Buying a suit...

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by blankall

I buy all my shirts at Banana Republic. Could be just luck, but they have a shirt size that fits me perfectly. Fits better than any premium or even custom made shirt I've bought.

Banana Republic has crazy sales, and I get the shirts that are usually $100-120/each for about $30 each. I'll stock up on 7 or 8 during the sales. I buy the iron free ones and save a ton of cash on drycleaning too. Pressed shirts are great if you're attending a formal event of some kind. If you're working and sitting in them all day, they get wrinkled and pretty crappy looking quickly.

I went on a wardrobe refresh beginning of this Summer and found most of my items at Banana Republic.
I was shocked how far along they have come in style. Everything was much more modern, fitted, on trend and far less American Mid West dad like I remembered BR to be.

They're either hired a new creative director who's far more in touch with fashion, or I've truly become a middle aged dad and just lost all my cool.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

I went on a wardrobe refresh beginning of this Summer and found most of my items at Banana Republic.
I was shocked how far along they have come in style. Everything was much more modern, fitted, on trend and far less American Mid West dad like I remembered BR to be.

They're either hired a new creative director who's far more in touch with fashion, or I've truly become a middle aged dad and just lost all my cool.

Lol. It's probably a little from column A and a little from column B.

They've definitely upped their game. Their previous style was generic preppy boxy clothes. They are definitely still aiming at middle aged dad's....but it's more of a stylish affluent dad on vacation in Europe style now.

I'm there too. After a certain age, you begin to look like a bit of a homeless person in certain styles. It's like that scene in Pulp Fiction, after they accidentally shoot that guy, and they are both wearing shorts and t-shirts and look likes losers.

[Cappy]

Sorry to hijack the thread but suit related:

Where in Calgary can I buy some suede loafers?

Edit. To clarify. albert slippers

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Sorry to hijack the thread but suit related:

Where in Calgary can I buy some suede loafers?

Edit. To clarify. albert slippers

Possibly a tough variant to find, but I would try Harry Rosen, O'Connors, Saks 5th Avenue, and Holt Renfrew, in that order. Last time I looked at the men's shoe section in Holt Renfrew it looked like every other shoe was one of those stupid sneakers with the "cloud-bust" soles, not a great dress shoe selection at all.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Possibly a tough variant to find, but I would try Harry Rosen, O'Connors, Saks 5th Avenue, and Holt Renfrew, in that order. Last time I looked at the men's shoe section in HR it looked like every other shoe was one of those stupid sneakers with the "cloud-bust" soles, not a great dress shoe selection at all.

Thanks! I looked on some of their websites and Harry Rosen might be the best option for the type im looking for. I have found a few places online, but for the price i would love to test the quality

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Thanks! I looked on some of their websites and Harry Rosen might be the best option for the type im looking for. I have found a few places online, but for the price i would love to test the quality

Amazon. If you have prime (ie: 30 day trial) just return if you don't like it.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Amazon. If you have prime (ie: 30 day trial) just return if you don't like it.

I am loathe to use amazon for anything i can buy elsewhere. Especially clothing

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Cappy

I am loathe to use amazon for anything i can buy elsewhere. Especially clothing

Fair. But for something sorta hard to find in brick and mortar, it's annoyingly easy on Amazon at times. For me personally, I never buy new clothing and accessories on Amazon. I usually buy "Amazon warehouse" stuff. Damaged box or someone tried once and it's in my size for 20-60% off? I'll go for it. I treat it like eBay or Kijiji, assume it's used, but pleasantly surprised if it seems brand new.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by Titan2

Does anyone have any thoughts on a new wardrobe? I got a new job that will be 5 days a week in a suit. I bought one from Tip Top for the interview process. It is fine for me but I am thinking I may need to step up from a durability perspective. No chance I am spending over $750 or so on suits. I probably need at least two more. Plan to get 10 shirts as well and have them laundered. Are there personal shoppers I could go with? Just go into the stores mentioned already? Other thoughts? Probably about $2500 budget.

Thanks for all of the comments. As an update I went to O'Connors. I ended up with a very straightforward blue suit, a dark grey with blue 'highlights' both Samuelsohn and a sportcoat with a pattern with small coloured squares but can be worn with anything (see below). I also got an overcoat and a pair of Allen Edmond shoes. They were on for $399. Grand total about $5700. I am a little sick at the price but it will be nice to have good durable basics to build around.

NSFW!

Thanks all.

[TheIronMaiden]

Looking to finally replace my 9 year old suit.
Hoping to buy one that lasts just as long.
My budget is $1000 but I would love to spend less.

What is a timeless look IE i don't want to look too dated when I pull this out for a wedding or important work meeting 5 years from now.

What is a good place to go that won't take months to make a suit? or are retail options like moores just as good?

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

What is a good place to go that won't take months to make a suit? or are retail options like moores just as good?

Depending on your personal dimensions, your best bet might be to go get some Moores stuff, but then pay some money to get it nicely fitted through alterations.

[TorqueDog]

With that budget, yeah, you're looking at Moore's or similar. Your build may determine what you can wear off-the-rack and how long the alterations will take and what they'll run you.

I have a suit in with Claudio at Umberto's getting tailored for me, and for curiosity's sake, asked what a bespoke two-piece suit was running these days. $2,800... about $1,600 more than I paid for my last one I got through Umberto's in 2019. Stuff is expeeeeensive now.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Find your measurements.

Go to the Tip Top or Moore's website. Go to their clearance sections.

Filter by your jacket size.

Then check to see if they have the right sized pants.

Other that.

When it arrives, take it to a tailor or seamstress to get it hemmed properly to you.

I have several suits for less than $200.

People notice the fit more than the brand.

Maybe I'm cheap but if a suit lasts 5-10 years, why do I care if it's "from last year".

Who am do I have to impress with how expensive my suit is? No one will know if you got it new or clearance.

Just take it to a tailor/seamstress to ensure it's fitted right.

You might get lucky and not even need it hemmed.

[ThePrince]

Similar to Maritime’s suggestion, but don’t be afraid to check out the outlet malls (eg. Hugo Boss store at CrossIron Mills). I think they have a Tip Top as well.

Find a decent cheap suit there, and like has been suggested, take to a good tailor and get the fit right.

[Terradude]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Looking to finally replace my 9 year old suit.
Hoping to buy one that lasts just as long.
My budget is $1000 but I would love to spend less.

What is a timeless look IE i don't want to look too dated when I pull this out for a wedding or important work meeting 5 years from now.

What is a good place to go that won't take months to make a suit? or are retail options like moores just as good?

Have you tried a traveling tailor? I've bought many suits this way - no issues. I just got this new notification.


Click Here To Reserve Your Custom Clothing Fitting – Spots Fill Fast!
ALBERTA TOUR: Special Packages

P1: One Wool Suit & Three Shirts $895
P2: One Wool Cashmere Suit & Three Shirts $995
View our complete Canadian tour schedule on our website:
Kubbair.com

[jwslam]

Originally Posted by jwslam

If you're looking for an actual fit suit, highly recommend Huey Lam. He is a self-made tailor who does all the measurements with his tailoring team, overseas manufacturing of course but they'll re-alter as necessary after a fitting.

Still stand by this. Looks like his pricing on the website hasn't risen in the last few years...

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by jwslam

Still stand by this. Looks like his pricing on the website hasn't risen in the last few years...

Can you post his site?


I am looking for some quality suits.

I have a few ones from Moores for rattling around in.

Should note Calgary Moores give vets 25% discount

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

Looking to finally replace my 9 year old suit.
Hoping to buy one that lasts just as long.
My budget is $1000 but I would love to spend less.

What is a timeless look IE i don't want to look too dated when I pull this out for a wedding or important work meeting 5 years from now.

What is a good place to go that won't take months to make a suit? or are retail options like moores just as good?

If you're in the $1,000 range, I would say no to Tip Top and Moores suggestions. $1,000 should be a solid budget for a nicer brand recognizable suit if you can be patient. Agreed that well fitting is better than brand. However, I find that some of the lower cost suits can look dated and haggard lightly faster than some of the more recognizable brands.

In the past, I've done off the rack Zegna cloth or Hugo Boss suits and had them tailored for an additional of around $100 to a final total that was in the $700-800 range. Inflation, yes, but I still think you should be able to meet that $1,000 budget if you keep an eye out for a nice discount on a suit.

For instance, Harry Rosen has some BOSS suits discounted down into the $700 range right now. If you're lucky and there is an option close enough to your size, then after maybe $150 extra to get it tailored, you've got a little left over in your budget to consider dress shirt, belt or tie.

https://www.harryrosen.com/en/shop/s...Category=Suits

You can consider the same for something from Brooks Brothers.
https://www.brooksbrothers.com/sale/...0&sz=24&page=2

If nothing right now, you can always just keep waiting for the right deal. But the key is to make sure you get a suit that's reasonably close to your actual size. That's easily done at a store where you can get someone to take your measurements and then you'll know what size and whether to do regular/tall.

[ThePrince]

I should add, to answer your second question, IMO, the most timeless look is probably a navy or charcoal suit (in that order). You can dress those up and down, and look in place at a wedding or at a work event. They also look good with a wide variety of shirt/tie/shoe options.

Black is more formal, and again, just my opinion, but much less versatile. I wouldn’t recommend going black.

[metallicat]

My recommendation is Simons.