It's too bad we don't live in Hong Kong. My best fitting suit was from a tailor there, and it ended up costing roughly 350 CAD. This was three years ago when exchange rate was a lot better, so I'm assuming the same suit would be about 100 more, but still a great deal. Material was decent as well.
So, I need a white suit. It's a long story, but none the less, it has to be all white and on me by the end of the month. Places I've already looked, the trunk of my Delorean, the local Kingdom Hall garage sale, the lost and found at Studio 54. These people are serious too. It has to be totally white. Shoes, belts, ties, everything. Any ideas?
Bleach a suit. If that doesn't work, white spray paint or a bucket of paint. The shoes and belt you may need to sand down a little for the paint to take hold.
You could buy it all a few days before the event and hide the tags and return all the items after the event (assuming no damage and obvious wear of the clothing), but what's the fun in that?
Or you can mug a guy going to the event 30 seconds before he walks in and steal his clothes.
Bleach a suit. If that doesn't work, white spray paint or a bucket of paint. The shoes and belt you may need to sand down a little for the paint to take hold.
You could buy it all a few days before the event and hide the tags and return all the items after the event (assuming no damage and obvious wear of the clothing), but what's the fun in that?
Or you can mug a guy going to the event 30 seconds before he walks in and steal his clothes.
Yes! I like option three in theory but I don't see why some other dude should get off that easily. This is going to be a weird event. I'm not drinking the punch that's for sure.
Yes! I like option three in theory but I don't see why some other dude should get off that easily. This is going to be a weird event. I'm not drinking the punch that's for sure.
White suits just don't exist. I might be hooped.
I find this hard to believe. Moores has a rental suit with a pic of a guy in a white suit, white shoes and belt I'm not sure because it's covered up by a crazy orange vest and tie. No idea on price. https://www.mooresclothing.com/mor/t...uct=1872JF_S08
Shoes and belt shouldn't be too difficult from there.
For the record, I am in no way giving you an option for a suit you will love for the next 10 years. Insanity has to stop somewhere, and let's hope it doesn't stop when you drink the wrong beverage at the wrong white suit party.
Last edited by DoubleF; 07-19-2015 at 11:16 PM.
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I Find it entirely unsurprising that Le Chateau appears to be the place to go for that.
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I find this hard to believe. Moores has a rental suit with a pic of a guy in a white suit, white shoes and belt I'm not sure because it's covered up by a crazy orange vest and tie. No idea on price. https://www.mooresclothing.com/mor/t...uct=1872JF_S08
Shoes and belt shouldn't be too difficult from there.
For the record, I am in no way giving you an option for a suit you will love for the next 10 years. Insanity has to stop somewhere, and let's hope it doesn't stop when you drink the wrong beverage at the wrong white suit party.
What really has to stop are these "white parties".
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I've had issues both times I've been in wedding parties that rented through Moores.. So unprofessional.
Not that I know anything about proper fitting suits, but when I specifically state an issue I've had, and correct the guy who looks at me and rattled off a list of his guesstimates, and remind the girl measuring me not to use said (wrong) guesstimates, only to be told that yes, they remembered the conversation ("haha loved it, he thinks he's always right")... Yet somehow get told it is too late to get a jacket that didn't leave me looking like stuffed up penguin and have the pants lengthened while following their timeline for measurement and fitting before the wedding..well, guys, you could say I'm a little disappointed. I was the best man, and I owned it, but it was an uncomfortable day/evening and the photographer had to make some on the fly positioning adjustments to ideas the couple had planned out as a result of it, as to not look like a clown.
Also had an issue with Dirk's for my sisters wedding last summer, where I did my fitting in edmonton but was supposed to pick the suit up in Calgary on our way to Banff for the weekend. For some reason they sent it with one of the other groomsmen when he picked his up (insisted on it from what I was told).. Definite visible puke on the shirt.. Sister panic.. Replacement shirt arrived at hotel the next morning with about an hour til the wedding..which was no match for the girth of my neck.. Sorry that I didn't catch your mistake by trying on the pukey shirt guys. Likely there was no cleaning in the entire suit, but it was presentable and being my sister I was trying to downplay the situation as much as possible.
Each time offered a percentage off of the rental/future credit, but not really the point. Feel like an ass, looking like one in someone else's wedding photos.
I'd imagine logistics and such being a total nightmare for businesses like that, especially during peak months of summer, but I don't think I've actually had a hassle free experience since my high school graduation.
Maybe the universe is telling me I'm a sweatpants kinda guy
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Good thread. Good info. I'm 40 in a couple months and I have never owned a suit. I had a sport jacket when I was in high school and bought another one for my sister-in-law's wedding 14 years ago and I think I wore it less than 5 times. Maybe only three times.
That said, I've thought that maybe I should start dressing up a bit more and get a suit. I don't need it for my job. I have successfully rocked the khakis and polos for 15 years but maybe I need to step up my game. I thought about getting some dress pants and and start to wear those more often for work and church and then eventually get a suit.
Can't help but think I would also be wasting my money.
Good thread. Good info. I'm 40 in a couple months and I have never owned a suit. I had a sport jacket when I was in high school and bought another one for my sister-in-law's wedding 14 years ago and I think I wore it less than 5 times. Maybe only three times.
That said, I've thought that maybe I should start dressing up a bit more and get a suit. I don't need it for my job. I have successfully rocked the khakis and polos for 15 years but maybe I need to step up my game. I thought about getting some dress pants and and start to wear those more often for work and church and then eventually get a suit.
Can't help but think I would also be wasting my money.
Well, you got to dress up for church, man. I do it all the time.
I'm interested in dressing a little nicer, but my question for the hoity toity crowd is just how much you spend annually on your clothes / shoes / accessories budget. Seems to me you must be in the $10k range, buying $200 shirts, $400 shoes and $2,000 suits.
I'm interested in dressing a little nicer, but my question for the hoity toity crowd is just how much you spend annually on your clothes / shoes / accessories budget. Seems to me you must be in the $10k range, buying $200 shirts, $400 shoes and $2,000 suits.
Probably the $6000-$7000 range for me. The trick is to plan, and wait for sales. Also to know when to pay full price for something, and when you can skimp. I also have a bit of a uniform that I follow somewhat strictly. My sports coats are all around the $1000-$1200 mark, my really nice shirts are M2M or high-end, and my shoes are all over $300.
But I have a rotation of khakis, chinos, and tees that were extremely cheap.
It depends on the year. I haven't bought a pair of dress shoes in a couple of years, honestly. I bought one suit this year, and a few ties. I could use some new shirts. All in all I doubt I'll spend more than $1000 on my office wardrobe this year.
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It depends on the year. I haven't bought a pair of dress shoes in a couple of years, honestly. I bought one suit this year, and a few ties. I could use some new shirts. All in all I doubt I'll spend more than $1000 on my office wardrobe this year.
Actually, yeah, this is totally true. I was sort of thinking in terms of start-up costs for someone just getting into it. As far as everything goes, probably less than $1000 for me this year as well seeing as how I bought quality clothing to begin with, and it has lasted me forever.
BTW, you can buy cordovan Aldens at Roden Gray in Vancouver.
I'm interested in dressing a little nicer, but my question for the hoity toity crowd is just how much you spend annually on your clothes / shoes / accessories budget. Seems to me you must be in the $10k range, buying $200 shirts, $400 shoes and $2,000 suits.
I would guess I spend around $2-3,000 per year on dress clothes. In an average year I'll buy 1 suit, 1 pair of shoes 4-5 shirts, 1-2 ties, 5-6 pairs of socks, 1 belt. My suits average about $1,000, shoes $200, shirts $200, ties $100, socks $10, and belts $200. I've spent more and less than the individual figures, but that's about the average I think. One year I bought 3 suits, and I've also gone two years without buying any.
I look to buy almost everything on sale or at a discount. I've basically stopped buying everything from the States right now, as the USD is worth 1.30 vs. the CAD. Since I don't have Alberta ID anymore, I also have to pay sales tax again in Washington. Especially for shirts, it's easy to wait for them to go on sale. I'll always need shirts, and they'll always go on sale at multiple points during the year. Unless I must have something right away (like a wedding), it's okay for me to buy it a few months after it was put on display. Suits are a little tougher for me to buy on sale, as I'm a common size. When Boxing Day happens, they've been picked through quite a bit by others before I get there. My salesman at Harry Rosen knows what I like, and he'll call me when there are sales. He knows not to call me when a new items at full price has arrived. He's got far richer people than me who will buy then, and I'll take the leftovers.
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I'm interested in dressing a little nicer, but my question for the hoity toity crowd is just how much you spend annually on your clothes / shoes / accessories budget. Seems to me you must be in the $10k range, buying $200 shirts, $400 shoes and $2,000 suits.
For me (I am a bit more economical I guess)...
$30-100 belts should last something like 4-8 years I'm guessing. Used nearly every working day. I have a 2 belt rotation. Just a "basic" dress belt from Brooks Brothers and one I got from Winners.
$80-200 for shoes (1 or 2 pairs sometimes depending on style) and I'd say I wear them 3-5 years before they're embarrassingly scuffed up. Used nearly every working day. I rotate a pair of Steve Maddens I grabbed for $60 and a pair of $120 Pegabo from the Bay. Wear what is comfortable to you. Buy those $400 shoes that will last 15 years if that's what you want.
$500 suit + $200 in tailoring = $700 Hugo Boss suit. I assume I'd be able to use this suit at least around 5 years or more assuming no huge change in body shape. Used about 5 times a year for special occasions, work events and celebrations etc. US outlets
I also own a suit which cost me $450 in Asia with extra pants and includes cost of tailoring. I still use it for minor things, but seams may need minor repair (easy fix) and I don't button the top in pictures as it looks tight (but feels ok). Not bad for being nearly 5-6 years old. I'm also in the process of giving my old Calvin Klein suit new life. It's nearly a decade old, but it will work just fine. For less than $100 including the replacement of the pants which are too short and tight, I am sure I can get a usable "casual suit" for various business events.
$50-200 a year in dress shirts. I have about 5-8 I rotate for work and they usually last about 1-3 years before it's time to replace them due to fading etc. I also have a nice white dress shirt from Tristan which I keep for the whole suit ensemble if the inside needs to be white.
$50 a tie. They last pretty much forever. $30 on a tie clip + cuff links. Again, last pretty much forever. You buy a new one for style mainly.
$20-30 should get you a multi pack of Calvin Klein of socks. Should last a good two years. Pay more if you want, but if you pay less, I find they are the panty hose of the mens world. You'll put a finger through them easily if you aren't careful.
If you were to completely start a suit ensemble from scratch, sure, $1000-2000 sounds about right, but since replacement "parts" can be staggered, it's only a few hundred a year to maintain/increase your wardrobe for options purposes. (Unless you wear a suit nearly daily, then it's more).
But in the end it's what you want. My set up makes me feel good. If you need something "great", my numbers won't fly for you at all. If you just need something "meh", my numbers may be too high as well.
Some of us wear components of our suit on a regular basis for workl (ie: Shoes and shirts etc.) so we justify the cost on higher end/quality/style items. You may not need to do that or may have start up costs we won't really have which will balance out over the life of owning your wardrobe.
Some may say that going to the US isn't worth it, but even at 1.30, there are some deals to be had. Not as great as if our dollar was at least 1.10, but still reasonable deals.
Last edited by DoubleF; 07-20-2015 at 12:56 PM.
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Put me in the crowd that finds the Bay suits, Banana Republic and Mexx suits (on a good day) perfectly fine for most occassions. If Moore's is all you can afford, then go for it, but the quality is pretty poor, and I think if you catch a decent sale, you can do as well at those other places.
There was a time when I bought the nicer stuff like Hugo Boss. Definitely better quality, but at the end of the day, I was never comfortable spending that dough, no matter what my income was.
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Yeah, I lost my suit pants through an unfortunate roof-top carrier experience on my last road trip, so my suit jacket is now useless. I need to go sale hunting I think. I had that suit made specifically for me when I was in Beijing, so I'm a little choked it's gone.
Have a Cool Starry Bra involving Tip-Top from this weekend.
Tried on my new tux the night before my buddy's wedding and went to put a belt on. "What? No belt loops?!" I didn't realize tux's didnt have them, but it made sense in hindsight. Well the wedding's at 1:30 the next day, so I rip over to Tip-Top (where I got the tux, can you believe it wasn't full of homeless people?!) in the am to look for a sash, or what I found out was called a "cummerbund", possibly to match the bowtie I had recently learned how to tie.
"Hi can I help you?"
"Yes I'm looking for a cummerbund for the tux I bought here a few days ago"
"Ooooo yeah.... we don't carry those."
"You sell tuxes but not the general accessories for them?"
"Yeah...sorry."
"Do you know any place in the mall that might have them?"
"....no....no you need to go to a specialty store for that."
"Okay...thanks."
Walk out of the store, fully realizing this guy was a complete knob, I walked 30 ft to Le Chateau.
"Hey, do you guys have cummerbunds?"
"Right here!"
"Thanks!"
How does a place that sells suits, has ties and bow ties, cuff links and suspenders (which I could have done as well in hindsight), and pretty much anything you could need for a suit, not sell what I thought was a pretty basic thing. Is it not a common use item?
