Honestly for about $500 you can get a new Polo Ralph Lauren (blue label) suit on Ebay. These are made in Italy by Corneliani, a very good maker, and are roughly ~$2000 suits in terms of comparable quality. The caveat is that you need to know your size in the particular cut beforehand and probably should count on spending some bucks on tailoring, but this is a good way to get value. I am giving away my secrets here...
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do me a favour and take an additional $250 and visit www.meermin.es and get a pair of decent shoes. Nothing worse than bad shoes with a suit.
Expanding on this.
Shoes should not:
- more than one tone. that crap went out with the boo bopping 50's..
- buckles. ever, unless you inhabit the end of a rainbow.
- any sort of "exotic" skin. unless you are on date night in the bayou.
- suede. you aren't him. he's dead.
- tassells, studs, patches, weaves, bells, etc;
Finally, shoes have laces. This isn't playboy loungewear.
Aldan & Allen Edmonds (everyone), are my go to's.
A pair of black shoes for your black, charcoal, grey suits.
A pair of brown shoes, for your grey, tan, brown and blue suits.
Last edited by cam_wmh; 04-03-2014 at 12:39 PM.
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-I am currently wearing two-tone (different shades of brown) shell wingtips made by Crockett & Jones, they're one of my favourite pairs. Also I have a pair of AE Hampstead spectators for summer which are two-shaded and two-textured, they're great.
-Buckles on a monk are acceptable, I personally like a lot of double monks; peep these EGs: http://lo30tks8mxa0t26z.zippykid.net...nk-Shoes-1.jpg
-Exotic skin on the right shoe in the right context is fine as long as not gaudy.
-Suede can be great in summer particularly. Love me a blue suede buck. But even a brown suede cap toe works in many applications. I don't wear them because Calgary destroys suede.
-Tassels are fine on loafers, but agree on everything else.
-It's spelled "Alden" not "Aldan".
-Oxblood are the most useful/versatile shade to buy. Though I agree you need at least one black and one brown. My main rotation right now has 2 oxblood, 3 brown, 1 black.
EDIT: To actually contribute, there aren't that many really fixed "rules". But the two I see broken most often in a business environment are:
1. No square toes.
2. No bicycle toes (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...6L._SY395_.jpg)
Last edited by 19Yzerman19; 04-03-2014 at 01:06 PM.
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I own multiple suits even though I don't wear them on a regular basis.
I think you can get way with one fabulous dark Gray or Charcoil or even Navy suit that you pay a bit extra four.
The rest you can just get the basis I guess outlet stores one for. If you're a larger size your really trapped into a lesser selection.
Always go for a classic cut, they never go out of style.
I always make sure that I have one black suit in my collection because you never know and running around at the last minute to buy a black suit is a pain in the butt. Plus to me I like black.
I always make sure that I buy at least two shirts and two ties for each suit, but always make sure that you have enough white shirts.
Oh never buy short sleeve dress shirts they look ridiculous.
I do like the french cut shirts with the cuff links especially for more formal occassions, but that just might be one of my things.
If you have a guy, suspenders are the way to go, because through out the day of getting up and getting down a belted pants ensemble, well the waist will fold forward and look terrible.
Shoes make the suit, I always make sure that I own at least one pair of black, one pair of browns. I'm more of a fan of classic lace ups I think the slipper shoe looks terrible.
Don't go crazy on the ties the nice thing about buying suits if you don't wear them that often is that you can upgrade the ties and shirts and stay fairly current looking. However you can always spot the amateur as the guy wearing a back to the future car tie with his suit.
He is a CP member and hooked me up with a great customized Jack Victor for my wedding. Saved me hundreds. His store has a great selection and he knows what he's doing, well worth going out of your way. PM me for his contact details.
Wow, how random seeing this store mentioned on CP. I grew up in Stettler and also have nothing but good things to say about Johns Men Wear
And as long as I've got my suit and tie
I'mma leave it all on the floor tonight
And you got fixed up to the nines
Let me show you a few things
All pressed up in black and white
And you're dressed in that dress I like
Love is swinging in the air tonight
Let me show you a few things
Let me show you a few things
This thread made me nostalgic for the days when I could actually wear all of the clothes discussed above. Now that I am a dirty consultant, the best I do is Filson work pants and a Patagonia down jacket.
While not to my personal taste, I think monk straps are appropriate/reasonable in most settings.
In all honestly take a look at what most guys on the street are wearing, anyone not rocking square toed shoes is already a mile ahead of most guys these days. Loafers, monk straps, and suede shoes can all work really well if the toe shape is good.
Not sure where else i should post this, but Brooks Brothers in Cross Iron Mills has suede Rancourt chukkas on for 80% off... reg $328 yours for only $66.
I may go back tomorrow to grab another couple pair.
__________________
"Teach a man to reason, and he'll think for a lifetime"
~P^2
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Not sure where else i should post this, but Brooks Brothers in Cross Iron Mills has suede Rancourt chukkas on for 80% off... reg $328 yours for only $66.
I may go back tomorrow to grab another couple pair.
Shoot, I'm not even looking for shoes right now and I might go grab a pair of those. Thanks for the info.
It depends on what you are buying. Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Brooks Brother "outlets" are actually Factory Stores. They sell similar cuts and styles manufactured in third world countries with lesser quality materials.
All the regular stores sell cheap goods manufactured in 3rd world countries, too. I don't think "factory outlet" has the market cornered in that regard.
All the regular stores sell cheap goods manufactured in 3rd world countries, too. I don't think "factory outlet" has the market cornered in that regard.
There are good and bad factories in every country. Outlets typically sell their own outlet "lines" that are worse than the main lines. Fabric is worse, cuts are worse, quality is worse. They pass it off like a great deal, but really it's cheap for a reason.
Banana Republic suits in store are 100% wool and in the outlet are 100% poly. Dunno where they're made.
Brooks Bros are usually made in Italy, and I think the outlet ones were made in Malaysia. Cut was really bad either way. Fabric was wonk too, but I think it was wool at least.
So no, not all regular stores sell cheap goods manufactured in 3rd world countries. And even if they do, the outlet lines are even worse.
I can't speak to brooks brothers, the women's clothes are too conservative for my taste so I don't shop there. But I personally think Banana Republic is pretty garbage all around - factory and regular. Gap and Old Navy too. They're all the just same store with progressively worse fabric, cuts, quality and merchandising.
There's a reason they have 40-50% off coupons practically every two weeks. It's cheap stuff.
