Good / Affordable Work Attire

[sa226]

The Bay always seems to have really good sales (up to 50% off) They always seem like they are absolutely desperate to clear out stock, and if you catch the sales you can get a great deal.

You can also get some good stuff at Winners, but watch out for the brands at Winners. They can mix high quality stuff with crap, and if you don't know what you are looking for you can end up with crap.

[Gundo]

Winner is great for dress shirts, right now Moores is having a buy one get one free promo I believe. The Mexx Outlet in Deerfoot Mall has some stupid cheap prices on dress shirts and clothes.

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

Banana Republic, sign up for their online promos...there clothes are insanely expensive regular priced but wait it out and every couple of weeks you regularly get a 40% off everything code, then it's amazing quality, amazing selection for reasonable/normal prices.

I was coming here to say exactly this!

[TSXCman]

sears/the bay have tons of sales. i loaded up on nice polos for $14 each, and dress pants at 15-25$ each this summer.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

H&M and Zara

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I get all my day to day dress shirts @ H&M

I vote for these. $20 fitted dress shirts at H&M. $150 fitted charcoal suit at Zara.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

The nice thing with zara and H&M is that the shirts are more fitted...
I find when I buy stuff from places like Sears, or Moores, the shirts billow.

I guess that's one thing too, the shirts @ H&M, Zara etc. would fit better if you are a younger, fitter, or just have thinner features. I couldn't imagine ever buying any clothes from Marks, Sears, or even Moores etc. unless I had them tailored or I suddenly gained about 50 lbs. Makes the choice easy for me. Fit is more important than quality for me. It doesn't matter how long the shirt lasts if I look like I am wearing a balloon because I'm a featherweight.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I guess that's one thing too, the shirts @ H&M, Zara etc. would fit better if you are a younger, fitter, or just have thinner features. I couldn't imagine ever buying any clothes from Marks, Sears, or even Moores etc. unless I had them tailored or I suddenly gained about 50 lbs. Makes the choice easy for me. Fit is more important than quality for me. It doesn't matter how long the shirt lasts if I look like I am wearing a balloon because I'm a featherweight.

Are you calling me fat?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I guess that's one thing too, the shirts @ H&M, Zara etc. would fit better if you are a younger, fitter, or just have thinner features. I couldn't imagine ever buying any clothes from Marks, Sears, or even Moores etc. unless I had them tailored or I suddenly gained about 50 lbs. Makes the choice easy for me. Fit is more important than quality for me. It doesn't matter how long the shirt lasts if I look like I am wearing a balloon because I'm a featherweight.

I have heard great things about H&M. I just find the fabric to be annoyingly cheap, and the fact that some of their shirts are cotton/poly blend means I probably won't take the risk on picking a few up.

Normally if you are buying low to mid-range shirts off the rack, ie. Anything from Moores (super low-end) to Brooks (sort of ... lower mid-end), you are going to have to take them to a tailor to get them darted (normally around $10) or re-cut (around $25) in order to achieve a decent fit. I just lost around 60 lbs, and all of a sudden have sort of no love handles to fill out my shirts. I've had good luck with the Brooks Brothers extra-slim shirts, although it's not ideal. I have one custom shirt that I got at a tailor in Calgary on special, and the fit/quality ratio is just so superior to my other shirts.

If you want to actually get some wear out of your clothes, and still look good, I recommend either getting to know your brands/measurements and extending your search to eBay, or waiting for some of the sales mentioned above, and then taking them to a tailor.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

I guess that's one thing too, the shirts @ H&M, Zara etc. would fit better if you are a younger, fitter, or just have thinner features. I couldn't imagine ever buying any clothes from Marks, Sears, or even Moores etc. unless I had them tailored or I suddenly gained about 50 lbs. Makes the choice easy for me. Fit is more important than quality for me. It doesn't matter how long the shirt lasts if I look like I am wearing a balloon because I'm a featherweight.

I agree, as a fat guy, I think Moores looks good on me.

[sa226]

Serious question,

What exactly does a "fitted shirt" mean...fitted to what? Andre the giant? Verne Troyer?

I find I have trouble finding shirts that fit properly. I have wide shoulders and a thick neck but no gut or inner tube to match. So I have to go for the XL's or 17 1\2 but then the shirts end up flapping in the wind like a tucked in cape.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by sa226

Serious question,

What exactly does a "fitted shirt" mean...fitted to what? Andre the giant? Verne Troyer?

I find I have trouble finding shirts that fit properly. I have wide shoulders and a thick neck but no gut or inner tube to match. So I have to go for the XL's or 17 1\2 but then the shirts end up flapping in the wind like a tucked in cape.

When OTR shirts are advertised as "fited" it normally means that they have sort of attempted to tailor in the waists, and generally "skinnify" the whole shirt. It looks great on some guys. As I said, I have done OK with the Brooks Brothers extra-slims, but I have more or less the same problem. I have wide shoulders and long gorilla arms which means that normally I have to go for an XL or L and take it to the tailor to get it cut down substantially.

What this means for me (and probably you) is that when I actually make an income, I will certainly pay upwards of $120 to get my shirts made to measure or bespoke. Off the Rack works great for some. I have good luck with some of the Samuelsohn cuts, for example, but human beings are all different, and most people don't fit into the cookie cutter shaped clothes of the major clothing retailers.

EDIT: Club Monaco is pretty good for skinnier shirts with some room in the shoulders. If you can get them on mark-down, they are a good deal.

I have friends that have had some success with Modern Tailor and Indochino, and their custom shirt program. It all depends on how close you can get your measurements.

[peter12]

To the OP, if you are looking at dressing with some style but not spending too much (except for some key items: I believe shoes should never be skimped on) check this Tumblr out. The guy has a goofy mustache but gives very good advice.

http://suitsandboots.tumblr.com/

[ShotDownInFlames12]

Originally Posted by sa226

Serious question,

What exactly does a "fitted shirt" mean...fitted to what? Andre the giant? Verne Troyer?

I find I have trouble finding shirts that fit properly. I have wide shoulders and a thick neck but no gut or inner tube to match. So I have to go for the XL's or 17 1\2 but then the shirts end up flapping in the wind like a tucked in cape.

I Have the exact same issue and what I do is get a large in a slim fit and then have a tailor move the top button over so it fits. The XL shirts are huge and look awful cause its made for someone bigger and its a parachute on me.

[Yeah_Baby]

I really don't think 50-60 dollars is that bad for a decent dress shirt. I think the problem is paying that at Mark's. They 'no iron' shirts feel terrible to wear.

[THE SCUD]

I like Banana's trousers, and I swear by the Bay's hudson room shirts. They are the most comfortable non-iron (aka look frumpy but not terrible without an ironing) shirts on the market.

I also have a few pieces from the Brooks stores - more expensive but the quality is A+++ ebayer.

[kermitology]

No iron shirts are the worst shirts you can buy. Ugh, I've been given a few in my day and I despise them. So heavy!

[YYC in LAX]

As P Lou would say, "Moores: Well made, well priced, AND OF COURSE, well dressed."

Don't ever shop there though. I usually go with Banana Republic, H&M, and sometimes Le Chateau shirts. Big fan of their hidden button dress shirts from there. I've got a few that have stood the test of time.

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by kermitology

No iron shirts are the worst shirts you can buy. Ugh, I've been given a few in my day and I despise them. So heavy!

I felt the same, but the Hudson Room shirts are amazing! So light and comfortable, yet very wrinkle-resistant. Not the best no-iron but you get a 'normal' shirt feel with some decent 'no iron' qualities.

[mykalberta]

Sears days is going on, really good deals on some affordable work attire.

[tripin_billie]

I would suggest Banana Republic, but I went into one in Calgary the last time I was there and my mind was blown by the price difference between Canadian and American BR. The price for a suit jacket in Canada, with a more expensive dollar now, was more than the jacket and pants and then some in the States.

I guess shopping is one major advantage to living down here. Do they have JCrew in Canada yet? It is pretty good for shirts.

Also, if you catch a sale, Club Monaco can have really good prices on shirts - probably around $30.

Shopping in Canada blew my mind in terms of cost - just insane! I just never noticed it when I lived there I guess.