I've never really had much need for a suit... But as part of my graduation, my parents agreed to buy me a one!

Sooo I'm going suit shoppin' pretty soon and I've got no clue what to get...

This would be my only suit and pretty much any form of 'formal clothing' that i'd own... So I'd be wearing this to... I guess events where I'd have to dress up.

Any advice on colors, types of suits, whether I actually need a suit or a blazer, where to buy it, etc would be great..

Thanks a lot, without you guys I'd be lost.. And suitless..

-Matt

[wishinhopin]

As a Men's Wearhouse "color and style expert" (ie glorified sales associate), I feel I should respond.

Starting with the suit. The most versatile suits are definitely navy, and charcoal. Stick with a solid, patterns (pinstripes, window pane, etc) only complicate things for a first suit. Most people would recommend navy, particularly because you can then pair your suit coat with a pair of khaki or tan slacks, and have the sort of sport coat "uniform"- thus getting more versatility out of your suit. Personally I prefer charcoal (dark gray) because I think it looks classier, and I like how shirt and tie combos look on charcoal. But either color will be appropriate for job interviews, business, weddings, funerals, cruises, etc.

Word of advice- go with single breasted. Dear God please go with single breasted. Double breasted is out of style and not generally flattering. You'll find a much wider variety of single breasted styles.

Go with the best suit you can afford- make a budget as to how much you want to spend towards this investment. If, for instance, you wanted a suit, I would also consider budgeting for an extra pair of slacks or two, several dress shirts, and ties. Here's what I would present for you if you came into a Men's Wearhouse (which I highly recommend doing, because this is our whole job):

-Charcoal single breasted suit ($200-$500, depending on brand name and quality)
-Slacks: black, olive, navy ($30-$50 each)
-Dress shirts: non irons (nice because you can literally pull them out of the dryer wrinkle free, and wear them all day. I swear they work!) are $40 each at my work. Otherwise the shirts are $20-$40 in price range.
----Definitely get a white shirt. Get two if you can. As for collar style, the button down (a button at the bottom point of each side of the collar, thus keeping it down) and tab collar (a loop of fabric that hooks on a button at the top middle of the collar) are more casual then regular collars. You can get plain textured or herringbone, twill, or other textures.
---Also go with an ecru/ivory/off white shirt. Equally versatile as the white shirt, but a bit warmer look. Gray is a good call also. French blue and Oxford blue (a bright blue and a powder blue, respectively) are considered business staples. For more fun occasions, a black, gray, and/or burgandy shirt is a good call. Burgandy is our top selling shirt color, I think mostly because wives and girlfriends like it.

What you could do with these items so far:

Job interview: pair the suit with the white shirt, and put a more conservatove tie with it. Something with burgandy or red in it is always good, as those are considered the power tie colors (and thus are supposed to project an image of confidence). Make sure the tie has complementary colors to both the shirt and suit- and for an interview, go with simple stripes, or a small geometric pattern.

Second interview: same suit, with the ecru shirt. This time, you can warm it up with a blue tie, and it can have a bit more personality than your first interview conservative tie. Screen print ties and bigger prints are fine here, but nothing out of control.

On the job: mix and match the slacks, all the shirt colors except the burgandy and black, and different ties to have a variety of outfits that don't make you look like you're wearing the same thing every day.

Evening wedding: burgandy or black shirt, with a festive or dramtic tie that brings it all together. The suit would work best here, or else maybe the black slacks and coat.

Daytime wedding: white, ecru, or perhaps an earth tone You can have a bit more variety with pants, depending on how casual/formal the wedding is. The more "fashion forward" colors (ie black and burgandy) can also work, but tend to be considered more formal than the others.

Banquet/dance/quincenera (I don't think I spelled that right)/etc:
Mix and match away!

Things to keep in mind:
-Your belt should match your shoes. (Belts range from $25-$50ish, shoes from $40-$125 at my work). Black is generally most useful. Squared toe shoes are more contemporary, and favored by younger (ie under 35ish) guys.
-Socks should be considered an extension of your pants. So get some in the same colors as the pants and you'll be good to go.
-If you're taller than 6'1, or have a long torso, or a big belly, consider extra long ties.
-Make sure your shirts aren't French cuff, unless you want to use cuff links with them. Most guys don't, for a starting piece.
-If you want even more versatility, you could go with a navy blazer to further your mix and match options.

Alright I didn't even know I had this wealth of knowledge, I hope it wasn't horribly boring!

[Tom Earp]

SiKes, go with a basic color suit of quality.

You can accecersize with ties and shirts.

Navy, Charcoal are your best bet.

Then you can add slacks to either of them.

PM me and will give you a shop by phone or email. Lot cheaper.

Hell, when I was a Buyer for RH Macy I had 27 suits, umpteen ties and shirts.

French cuffs, wore them all of the time and had great cuff links. Dont even go there. Short sleeve are the best, dress, go to partys, take coat off when gets hot!

Navy Suit , Gray or Tan Slacks three Combos.

Single Breasted only. Vest if you want to look really Formal suit wise.

[SiKeS]

wow. AWESOME advice. you guys rule!

I'm printing this thread out for a shopping reference...

Tom: 27 suits? jeeez.. I don't even think that many would fit in my closet

I think my mom wants me to get a suit locally.. so that I can get the right measurements and everything...

Around here we've got JC Penny, binghams, dillards, umm umm... tj maxx, and I think a mens warehouse about 20mins away.. Which is driveable...

-Matt

[Tom Earp]

MAMA thinks she knows best!

Go for MAMA Putting the Cash down! Wear clean skivvys and black or brown socks depending on the color of clothes and shoes!

Can mix and match, the world of fashion, Fashion, FASHION is open!

Oh, none of the 27 suits fit anymore, I matured!

Check GC Chat Thread about GC gathring!

Hell SiKeS, I had a sport coat, slacks, and one pair of shoes in College!

We dressed every Tuesday which was meeting day for all Greeks, well back then! Oh, and Football games, god the good old days!

[DeltAlum]

I would just add this to the above. Don't buy something that is "IN". They tend to become "OUT" very quickly.

As has been mentioned above, a nicely cut but fairly conservative suit can last a long time.

I agree with Navy -- it goes with pretty much anything and you can build a number of outfits around it.

[Tom Earp]

Ah, D A another Gentleman of distinction!

No Damn Nehrus if you can remember that. Oh never mind you dont have a clue! No WIDE TIES, No Sasquatch ties, no tie died ties!

Conserervative is in, always welcome till it doesnt fit!

Fitting is the key word!

Leave a little room for expansion!

[PhiPsiRuss]

If this will be your only suit, I would get a very dark navy or charcoal solid (echoing what others already wrote), and definitely not get anything trendy (what DeltAlum wrote.) I recomend a Brooks Brothers suit, as they are very well made, and are guaranteed indefinitley (unless you bring it back with huge holes.)

If you get a three button jacket, make sure that the top button is not visible when the lappel is in the standard positon. This is traditional. The purpose of the third, and top button, is to hold the lappel up when you get caught in nasty weather without an overcoat.

ETA A blazer and khakis may be more appropriate. I'd ask some brothers of the fraternity that you are joining. The advice on three buttons still applies.

Also, not only single breatsed, but also vented.

[swissmiss04]

A suit is definitely a good investment, so make sure to invest well. A cheap suit is always obviously a cheap suit. Don't fall for the label trap, but definitely check things out before you buy.

I agree w/ Russ: a charcoal or dark suit is best. Brown tends to get trendy, as do any colors. You can keep things from being too plain by the type of tie you wear.

[justamom]

Double Ditto!!!

But FIRST-spend a little time looking at THE most expensive suits in your town. Feel the material, study the color-navy is not always navy-and last but not least, try one on.
This helps you develop your eye and know what to look for in a higher level as compared to entry level suit. I know some may think it's overkill, but it's the way you learn how to judge quality.
Works for women too.

OK I worked at Dillard's in the Men's Department. These are my tips because men of all ages would come in there without their mothers/girlfriends/wives to help and had no clue.

1. Make sure the pants are not too long or too short. There is to be one break on the front part of the shoe. Don't let the back of the pants drag the floor but it should cover most of the back of the shoe.

2. "Hug yourself." This makes sure the jacket doesn't stretch too tightly across the back and that it's comfortable.

3. The arm length should only show a quarter of the shirt sleeve when your arms are hanging or relaxed.

4. If getting dress socks, make sure the socks match the suit. For example, get navy socks to go with a navy suit and that the socks are exactly the same color of navy. Gray socks = gray suit. Black socks = black suit. etc.

5. The tie should come down not much past the belt width, if at all. Ties that are too short come above the belt/waistline. The tie is too long if it's coming all the way down to your crotch while standing.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
Also, not only single breatsed, but also vented.

Good point.

I was going to mention that, but forgot. Vents were "OUT" for a while, but I always thought that look made guys look like tubes of toothpaste.

ETA Look at most fraternity composites. You'll find navy blazers, white or light blue shirts and reasonably conservative ties (if there isn't an official fraternity tie).

As for socks, dark black will go with navy -- and for the most part, you don't see them anyway if the pants are cut correctly.

DeltAlum,

I am just anal about sock colors! If men cross their legs in their suits, you will see the socks. Just an FYI.

[Kevin]

Screw men's warehouse.

Go to a tailor and have a suit made according to your specifications.

It's not a whole lot more money (maybe just around double) but they're a whole lot nicer.

I have mine done by Tom James. Depending on the fabric you choose, you're looking at around $500+. I have to say it's well worth it though.

[Eclipse]

Originally posted by Tom Earp

French cuffs, wore them all of the time and had great cuff links. Dont even go there. Short sleeve are the best, dress, go to partys, take coat off when gets hot!

I agree with what most people have said, especially JAM. Always try to replicate quality! Must disagree with Tom though. PLEASE PLEASE do not buy a short sleeved dress shirt!! While I am partial to french cuffs, they probably would look "old" on you. A regular, long sleeve shirt is best. Also, while it might be tempting to get blended shirts, cheaper ones tend to pill up and look awful after 1 or 2 washings.

As wishinhopin said, no button down, and make sure you buy extra collar stays or what ever they are called to keep your collar from flipping up. My husband is always missplacing his. Extra ones are only $5 or so for a pack of about 10 or 20.